Music Festivals and Concerts in the Smokies
By Julie Matthews
Some of our nation’s most legendary musical artists have hailed from Tennessee including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and, of course, Dolly Parton, with many more making the state their home. Tennessee is equally known for its deep musical history and its thriving music scene today, which includes a wide mix of musical sounds from bluegrass and blues to rock ‘n’ roll, gospel and soul. Bluegrass is certainly a popular music genre in the Tennessee Smokies due to its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Southern Appalachian heritage. The region celebrates music and the performing arts throughout the year by holding an array of festivals, concerts and theatrical shows. Below are some of the area’s top upcoming events featuring live music performances.
Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
Summer Season: June 27-July 26; Fall Season: Sept. 19-Oct. 18; Winter Magic: Nov. 28-Dec. 20
Enjoy musical performances and dancing, plus storytelling nightly at this annual summer street performance festival in Gatlinburg.
Gatlinburg
Facebook.com/GBTunesandTales
Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival
July 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Patriot Park at this free and family-friendly event featuring music, food and fun.
Pigeon Forge
PigeonForgePatriotfestival.com
Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival
Aug. 15-16
Join this two-day music series, featuring top songwriters, held at the Historic Gatlinburg Inn.
Historic Gatlinburg
GatlinburgSongWriters.com
25th Annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival
Sept. 18-20
Head to the farm for this fun annual event full of music and camaraderie.
Kodak
DumplinValley-Bluegrass.com
Grains & Grits
Nov. 1
Groove to live music performances at Townsend’s jubilant festival celebrating a love of craft spirits and gourmet food.
Townsend
GrainsAndGritsFest.com
Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies Festival
Nov. 20-22
Experience this popular holiday-focused festival showcasing incredible musical performances at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Gatlinburg
BlueGrassChristmasInSmokies.com
In addition, music fans will want to check out the events calendar of the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center (GSMHeritageCenter.org/Events-Tickets) in Townsend for its concert series lineup.
Also see this publication’s Theater Guide section on page 12 for information about popular theater shows in the Tennessee Smokies. All dates and times are subject to change. Please call ahead or check online.
