Band Schedule
Friday, September 25
12:00 TN Brushfire
1:00 Carolina Bluegrass
2:00 TBA
3:00 Dinner Break
3:30 Carolina Bluegrass
4:30 Brand New Box of Matches
5:30 JAM Kids
6:30 TN Brushfire
7:30 Blackberry Jam
8:30 Carolina Bluegrass
Saturday September 26
12:00 TN Brushfire
1:00 Wilson and Cross
2:00 Blackberry Jam
3:00 Dinner Break
3:30 Carolina Bluegrass
4:30 Brand New Box of Matches
5:30 Blackberry Jam
6:30 Double Cross
7:30 Timberline Road
8:30 Carolina Bluegrass
(Bands and times subject to change without notice.)
Food Vendors
- Sleepy Dog Coffee
- The Spiffy Spud
- The Crave Food Truck
- South on a Sandwich
- Smokeshow BBQ
- Red Box Hibachi
- Lucky’s lemonade
- Jenabelle Treats
- Carolina Tea & Soda Company
- B&D Concessions
- Tic Toc Ice Cream
- Smiley swirl
Other Activities
865 Axe Throwing
865LIFE
PartyWOW Parties – WOW Factor Balloon Company
Townsend Fall Heritage Festival
The foothills of the Smoky Mountains come to life with Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, time honored traditions and Appalachian cooking at the Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival, September 25-26, 2026. The festival provides an atmosphere where family and friends of all ages can partake in time-honored Appalachian traditions at a free community event.
An event for all ages, the festival centers around traditional and contemporary Bluegrass and mountain music; along with clogging and square dancing; art and craft booths; numerous Appalachian demonstrations; old-fashioned kids’ games; and Southern food, such as fried pies and kettle corn.
NEW LOCATION: Greater Smokies Event Grounds, 7930 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882
This is next door to the Townsend Visitor Center. All events will be held at the Greater Smokies Event Grounds.
Event Sponsors
Shuttle service provided by Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
Daily Schedule
September 25 & 26
Crafts & Demonstrations: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Food: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Music: 11 a.m.
Parking
Parking is $10 per day. Proceeds benefit the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department.
FREE Townsend Shuttle
Don’t forget the FREE shuttle that takes you around Townsend.
Buses, donated from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, do pick ups and drop offs at the Heritage Center, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, Jeep Outpost, Big Meadow Campground, The Abbey, Little River Railroad Museum, Apple Valley Cafe, Townsend Event Center.
Two buses runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
The last bus leaves the Townsend Event Center at 6 p.m. and returns to the Heritage Center, on both Friday and Saturday.
Crafter Vendors
- Check back for updated listing
Other Events
Blue Ribbon Country Fair
September 26 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend
(865) 448-0044 | www.gsmheritagecenter.org
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is hosting its annual Blue Ribbon Country Fair September 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrate all that’s good (and delicious) about an old-fashioned country fair with activities including living historian demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, spinning, weaving, wood turning, blacksmithing, and more. Get up close and personal with quality livestock, including cows, chickens, sheep, and goats.
Don’t miss the historical games, like Farmer in the Cove and the Ladies’ Skillet Throw.
The Farmer in the Cove game is a hands-on experience for children in the chores of a busy and productive 19th century family farm. Some pioneer chores for children to sample include apple picking, gathering eggs, tending to the cabin porch (a vital family area), laundry by hand, corn shelling, and even planting crops.
Competitions of all kinds abound in the style of the classic American County Fairs.
$20 Parking Donation.
Fall Railroad & Heritage Event at Little River Railroad & Lumber Co. Museum
September 26-27 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
7747 East Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend
865.448.2211 | www.littleriverrailroad.org
Join us for a full weekend of historic fun with trains, tractors and more. There will be history demonstrations, craft vendors, music, food & fun.
The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company is a non-profit corporation founded in 1982 to preserve the heritage of the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad. We operate a museum in Townsend, Tennessee, collecting, preserving and exhibiting the history of these companies, and of the people in this region.
Trillium Cove
117 Painted Trillium Way, Townsend
Trillium Cove provides visitors a unique shopping experience, at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Intertwining walkways meander through the Appalachian style village, offering cabin rentals & real estate, if you’re in the market to relax and enjoy panoramic mountain views.