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: 4th of July Parade & Festival, July 4, Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Photo courtesy of Visit Blowing Rock
LATE JUNE
June 21. Father’s Day Blues & Brews. Chattanooga, TN.
June 23-27. Boyd County Fair. Ashland, KY.
June 24-28. West Virginia Freedom Festival. Logan, WV.
June 25-27. Doc McCabe Bluegrass Festival. Big Island, VA.
June 27. Freedom Blast. Greer, SC.
June 27. Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening. Lenoir, NC.
June 27. Star City Motor Madness. Roanoke, VA.
June 27-Jan 24. Picturing America’s Pasttime: A Snapshot of the Photo Collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Greenville, SC.
JULY
July 1-4. Stanley Homecoming. Stanley, VA.
July 1-12. Salem Fair. Salem, VA.
July 2. Clemson MBA Fireworks on the Fourth. Greenville, SC.
July 2-5. Charleston Sternwheel Regatta. Charleston, WV.
July 2-26. Wintergreen Music Festival. Wintergreen, VA.
July 3. Fireworks at the Lighthouse. Mt. Nebo, WV.
July 3. Freedom Food Festival. Lexington, VA.
July 3. Pops on the River. Chattanooga, TN.
July 3. Summer Jam. Massanutten, VA.
July 3-4. Christmas in July Festival. West Jefferson, NC.
July 3-4; Oct 24-25; Nov 28. Ride the Rails. Mineral Bluff, GA.
July 4. 4th Fest. Harlan, KY.
July 4. 4th of July Celebration. Wytheville, VA.
July 4. 4th of July Parade/Fireworks. Sparta, NC.
July 4. 4th of July Parade & Festival. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 4. Annual 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks. Helen, GA.
July 4. Fourth of July Downtown Get Down. Luray, VA.
July 4. Independence Day Anvil Shoot Celebration. Clinton, TN.
July 4. Independence Day Celebration at Crab Orchard Museum. Tazewell, VA.
July 4. Independence Day Fireworks. Woodstock, VA.
July 4. Independence Day Parade & Fireworks. Galax, VA.
July 4. July 4th Celebration. Williamsburg, KY.
July 4. July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 4. July 4th Fireworks Over Lake Chatuge. Hiawassee, GA.
July 4. Lake Blue Ridge Fireworks. Blue Ridge, GA.
July 4. Patriot Festival. Pigeon Forge, TN.
July 4. Red, White, & Blairsville Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks. Blairsville, GA.
July 4. Red, White & Boom. Spartanburg, SC.
July 4. Star-Spangled Banner Elk. Banner Elk, NC.
July 4-5. Art on the Greene. Banner Elk, NC.
July 4-5. Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival. Lexington, VA.
July 4-5. Independence Day Celebration. Yadkinville, NC.
July 4-5. Sweet Corn Festival at Darnell Farms. Bryson City, NC.
July 9-12. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Linville, NC.
July 10-11. North Carolina Blackberry Festival. Lenoir, NC.
July 10-11. Old Time & Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention. Tazewell, VA.
July 10-11. Rock the Country. Ashland, KY.
July 10-12. Berea Craft Festival. Berea, KY.
July 10-12. Fanboy Expo. Knoxville, TN.
July 10-12. Festival on the Square. Hayesville, NC.
July 10-12. John Henry Days. Talcott, WV.
July 10-18. Putnam County Fair. Eleanor, WV.
July 10-19. Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair (Summer). Gatlinburg, TN.
July 11. Cumberland Valley Cruise-In. Corbin, KY.
July 11. Mountain City Sunflower Festival. Mountain City, TN.
July 11. New Deal Festival. Arthurdale, WV.
July 11-12. Arts & Crafts Show. Maggie Valley, NC.
July 15-18. West Virginia’s Branch Mountain Bluegrass Festival. Moorefield, WV.
July 15-19. Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Asheville, NC.
July 16-18. 4848 Festival. Snowshoe, WV.
July 16-18. Shriners Bluegrass Festival. Olive Hill, KY.
July 17. Symphony by the Lake at Chetola. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 17-18. Alleghany County Fiddler’s Convention. Sparta, NC.
July 17-18. Championship Rodeo. Galax, VA.
July 17-18. Chillin’ & Grillin’ in the Glades. Wise, VA.
