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Life

Tennessee is in Full Bloom With These Spring Festivals

Michaela Baker
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Belmont Contributor
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Belmont chapter.

Looking for something new to do this spring? Grab some friends and hit the road because Tennessee is blooming with festivals. Here’s 12 stops to add to your Road Trip List. For more information, check out the websites below each description, and start planning your next trip today!

 

Festival of Nations

  • March 16-April 14

  • Pigeon Forge

  • This multi-cultural celebration features traditional music, dance, food and art of nations from around the globe. Fun for a group of friends or a date with your significant other, daily celebrations and authentic international cuisine and throughout the Dollywood park will give you an escape around the world without leaving the heart of the Smokies.

  • https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/festival-of-nations

Tin Pan South

  • March 26-30

  • Nashville

  • If you love learning about the stories behind songs, Tin Pan South is the festival for you. Over the course of five days, music fans come from all over the world to see dozens of performances, and get the chance to experience the songs and stories about their favorite hits straight from the incredibly talented songwriters that penned them.

  • http://tinpansouth.com/

Nashville Comedy Festival

  • April 8-14

  • Nashville

  • Get your laugh on at the 2019 Nashville Comedy Festival, featuring some of the funniest comedians in the world. Comedians perform at various venues throughout the city and bring non-stop laughter to all attendees. You can find a detailed lineup and list of shows on the Nashville Comedy Festival website.

  • https://www.nashcomedyfest.com/

Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival

  • April 13

  • Nashville

  • The annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring and the Japanese culture. Free to the public and right here in the heart of Nashville, it’s impossible to miss! If you don’t have anything going on, drop in.

  • http://www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org/

World’s Biggest Fish Fry

  • April 20-28

  • Paris

  • This whole festival revolves around a “Fish Tent” where more than 12,500 pounds of catfish is served with all the trimmings. In addition to all-you-can-eat catfish, you will find parades, carnival, rodeos, catfish races, dances, and even arts and crafts.

  • http://www.paristnchamber.com/home/events/fishfry/

Dogwood Arts Festival on Market Square

  • April 26-28

  • Knoxville

  • This spring celebration includes a fine art market, live music, artist demonstrations, and hands-on activities for kids and adults. The Festival is located on Market Square and has an estimated attendance of 40,000 to 50,000 people over the 3-day weekend.

  • https://www.dogwoodarts.com/dogwood-arts-festival/

Main Street Festival

  • April 27-28

  • Franklin

  • This festival is another can’t miss, being that it’s only 20 minutes from Nashville in downtown Franklin. Main Street Festival is expected to draw a crowd of about 100,000 for a fun-filled weekend of music, arts and crafts, and food, and is the perfect day trip for those who like to stay close to home.

  • https://williamsonheritage.org/mainstreet

National Cornbread Festival

  • April 27-28

  • South Pittsburg

  • Play games, eat cornbread, ride carnival rides, and enjoy wandering through the booths that line the streets of historic South Pittsburg at the National Cornbread Festival. Enjoy handmade arts and crafts, as well as taste southern artisan treats like honey, fudge, and rock candies.

  • http://nationalcornbread.com/

Tennessee Strawberry Festival

  • April 27-May 18

  • Dayton

  • The Tennessee Strawberry Festival has been around for over 70 years, and not only celebrates with everything strawberry related, but also arts and crafts, food, and entertainment. If you’ve never been to Dayton before, you’ll get the chance to check out its historic downtown area beauty at this sweet festival.

  • https://www.tnstrawberryfestival.com/

Rhythm N’ Blooms

  • May 17-19

  • Knoxville

  • With the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop and Historic Old City as the stage, Rhythm N’ Blooms celebrates the crossroads of Knoxville’s varied music history by showcasing popular national acts alongside the finest musicians East Tennessee has to offer.

  • https://www.rhythmnbloomsfest.com/

Nightfall Series

  • May 3-Aug. 30

  • Chattanooga

  • Nightfall provides a multi-week schedule of diverse music in the heart of Chattanooga. Celebrating its 32nd season, Nightfall features a broad spectrum of musical genres, and is perfect for a night out with friends to enjoy live music, food and drink in the outdoor atmosphere of Miller Plaza.

  • http://www.nightfallchattanooga.com/

Annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival

  • May 17-18

  • Sevierville

  • Whether you’re going for the tunes, great barbeque, or simply to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the southeast’s top festivals, Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass is a weekend of fun for all of you and all of your friends. There’s also a vocal competition, and an entry form can be found on their website.

  • http://www.bloominbbq.com/ 

 

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Hey there, I'm Mick! I'm an Entertainment Industry Studies major with a double minor in Music Business and Entertainment Journalism. In my free time, I watch a lot of 2000's episodic dramas and make lots of playlists. I love all things entertainment so if you ever need someone to share new to share music with or talk about television and movies with, I'm your person!
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