Events, Programs, and Festivals
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Fourth of July Celebration in Townsend! Join us Saturday evening, July 4th for a musical program and fireworks in the field next to Highland Manor Inn. Activities begin at 8:30pm and fireworks start at 9:45pm. Sponsored by Bank East, the City of Townsend, and the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department. Bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.
Four seasons of celebrations await you in Townsend, Tennessee! Our festivals and special events showcase the natural and cultural heritage of this beautiful area. For more information, please call the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.
Interested in our workshops and classes? Find out more!
March-December: Arts and Crafts Demonstrations in the Visitor Center, and Calendar of other area activities. And click here to download a 2009 Monthly Calendar: 
Exhibits-Events Monthly Calendar-09
Enjoy beautiful Cades Cove with a special tour! Want to have the entire family together, learn as you go, enjoy the wildlife, scenery, and history, and let someone else do the driving? For a fun and educational trip led by a knowledgable guide in a comfortable, fuel efficient 19 passenger van, take the Cades Cove Heritage Tour, departing from the CCHT Depot in Townsend. To make reservations, call 865-448-8838 or email Alex Roche: alex.gsmhc@cadescoveheritagtours.org
Volunteer Opportunities: We rely upon the terrific talents of community volunteers to make our events successful. Join in the fun!
Many of our event photographs are taken by Mary Grace McCaffery, one of our Visitor Center volunteers.
Are you a conservation-minded visitor? See the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau's special green website for low impact vacation ideas: http://www.lowimpactvacation.com/ and click here for a few eco-tips for your visit. Traveling to other places in our beautiful state? See Tennessee's Sustainable Tourism website: www.tnsustainabletourism.com
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2009 Events: 
The 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Townsend area and other gateway communities will have many activities to honor the birth of the Park.
Exhibits and Demonstrations in the Visitor Center Exhibit Room. Visit with and buy directly from talented, local artists from April through December. http://www.smokymountains.org/arts/arts-crafts-demos.html
Woodturning Demonstration in the Townsend Visitors Center Pavilion: July 18, August 22 and September 12, 2009. Monte Walker will not only create bowls and lamps to show the process of woodturning, but he will also have an assortment of his art for sale, including lamps, bowls, pens, platters, vases, and other items.
Townsend Artisan Guild Woodcarving Festival: August 22--23, 2009. Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. See all sorts of woodcarvers exhibit their skills and sell their work. For more information, call 865-448-6350 and visit Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers.
Vintage Camper Fall Rally in the Smokies, 2009: September 11 and 12, 2009. Misty River Cabins and RV Resort, Walland, TN. See great looking vintage campers of all sizes, from an 8' teardrop to a 35' bus. Visit with friendly folks and have a great time. Misty River Cabins & RV Resort is the Tennessee Campground of the Year 2008-2009. Call 877-981-4305 for details.
17th Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day: September 25-26, 2009, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, clogging, arts and crafts, sorghum molasses making and other Appalachian skills, antique tractor show, young folks program, great food. http://www.smokymountainfestivals.org/
For more information about these and other events, please call the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.
Click here to find out about Volunteer Opportunities at our festivals.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center events take place all year long here in Townsend. Activities include quilt shows, concerts, cultural heritage programs, and festivals, plus their permanent exhibits of Native American and early settler history. 865-448-0044.
Click here to view our new Smoky Mountain Festivals website!
Music: Bluegrass, Old Time, Dulcimer, Celtic and more! Jam Sessions and performances at Rocky Branch Community Center, Walland, TN on Friday nights; Bluegrass and more at Music Row in Maryville Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. In the summertime, visit Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop's "Pickin' Porch". Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center also has concerts in their amphitheater from spring to fall.
The Blount County Library has many interesting events throughout the year. Contact them at 865-982-0981 or go to: www.blountlibrary.org Download the July, 2009 Calendar: 
Library Events-July
Interested in other community services, businesses, and organizations?
See the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.
Past Events:
ChristyFest: June 17--21, 2009, Valley View Lodge in Townsend, TN. Join enthusiasts of the book and movie Christy, with talks, storytelling, field trips, and more. For details, go to http://www.christyfest.org/
Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival: Friday, June 5, noon--7:00pm and Saturday, June 6, 2009 9:00am--5:00pm. Enjoy the work of skilled artisans and see pottery being made at this juried show with 35 booths. Featured guest potters are Melissa Maney and Peter Rose. There will be demonstrations, a special firing, children's tent, music, and good food. An officially sanctioned event of the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See our new Festivala website: www.smokymountainfestivals.org
This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Trout Fest: May 15-17, 2009. A special event to highlight Smoky Mountain streams, fishing, and conservation. For details, click here:
Or call Little River Outfitters at 865-448-9459.
Vintage Camper Rally in the Smokies: May 15--16, 2009. Misty River Cabins and RV Resort. 865-981-4300, http://www.mistyriverrv.com/
Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day: May 1-2, 2009, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, Appalachian skills, wildflower walks and garden tours, storytelling, BBQ contest, antique cars and tractors. Also visit our new Festivals website: www.smokymountainfestivals.org
And download the brochure: Spring Festival Brochure-09
Young musicians are invited to enter our young Pickers Talent Contest, sponsored by Pick N Grin, Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp, Murlin's Music World, Rocky Branch Community Club, and Digital Express. Click here for the registration form: Young Pickers 4-09
Herb and Wildflower Day: Saturday, April 4, 2009. A tribute to the beauty and fascination of wildflowers, ferns, trees, and herbs. Visit with expert botanists, artists, photographers, and naturalists. Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, and fine hand-made pottery. Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place. Click here for the details: Herb and Wildflower brochure
Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies: February 5--8, 2009. A community-wide celebration of the human history,natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Call 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.
Click here for the full schedule: WHF Schedule 1-26 , list of presenters: WHF presenters ,
and registration form: WHF registration form and see the highlights at www.winterheritagefestival.org
Townsend Love Affair: February 13--15, 2009. Local Artisans showcase their talents in paintings, woodcarving, pottery and quilts while musicians share their gift of bluegrass, fiddle tunes and making instruments. Dancers teach clogging lessons to children of all ages, while historians and nature photographers share their knowlege of the Smokys and storytellers spin their tales. Little River Railroad volunteers share the history of the railroad and its impact on our area. These events are spread throughout the town, giving ample opportunity for all to enjoy. Click here for the brochure: Townsend Love Affair