July 17-18. Grainger County Tomato Festival. Rutledge, TN.
July 17-18. Master Musicians Festival. Somerset, KY.
July 17-19. Hungry Mother Festival. Marion, VA.
July 17-19. Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days. Moneta, VA.
July 17-25. Fun Fest. Kingsport, TN.
July 17-Sept 6. Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. Orkney Springs, VA.
July 18. Art Walk. Dillsboro, NC.
July 18. Christmas in July. Independence, VA.
July 18. Grooves in the Garden Outdoor Music Festival. Knoxville, TN.
July 18. Hometown Market. Fairmont, WV.
July 18. Jeepin’ on Main & Community Picnic. Williamsburg, KY.
July 18. Pancakes with Pirates. Moneta, VA.
July 18. Tunes in the Park. Greer, SC.
July 18. Twilight Hot as Hades Market. Chattanooga, TN.
July 18-19. Butternut Creek Arts & Crafts Festival. Blairsville, GA.
July 19. Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 19. Gran Fondo Asheville. Asheville, NC.
July 19. Hamlett-Dobson Farm Fest. Kingsport, TN.
July 20-26. Chattanooga Taco Week. Chattanooga, TN.
July 21-26. Charity Horse Show – Hunter/Jumper I. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 22-26. FloydFest. Check, VA.
July 22-25. Whitley County Fair. Williamsburg, KY.
July 24-25. Dino Festival. Martinsville, VA.
July 24-25. Hillbilly Jam. Maggie Valley, NC.
July 24-25. Main Street Moments. Tazewell, VA.
July 24-25. Smoke on the Mountain Barbecue Championship. Galax, VA.
July 24-26. Mary Draper Ingles Festival. Radford, VA.
July 24-26. Take a Break from the Interstate Market. Alleghany County, NC.
July 24-Aug 2. Virginia Highlands Festival. Abingdon, VA.
July 25. Art in the Park. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 25. Brushy Mountain Peach & Heritage Festival. Wilkesboro, NC.
July 25-26. Green Bean Festival. Blairsville, GA.
July 26-Aug 2. Grassy Creek Mineral & Gem Show. Spruce Pine, NC.
July 27-Aug 1. Frederick County Fair. Clear Brook, VA.
July 28-Aug 2. Charity Horse Show – Hunter/Jumper II. Blowing Rock, NC.
July 29-Aug 2. Appalachian String Band Music Festival. Clifftop, WV.
July 29-Aug 9. South Carolina New Play Festival. Greenville, SC.
July 30-Aug 1. Mountain Dance & Folk Festival. Swannanoa, NC.
July 30-Aug 2. NC Mineral & Gem Fest. Spruce Pine, NC.
July 31-Aug 1. Botetourt County Fair. Buchanan, VA.
July 31-Aug 2. Corn Festival. Stanton, KY.
July 31-Aug 2. CreepyCon Halloween & Horror Convention. Knoxville, TN.
AUGUST
Aug 1. Margarita Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
Aug 1. Pickin’Fest. Floyd, VA.
Aug 1-2. Art on the Greene. Banner Elk, NC.
Aug 1-2, 8-9. Sunflowers & Selfies. Helen, GA.
Aug 1-6. New River Gorge Summit. Pipestem, WV.
Aug 2. Boone Gran Fondo. Boone, NC.
Aug 3-8. Old Fiddlers’ Convention. Galax, VA.
Aug 4-8. Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival. Parsons, WV.
Aug 7-8. Grayson County Agricultural Fair. Elk Creek, VA.
Aug 7-8. Lewisburg Literary Festival. Lewisburg, WV.
Aug 7-8. Mount Mitchell Arts & Crafts Fair. Burnsville, NC.
Aug 7-8. Newport Agricultural Fair. Newport, VA.
Aug 7-8. Steppin’ Out Festival. Blacksburg, VA.
Aug 7-8. Waldensian Festival. Valdese, NC.
Aug 7-9. West Virginia Peach Festival. Fort Ashby, WV.
Aug 8. Cumberland Gap FolkFest. Cumberland Gap, TN.
Aug 8. Irish Fest on the Hill. Knoxville, TN.
Aug 8. Mingle at the Market. Vinton, VA.
Aug 8. Route 11 Yard Crawl. Shenandoah County, VA.
Aug 8. SedaliaFest. Big Island, VA.
