Spend Spring in Townsend During Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day

TOWNSEND, Tenn. – Celebrate the natural beauty of the Smokies in springtime at the Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 5-6 at the Smoky Mountain Visitors Center.

The festival celebrates the heritage of the Smoky Mountains keeps Appalachian culture alive while giving visitors a hands-on look into the area’s unique traditions. Just a few of the activities taking place at the festival include bluegrass performances and jam sessions, woodcarving, Appalachian demonstrations, clogging, arts and crafts and storytelling.  

A variety of activities and events are held at multiple Townsend venues in conjunction with the festival including Apple Valley Restaurants, Cades Cove Cellars, Jeepism, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Trillium Cove and the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum. A free shuttle service provides transportation to and from each of the venues.

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center plays host to the Tennessee Pottery Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Admission is $5 with free admission for children under 5 years of age. Featuring 20 of the nation’s finest potters, this festival offers the opportunity to view and purchase different styles of pottery and other goods made of clay. Clay art connoisseurs and novices are invited to enjoy the pieces of art in the historic village at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

Festival-goers can take the opportunity to enjoy an interactive walking tour featuring a full-sized engine, coal and water tank at the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, as well as a shopping experience at Townsend’s downtown Trillium Cove.    

For more information, contact Jeff Muir 865-983-2241, jmuir@blountpartnership.com or visit www.SmokyMountains.org.

About Blount County, Tennessee

Blount County, Tennessee is located just south of Knoxville at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  The communities that make up Blount County—Townsend, Maryville, Alcoa, Friendsville, Louisville and Rockford – provide visitors with an abundance of outdoor activities, attractions and regular celebrations of the region’s rich Appalachian heritage and culture.  Blount County is also home to the nation’s most visited national park—the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

For more information about Blount County, please contact the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority at 800-525-6834 or visit www.SmokyMountains.org.

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