(0)A celebration of the culture and history of the areas in and around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend, and Sevierville, the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival features great local food, music, art, storytelling, and family-friendly events. The beginning of fall marks the start of the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival each year. When the leaves begin to change the landscape, the festival kicks off to bring locals and visitors an entire season of fun and festivities! A variety of events, ranging from car shows to music festivals, offer entertainment for all. While each season offers unique views and events in the Smokies, fall is especially beautiful and busy!
Fall is in the Air
The warm days, cool nights, gorgeous scenery, and full calendar of events make fall one of the most popular times of the year to visit the Great Smoky Mountains. From early September through the end of October, there are plenty of things to do, see, taste, hear, and smell! Area shops and restaurants join in on the fun as they showcase seasonal décor, foods, florals, and crafts. Become immersed in the mountain culture, steeped in rich Southern Appalachian history, as you stroll the Parkway.
Talented Craftsmen
A primary part of the area’s history and culture is the arts – local craftsmen who create amazing goods from leather, wood, metal, canvas, clay, and more. The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival offers you up-close, hands-on experiences with these arts. Listen to the sounds of Southern mountain music, take in the smells of pumpkin and spices, watch local artisans at work, and enjoy the vivid colors of autumn all around you during the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival!
As you plan your next trip to a homey cabin in the Smokies, keep these events in mind. Many events offer free admission, so you’ll find plenty to do without breaking the bank. Here are some of the events you might want to check out:
Saturday Nights Pickin’ on the Porch | Wood 'n Strings Dulcimer Shop, Townsend
Local mountain music every Saturday at 7 p.m. from May – October
Sevier County Fair | Sevierville Fair Grounds
Games, rides, family fun, and fair foods
Wine on the Lawn | Hillside Winery, Sevierville
Wine tasting in a beautiful setting
Ripley’s Fright Nights | Ripley's Haunted Adventure
Lots of scares with an annual theme every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night in October
Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run | Ole Smoky Moonshine, Gatlinburg
Hot rods and muscle cars of every make, model, and year at LeConte Center of Pigeon Forge
Fast Cars & Mason Jars Moonshine Festival
Sports cars, moonshine, and live music
Annual Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Craft Fair | Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge
Local arts and crafts
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair | Gatlinburg Convention Center
More than 200 booths of local artisans showcasing their work
Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival | Dumplin Valley Farm RV Park, Kodak
Nationally-known bluegrass musicians, great food, and crisp mountain air
Fall Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament | Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Two days of fishing fun and competition for kids and adults
Stomp Out Cancer 5K | Rocky Top Wine Trail
Wine tasting, walking, and running
Halloween Trick or Treat | Pigeon Forge Community Center
Trick or treating in a safe, family-friendly environment
Between the major events during the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival, enjoy live music along the Parkway, festive décor, and seasonal foods at area restaurants in the Smokies. Spend a few hours exploring the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, an 8-mile loop that’s home to the largest group of independent artisans in the U.S. Watch as these local artisans create, and then browse and buy wonderful works of art to take home. The artisans offer jewelry, local photography, paintings, clothing, local jams and jellies, candles, furniture, toys, and more!
A Vivid Display of Colors
Don’t forget to take time to check out the amazing fall colors! With such a large variety of trees – almost 100 native species – in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, fall in the Smokies is gorgeous and colorful. Call the Fall Color Hotline (1.800.697.4200) for information about the changing of the leaves each year.
For more information about the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival, call 865.453.8574. For a warm, inviting cabin to stay in this fall, check out our Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg cabin rentals. We have a variety of cabins to choose from, all offering unique amenities, views, and locations. Stay high up in the mountains with a fantastic view, by the water, or within walking distance of downtown Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Spend the day checking out harvest festival events, and then enjoy rest and relaxation in the privacy of your own cabin rental.