Aug 8. Treasure on the Mountain. Snowshoe, WV.
Aug 8-15. High Knob Outdoor Fest. Norton, VA.
Aug 13-22. State Fair of West Virginia. Lewisburg, WV.
Aug 14-15. Meet the Mountains Festival. Johnson City, TN.
Aug 14-22. Georgia Mountain Fair. Hiawassee, GA.
Aug 14-23. Staunton Music Festival. Staunton, VA.
Aug 15. 4th Annual Lost River Classic Gravel Race. Mathias, WV.
Aug 15. Annual Tomato Festival. Fairmont, WV.
Aug 15. Art in the Park. Blowing Rock, NC.
Aug 15. Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival. Townsend, TN.
Aug 15. Pedal the Gap Inaugural Bike. Cumberland Gap, TN.
Aug 15. Tunes in the Park. Greer, SC.
Aug 16. Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series. Blowing Rock, NC.
Aug 16-22. Jefferson County Fair. Kearneysville, WV.
Aug 20-22. Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Club Invasion. Pigeon Forge, TN.
Aug 21-23. Southern Gap Trails & Tunes Festival. Grundy, VA.
Aug 22. GermanFest. Knoxville, TN.
Aug 22. Rockbridge Community Festival. Lexington, VA.
Aug 22. Smith River Fest. Axton, VA.
Aug 22. Watermelon Festival. Sale Creek, TN.
Aug 27; Sept 3, 10; Oct 3, 8. Acoustic Sunsets Fall Concert Series. Hiawassee, GA.
Aug 28. Fourth Friday. Tazewell, VA.
Aug 28-30. Fanboy Expo. Knoxville, TN.
Aug 29. Crossing the Gap Charity Car Show. Cumberland Gap, TN.
Aug 29. Twilight Grand Market. Chattanooga, TN.
Aug 29. WNC Bigfoot Festival. Marion, NC.
Aug 29-30. Knoxville Asian Festival. Knoxville, TN.
Aug 29-30. Railroad Heritage Weekend at Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock, NC.
Aug 31-Sept 5. Claiborne County Fair. Tazewell, TN.
SEPTEMBER
Sept 3-6. Front Porch Fest. Stuart, VA.
Sept 4. Labor Day Car Show. Dawsonville, GA.
Sept 4-6. West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. Clarksburg, WV.
Sept 4-7. Labor Day Flea Market & Gun Show. Hillsville, VA.
Sept 4-7. North Carolina Apple Festival. Hendersonville, NC.
Sept 5. Folk Pottery & Arts Festival. Sautee Nacoochee, GA.
Sept 5. Grape Stomp Fest. Blairsville, GA.
Sept 5. NC Hellbender Festival. Spruce Pine, NC.
Sept 5. Rollin’ Neath the Roan Car Show. Bakersville, NC.
Sept 5. Taste of the Mountains Main Street Festival. Madison, VA.
Sept 5-6. Art on the Greene. Banner Elk, NC.
Sept 5-6. Arts & Crafts Show. Maggie Valley, NC.
Sept 5-6. Chattanooga Reptile & Exotic Pet Expo. East Ridge, TN.
Sept 5-6. Hiawassee Pro Rodeo. Hiawassee, GA.
Sept 5-6. Pickle Fest at Darnell Farms. Bryson City, NC.
Sept 5-6. SC Apple Festival. Westminster, SC.
Sept 6. Big Kahuna Wing Festival. Knoxville, TN.
Sept 10. Taste of Blount. Maryville, TN.
Sept 10-12. Knott County Gingerbread Festival. Hindman, KY.
Sept 10-13, 17-20, 24-27; nightly Oct 1-Nov 1. Oktoberfest. Helen, GA.
Sept 11-12. Aiken’s Makin’ Art & Craft Show. Aiken, SC.
Sept 11-12. Nicholas County Potato Festival. Summersville, WV.
Sept 11-13. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Bristol, VA/TN.
Sept 11-19. Chattahoochee Mountain Fair. Cornelia, GA.
Sept 11-20. North Carolina Mountain State Fair. Fletcher, NC.
Sept 11-20. Tennessee Valley Fair. Knoxville, TN.
Sept 12. Atomic Fall Fest. Oak Ridge, TN.
Sept 12. Art in the Park. Blowing Rock, NC.
