September in Tennessee means cooler air, changing leaves starting to hint at fall, and weekends packed with festivals across the state. From the mountains of East Tennessee to the farmlands out west, small towns and mid-sized cities roll out live music, food competitions, cultural celebrations, and quirky traditions that bring neighbors together and give visitors a reason to hit the road.
Whether you’re chasing bluegrass, barbecue, bagpipes, or a dachshund race, these ten festivals make September the best month to explore Tennessee beyond the usual tourist stops.
1. Tennessee Soybean Festival, Martin
Martin sits in the northwest corner of Tennessee, and every September it throws a festival built around the crop that fuels the local economy. Soybeans might not sound like party material, but this event has been drawing crowds for decades with a mix of live bands, carnival rides, craft booths, and enough fried food to justify the drive from anywhere in the state.
The festival kicks off with a parade through downtown, complete with tractors, marching bands, and local royalty waving from convertibles. Once the parade wraps, the real action starts.
Stages scattered around the festival grounds host country, rock, and gospel acts throughout the weekend, while kids work their way through bounce houses and game booths set up along the midway.
Food vendors line the streets with funnel cakes, barbecue, and festival staples, but the real draw is the agricultural side of things. You’ll find exhibits on modern farming, antique tractor displays, and demonstrations that show how soybeans go from field to table.
It’s a genuine slice of rural West Tennessee life, not dressed up for tourists.
Martin is about two hours north of Memphis and an hour south of Kentucky, making it an easy day trip if you’re already exploring the region. The festival usually runs Thursday through Saturday, so you can pick your crowd size depending on when you show up.
Locals pack the place on Saturday, but Thursday and Friday offer a more relaxed pace if you prefer elbow room.
Parking is free in designated lots around town, and volunteers direct traffic to keep things moving. Admission is also free, though you’ll pay for food, rides, and any crafts you pick up from vendors.
It’s a low-key, high-value weekend that gives you a reason to see a part of Tennessee most people skip on their way to somewhere else.
2. Germantown Festival, Germantown
Just outside Memphis, Germantown has been hosting this festival since the 1970s, and it’s grown into one of the most popular September events in the region. The festival takes over the Germantown Civic Club Complex for a weekend packed with live music, hundreds of vendor booths, and enough food trucks to keep you grazing all day.
But the real reason people mark their calendars? The Running of the Weenies.
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Dachshunds from all over the Mid-South compete in heats, sprinting down a track while their owners cheer and the crowd loses it.
Some dogs take the competition seriously, bolting for the finish line like their kibble depends on it. Others wander off-course, stop to sniff the grass, or simply refuse to run, which somehow makes the whole thing even better.
Beyond the wiener dog races, the festival offers a solid lineup of arts and crafts vendors selling pottery, jewelry, woodwork, and home décor. You’ll also find local artists displaying paintings and photography, plus a Kids Zone with inflatables, face painting, and activities designed to keep younger festival-goers entertained while parents browse.
Live music runs continuously on multiple stages, featuring local and regional acts playing everything from rock and country to blues and folk. The food selection leans heavy on Southern festival classics like barbecue, corn dogs, and kettle corn, but you’ll also find tacos, gyros, and a few healthier options if you’re pacing yourself for a full day.
Germantown sits just off Interstate 40, making it an easy stop if you’re already in the Memphis area or passing through on your way east. Parking fills up fast on Saturday, so arriving early or opting for Friday gives you better options.
Admission is free, and the festival runs Friday evening and all day Saturday, giving you flexibility on when to show up and how long to stay.
3. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bristol
Bristol calls itself the Birthplace of Country Music, and every September it backs up that claim with three days of live performances that take over downtown. Stages pop up on street corners, in parking lots, and inside historic venues, all hosting musicians who play the roots music that put this border town on the map nearly a century ago.
If you care about bluegrass, old-time, Americana, or traditional country, this festival is non-negotiable.
The lineup pulls from regional legends, national touring acts, and up-and-coming artists who respect the traditions that started here. You’ll hear banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and harmonies that sound like they could’ve been recorded in 1927 when the Bristol Sessions first captured Appalachian music for the world.
