Top 5 Things to Do in The Smokies This Fall
There is no better time to explore The Great Smoky Mountains than the fall! Crisp air, bright foliage, and happy faces make a perfect getaway for anyone wanting to escape the mundane and explore nature. Whether you decide to take a day trip to Cades Cove, cozy up by the fire at a creekside campsite or stay for a week at a remote mountain cabin, there is a ton of things to do in the Smoky Mountains.
We’ve handpicked a list of our favorite events to help you create the most memorable trip, rain or shine:
October 30 & 31: Smoky Mountain Fall Festival
With a very long history of fall festivals, this year’s Smoky Mountain Fall Festival is going to be a blast! Check out the food vendors, local craftsmen, and entertainers; try mouth-watering baked goods and classic food samples; participate in games and competitions or take a hayride. This event is free to the public with $10 parking. And if you get hungry for dinner, come enjoy our dinner menu and kick back on the porch!
November 7th: Townsend Grain and Grits Festival
This unique festival brings the best of Southern spirits and gourmet foods to Townsend, a town located just minutes away from Elvira’s Cafe.
Come shake it to live music and sample one-of-the-kind spirits from local distilleries (Old Forge Distillery, Sugarlands Distillery, Brushy Mountain Moonshine, and more).
This year’s highlight is a large fire pit with roasted pig, lamb, poultry, and sausages presented by five local chefs. Each chef will incorporate a spirit from one of the distilleries into their food samples so you can determine the best combination of them all.
September - Thanksgiving: Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival
Take a day trip across the mountain to Gatlinburg and see the best fall decorations in East Tennessee! Gatlinburg is the ultimate place to photograph colorful pumpkins, scarecrows, and other creative fall arrangements. This year’s Harvest Festival is chock-full of creativity and remarkable events. Have some old-fashioned OktOBERfest fun in Ober Gatlinburg; meet costumed storytellers, cloggers, and musicians along the Parkway, or indulge in festive shopping on the strip. And don’t forget to stop by Elvira’s Cafe on your way back!
October 1 - 31: Kyker Farms Corn Maze
Won’t it be fun to get lost and found in a corn maze? For the entire month of October, Kyker Farms offers not just one but five different corn mazes! Artistically shaped in creative and complex designs, these state-of-the-art mazes are an ideal place for families and couples alike. In addition to a corn maze experience, Kyker Farms offers hayrides, pumpkin picking, bonfires, and, of course, a corn hole!
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival: Open Through October 31st
Every year, the Dollywood theme park welcomes visitors to its familiar family fall tradition. Harvest Festival 2020 has added a display of the world’s largest colossal pumpkins that range from 800 to 1500 lbs each. Amazing Great Pumpkin LumiNights offer displays, festive decorations, unique treats, and hand-made crafts. Tickets and passes can be purchased here.