Sept 12. Blue Ridge Bee Festival. Bedford, VA.
Sept 12. Boones Mill Apple Festival. Boones Mill, VA.
Sept 12. Olde Salem Days. Salem, VA.
Sept 12. Paw Paw Festival. Paw Paw, WV.
Sept 12. Rock the Block. Dobson, NC.
Sept 12. Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival. Lexington, VA.
Sept 12. Run Walk or Roll 5K. Harrogate, TN.
Sept 12. SOOIE. | Mauldin BBQ Cook-Off. Mauldin, SC.
Sept 12-13. Fall Market at the Greenway. Cleveland, TN.
Sept 13. Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series. Blowing Rock, NC.
Sept 14-Oct 31. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. Pigeon Forge, TN.
Sept 15-19. Plein Air Festival. Blowing Rock, NC.
Sept 17-19. Blazin’ Bluegrass Fall Festival. Whitley City, KY.
Sept 17-19. Dailey & Vincent Music Fest. Hiawassee, GA.
Sept 17-19. Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival. Kodak, TN.
Sept 17-19. Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival. Buena Vista, VA.
Sept 17-20. euphoria Food, Wine & Music Festival. Greenville, SC.
Sept 18-20. Fall Naturalists’ Rally. Roan Mountain, TN.
Sept 18-20. Ole Time Festival. Edinburg, VA.
Sept 18-20. Upstate Renaissance Faire. Greer, SC.
Sept 18-Oct 31. Enchanted Pumpkin Patch. Lookout Mountain, GA.
Sept 19. Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival. Sparta, NC.
Sept 19. Blues & BBQ Festival. Blue Ridge, GA.
Sept 19. Cherokee Heritage Festival. Hayesville, NC.
Sept 19. Hometown Market/End of Summer Bash. Fairmont, WV.
Sept 19. Tunes in the Park. Greer, SC.
Sept 19. White Lightning Trail Festival. Cumberland Gap, TN.
Sept 19. Wilderness Trail Festival. Christiansburg, VA.
Sept 19. Youth Arts Festival. Dillsboro, NC.
Sept 19-20. Pulaski County Fall Flea Market. Dublin, VA.
Sept 19-20. West Virginia Wine & Jazz Festival. Morgantown, WV.
Sept 21-27. Mayberry Days. Mount Airy, NC.
Sept 22-26. SC Foothills Heritage Fair. Seneca, SC.
Sept 23-26. Antlers & Acorns: The Boone Songwriters Festival. Boone, NC.
Sept 23-26. Henry County Fair. Ridgeway, VA.
Sept 25. Greer Alive. Greer, SC.
Sept 25-27. 73rd Annual Hardy County Heritage Weekend. Moorefield, WV.
Sept 25-27. Chattanooga Taco Festival. East Ridge, TN.
Sept 25-27. Community Apple Festival. Chilhowie, VA.
Sept 25-27. Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival. Kearneysville, WV.
Sept 25-Oct 31 (Friday and Saturday nights). Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock, NC.
Sept 26. Burke’s Garden Fall Festival. Tazewell, VA.
Sept 26. Chattanooga Bacon & Barrel Food & Whiskey Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
Sept 26. Harvest Moon Festival. Cumberland Gap, TN.
Sept 26. North Georgia Highland Games. Clayton, GA.
Sept 26. Oktoberfest Kickoff Concert. Massanutten, VA.
Sept 26. Pratt Fall Festival. Pratt, WV.
Sept 26. Railfest. Greer, SC.
Sept 26. WoodsTACO Street Taco Festival. Woodstock, VA.
Sept 26. Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival. Elkin, NC.
Sept 26-27. Fall Folk Arts Festival. Kingsport, TN.
Sept 26-27. Queen City Mischief & Magic. Staunton, VA.
Sept 26-27. Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival. Moneta, VA.
Sept 26-Oct 4. Mountain State Forest Festival. Elkins, WV.
Sept 27-Oct 3. National Quartet Convention. Pigeon Forge, TN.
Sept 30-Oct 3. Albino Skunk Music Festival. Greer, SC.
Discover More Great Mountain Festivals & Events:
- Spring 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Summer 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Fall 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Holiday / Winter 2026Â Festivals & Events Guide
The story above first appeared in our May / June 2025 issue.
