You find yourself in the heart of an energizing buzz of activity. People are laughing and dancing in the streets. Delicious scents drift through the air, carried by a distant melody. Vibrant wares catch your eye as you walk past smiling vendors, and you feel the unifying power of community. In Unicoi County and all of Northeast Tennessee, we show up and show out for festival season—which just so happens to occur all year long.
15+ Festivals
Live
Music
Street Food
Arts & Crafts
When you live in a part of the country where pure goodness abounds, there’s plenty to celebrate throughout the year. In fact, our region’s diverse festivals draw crowds from all over the world. So while we recommend you check out all the natural beauty Unicoi County has to offer—including the Nolichucky River and white water rafting—if you can plan your trip to align with any of the area’s awesome festivals you’ll be in for quite a treat.
The Apple Festival is Unicoi County’s most renowned festival. It sees more than 110,000 attendees flooding the streets of Erwin, Tennessee, each October and has consistently held a spot as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events in the southeast, in addition to numerous other accolades. The festival plays host to arts and craft vendors from around the country, offers a range of delicious festival fare, and provides live entertainment. If you’ll be visiting earlier in the year, be sure to check out Unicoi County’s Fiddlers and Fiddleheads Festival which happens in April, or the Strawberry Festival and the Flag Pond Ramp Festival which happen in May. Though smaller in scale, all three of these festivals are sure to give you a sense of community and provide a fun, memorable experience.
Photo by: Parker Bohon
For outdoor lovers, the Rhododendron Festival in June and Meet the Mountains Festival in August are worth a visit. The Rhododendron Festival takes place less than 30 minutes away in scenic Roan Mountain, famous for its grand display of naturally growing Catawba rhododendrons. In Johnson City, just 15 minutes away from Unicoi County, Meet the Mountains boasts a display to make the heart of any outdoorsman or woman race with vendors, interactive booths, games, and more all dedicated to the great outdoors and sporting opportunities of Northeast Tennessee. Here attendees can try out fun experiences like kayaking, ax throwing, and more.
In Johnson City, the festival spirit is celebrated throughout the year. Ranked Top 50 Festivals in the US, Thirsty Orange happens each April and is a festival beer-lovers should plan to attend. Every June, downtown Johnson City comes alive with the Blue Plum Festival, which features multiple stages and celebrates what makes this region special—the music, flavors, arts, crafts, and people. Later, in August, Johnson City celebrates music again when multiple stages take over the streets of downtown for the Little Chicago Festival. And if you haven’t had enough music yet, just pop up to Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia for the Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival, which unites this border community each September with multiple days of music and festivities, and draws visitors from around the world.
These are just a few of the many amazing large and small festivals you can enjoy when you plan a trip to Unicoi County.
Discover Appalachia’s rich musical history and learn more about Unicoi County festivals where that musical heritage is celebrated each year.
Indulge your senses when you eat and drink your way through Unicoi County and the surrounding region. Check out some of our most delicious festivals and start planning!
Make the most of your visit to Unicoi County and our gorgeous outdoors. Park your RV, pitch a tent, or rent a cabin at one of our many welcoming parks.
After a day of festival fun, find some peace beneath the towering trees of the Cherokee National Forest. Enjoy stunning views and unwind in this outdoor paradise.
Don’t pass up a chance to experience one of the top rivers in the world—the Nolichucky. From white water rafting to drifting down a lazy river, there’s a speed for everyone.
Tucked at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Unicoi County is rich in personality and offers a vibrant outdoor lifestyle. Learn more about this special spot of the county.
