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Great Fall Getaways
4. Fall Festivals in Tennessee
When you think of fall, you may think of pumpkins, leaves crunching under your feet, and sweet, spicy aromas. What makes the season better is sharing those experiences with others at a Tennessee fall festival.
Pumpkinfest
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin Pumpkinfest. Image courtesy of the Heritage Foundation |
Over 65,000 people visit the tiny town of Franklin each year to revel in the pumpkin – and in the other delights offered at Pumpkinfest. Costume contests, all-day music events, arts and crafts vendors, a food and beer tent and extreme pumpkin carving all bring this festival to life. Free kids’ events, including bouncy houses, face painting, games and even an area dedicated for the preschoolers help keep this day fun for kids and adults alike.
Festival Date: October 30, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: 300 Public Square, Franklin, TN
Accommodations
Walden Pumpkin Farm
Smyrna, Tennessee
Walden Farm. Image by Walden Farm |
Enjoy a relaxing, hayride that takes you on a portion of this farm. Look for wildlife and beautiful scenery along the way. An activity area includes a Corn maze, Tennessee Slip n Slide, Hay Mountain, Duck Races, Calf Roping, Corn crib and more. The whole family can enjoy all these activities. Race each other down the Slip n Slide! Who can rope a calf the fastest? Climb to the top of the Hay Mountain! Find your way through the 1-1/2 acre corn maze. It has lots of twists and turns! Take a barrel ride aboard the pumpkin train on a fun path around the corn maze.
Free activities include an animal barn and a hay maze. Come pet the animals in the barn! Can you find your way through the Hay Maze? It’s a tricky path, so don’t get lost!
Location: 8653 Rocky Fork Road, Smyrna, TN
For more information, visit waldenpumpkinfarm.com.
Mountain Makins Festival
Morristown, Tennessee
Basket weaving by Teresa Buchanan |
Woodworker Dave Hansard |
Mountain Makins is an Appalachian Folk Life Festival celebrating the crafts, art, and unique culture of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Known for high quality crafts and artisans, the festival features a juried arts & crafts fair, as well as top regional musical talent, delicious food, and children's activities.
The popular Boogertown Gap performs with musical entertainment. Image courtesy of Boogertown Gap |
The festival has been named a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society and is filled with juried fine arts and crafts, live music, dancing, storytelling, children's activities, food and expert demonstrations of time-honored crafting traditions.
For more information, visit www.rosecenter.org/mountain-makins.
Dates: October 23-24, 2021
Location: The Rose Center, 442 W 2nd North St, Morristown, TN.
Tickets: $7.00 | Free for ages 6 and under
Accommodations
Fall Festivals
Clarksville, Tennessee
Fall in Clarksville. Image by Houston Menser |
Clarksville BBQ Bash - Saturday, October 9
Enjoy live music, artisan vendors, and more. Beer and food trucks will be available for purchase. General admission is free.
Location: Wilma Rudolph Event Center and Amphitheater, 1188 Cumberland Drive, Clarksville TN
Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Freedom Train - October 15-23
A play about Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy
Roxy Regional Theatre, 100 Franklin Street, Clarksville TN
Harriet Tubman was born a slave but, at age twenty-five, she made her perilous escape from a Maryland plantation, leaving her family behind. Pursued by dogs and relentless slave catchers, she followed an escape route laid out by Quakers — secret hiding places in churches, barns, cellars and homes. The escape route that Harriet followed soon became known as the Underground Railroad, and she quickly became one of its most celebrated “conductors.” Up creek beds, through swamps, over hills in the dark of night, on nineteen secret trips, Harriet Tubman guided more than 300 slaves, including her aged parents, to freedom. “I never run my train off the track,” she said, “and I never lost a passenger.”
A play based on the book by Marvin Gordon.
Tickets
$30 adults; $15, 10 and under
Clarksville Oktoberfest - October 23
Bikers Who Care, 1190 Cumberland Drive
Experience a traditional Bavarian Bier Garden with a variety of fall and German brews, as well as authentic polka music. Stein Hoist competition, Brat eating contest, Wiener Dog races, plus everyone is encouraged to dress up in their favorite German/Bavarian costumes to add to the festivities. There will be a kids zone, carnival games, inflatables, face painting, cotton candy, sno-cones, pumpkin painting, and more.
Time: 12 p.m.- 10 p.m.
Cost: $5 for those 10 and older
HarvestFest - October 30
Historic Collinsville, 4711 Weakley Road
Pick and paint a pumpkin and make butter. Hunt for treasures in scavenger hunts throughout the day and maybe win a treasure of your own. Enjoy demonstrations from a blacksmith and learn more about pioneer life from docents.
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $10
Accommodations
Cleveland Apple Festival
Cleveland, Tennessee
A vendor at the Cleveland Apple Festival. Image courtesy of The Cleveland Apple Festival |
The Cleveland Apple Festival is a celebrated family event in downtown Cleveland. It's a great event for families, especially since so many of the kids’ activities are perfectly free – including pony rides! Enjoy a variety of contests, from the Miss Apple Blossom pageant to the Apple Dessert competition. Indulge in a petting zoo, live music and plenty of good food – much of it inspired by apples, of course.
For more information on the festival, visit clevelandapplefestival.org.
Location: Bradley County Courthouse Square, 155 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN.
Dates: October 16-17, 2021
Accommodations 
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