Festival season 2026 is here!
From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside, you’ll find gatherings celebrating food and drink, the arts, music, and more—all worth building a mountain road trip around. Pick your favorite festival theme and start planning!
By Karen Neathawk / Photo above: Christmas at Biltmore, November 6-January 10, Asheville, North Carolina.
NOVEMBER
Nov 1. Veterans Parade. Tazewell, VA.
Nov 6-Jan 3. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas. Pigeon Forge, TN.
Nov 6-Jan 10. Christmas at Biltmore. Asheville, NC.
Nov 7. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Festival. Strasburg, VA.
Nov 7. Montpelier Hunt Races. Montpelier Station, VA.
Nov 7. Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival. Lynchburg, VA.
Nov 7-8. 4th Annual Christkindlmarkt. Collegedale, TN.
Nov 7-8. Everything Outdoor Fest. Simpsonville, SC.
Nov 7-8. Head of the Hooch Regatta. Chattanooga, TN.
Nov 7-9. 26th Annual Mistletoe Market. Abingdon, VA.
Nov 12. Winter Magic & Chili Cookoff. Gatlinburg, TN.
Nov 12-15. Film Fest Knox. Knoxville, TN.
Nov 13. Greer Alive. Greer, SC.
Nov 13-15. Toe River Arts Tour. Mitchell and Yancey counties, NC.
Nov 13-Dec 31. Enchanted Garden of Lights. Lookout Mountain, GA.
Nov 14. Claiborne County Christmas Festival & Lighted Tractor Parade. Tazewell, TN.
Nov 14. Mistletoe Market Craft Show. Blairsville, GA.
Nov 14. Veterans Day Parade. Strasburg, VA.
Nov 14-15. 5th Annual Christkindlmarkt. Signal Mountain, TN.
Nov 21. Asheville Holiday Parade. Asheville, NC.
Nov 21. Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting, Jingle Market. Dawsonville, GA.
Nov 21-22. 3rd Annual Christkindlmarkt. Chattanooga, TN.
Nov 21-22. Chattanooga Christmas Village Holiday Market. Cleveland, TN.
Nov 24-29. Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show. Gatlinburg, TN.
Nov 26-Dec 24. Mountain Country Christmas in Lights. Hiawassee, GA.
Nov 27. Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town. Blowing Rock, NC.
Nov 27. Lighting of the Village. Helen, GA.
Nov 27-28. Light Up Blue Ridge & Christmas Parade. Blue Ridge, GA.
Nov 27-Dec 30. Tweetsie Christmas. Blowing Rock, NC.
Nov 27-Jan 1. Christmas in the Park. Prestonsburg, KY.
Nov 28-29. Helen’s Christmas Market. Helen, GA.
Nov 28-Dec 24. Holiday Express Tour on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Blue Ridge, GA.
DECEMBER
Dec 1-31. Tour of Trees. Blairsville, GA.
Dec 4. Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Galax, VA.
Dec 4. Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. Gatlinburg, TN.
Dec 4. Greer Christmas Tree Lighting. Greer, SC.
Dec 4. Light Up Woodstock and Holiday Parade. Woodstock, VA
Dec 4. Night of Lights. Greenville, SC.
Dec 4, 11, 18. Dickens of a Christmas. Roanoke, VA.
Dec 4-5, 11-12. Dillsboro Luminaries. Dillsboro, NC.
Dec 4-6. Christmas in Barbourville. Barbourville, KY.
Dec 5. Christmas at the Gorge. Tallulah Falls, GA.
Dec 5. Christmas in the Country. Kingsport, TN.
Dec 5. Christmas on Main. Martinsburg, WV.
Dec 5. Hinton’s Hometown Christmas Festival. Hinton, WV.
Dec 5. Holiday on the Square and Christmas Parade. Blairsville, GA.
Dec 5. Kris Kringle Mountain Market. Blairsville, GA.
Dec 5. MAINx24. Chattanooga, TN.
Dec 5. Poinsettia Christmas Parade. Greenville, SC.
Dec 5. ‘Tis the Season Holiday Market and Parade. Strasburg, VA.
Dec 5. Winter Market. Tazewell, VA.
Dec 5. Winter Wonderfest. Harrisonburg, VA.
Dec 5. Wintertide. Monterey, VA.
Dec 5-6. Helen’s Christmas Market. Helen, GA.
Dec 5-6, 12-13, 19-20. Merry Makers Market. Martinsburg, WV.
Dec 6. Greer Christmas Parade. Greer, SC.
Dec 10-12. Frosty’s Forest Fair. Fort Ashby, WV.
Dec 11-12. Candlelight Tours. Chatsworth, GA.
Dec 12. Christmas at the Choo-Choo. Chattanooga, TN.
Dec 12. Christmas in the Country at McDonald Farm. Sale Creek, TN.
Dec 12. Helen’s Annual Christmas Parade. Helen, GA.
Dec 12. Sunset Candy Cane Hunt. Tallulah Falls, GA.
Dec 12. Tour de Lights. Knoxville, TN.
Dec 12. Vogel’s Christmas Tree Lighting. Blairsville, GA.
Dec 12-13. Journey to the Manger. Bakersville, NC.
Dec 13. Yadkin Valley Christmas Parade. Elkin and Jonesville, NC.
Dec 19-20. Last Minute Market. Collegedale, TN.
Dec 31. Dropping of the Edelweiss. Helen, Georgia.
Dec 31. New Year Fireworks at the Fairgrounds. Hiawassee, GA.
Dec 31. New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show and Ball Drop. Gatlinburg, TN.
Discover More Great Mountain Festivals & Events:
- Spring 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Summer 2026Â Festivals & Events Guide
- Fall 2026Â Festivals & Events Guide
- Holiday / Winter 2026Â Festivals & Events Guide
The story above first appeared in our May / June 2025 issue.