The festival doesn’t try to modernize or polish the sound. It celebrates the raw, honest music that grew out of these mountains.
Downtown Bristol straddles the Tennessee-Virginia state line, and the festival uses that quirk to its advantage. You can literally stand with one foot in each state while watching a band play on State Street.
The setting adds character, with old storefronts, brick streets, and the historic Paramount Theatre creating a backdrop that feels right for the music being performed.
Food vendors set up along the streets, offering everything from Southern comfort food to festival snacks, and local breweries pour craft beer in designated areas. You can also duck into restaurants and bars between sets, many of which host their own live music during the festival weekend.
Tickets are required and sold as single-day or weekend passes. Prices vary depending on when you buy, so checking early saves money.
Bristol sits right on Interstate 81, making it accessible from Knoxville, Asheville, or anywhere along the I-81 corridor. Hotels book up fast, so if you’re planning to stay overnight, reserve well in advance or consider camping options nearby.
4. Middle Tennessee Highland Games & Celtic Festival, Hendersonville
Caber tossing, hammer throws, and men in kilts competing in feats of strength might not be the first thing you associate with Middle Tennessee, but Hendersonville hosts one of the region’s most authentic Celtic celebrations every September. The Middle Tennessee Highland Games bring Scottish and Irish traditions to the Nashville area with two days of athletic competitions, live music, dancing, and enough bagpipes to make your ears ring for a week.
The heavy athletics competitions are the main draw, featuring events like the caber toss (basically flipping a telephone pole end over end), stone put, and sheaf toss. Athletes come from across the country to compete, and watching someone hurl a 56-pound weight over a bar while wearing a kilt is oddly mesmerizing.
Even if you’ve never cared about Highland sports before, you’ll find yourself cheering by the second round.
Beyond the athletics, the festival hosts Highland dancing competitions where dancers in traditional dress perform intricate steps to bagpipe music. Celtic bands play throughout the day on multiple stages, covering everything from traditional folk tunes to modern Celtic rock.
You’ll also find demonstrations on Scottish history, clan tents where you can trace your heritage, and vendors selling kilts, jewelry, weapons, and imported goods from Scotland and Ireland.
Food options lean into the theme with meat pies, fish and chips, bangers, and Scottish eggs, plus a few American festival staples if you’re not feeling adventurous. Beer and whisky tents offer Scottish imports and local craft brews, giving you plenty of options to wash down your haggis (yes, they serve haggis, and yes, it’s better than you think).
The festival takes place at Hendersonville’s Drakes Creek Park, about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Nashville. Parking is available on-site, and admission includes access to all competitions, music, and demonstrations.
Kids under a certain age get in free, making it a solid family outing if you want something different from the usual fall festival circuit.
5. Autumn Blaze Arts Festival, Waverly
Waverly doesn’t make many Tennessee travel lists, but this small town west of Nashville knows how to throw an arts festival. Autumn Blaze runs for two September days in the town square, bringing in artists, craftspeople, and musicians for a celebration that feels more like a neighborhood gathering than a commercial event.
If you’re tired of massive festivals where you’re just another face in the crowd, Waverly offers a refreshing change of pace.
The festival focuses on regional artists and makers, with booths displaying paintings, photography, pottery, woodwork, metalwork, and handmade jewelry. You’ll find pieces you won’t see at bigger festivals because the artists here are creating for the love of it, not churning out mass-produced crafts for tourist traffic.
Prices are reasonable, and you can actually talk to the person who made what you’re buying, which adds a personal touch missing from larger events.
Live music plays throughout the day on a main stage, featuring local and regional acts covering folk, bluegrass, country, and acoustic rock. The sound quality is solid, and the crowd actually listens instead of just walking past on their way to the next booth.
You’ll also find food vendors serving festival favorites, plus a few local restaurants setting up tents to show off their specialties.
Kids have their own activity area with hands-on art projects, face painting, and games, giving parents a chance to browse without constant tugging on their sleeves. The festival also includes demonstrations where artists show their techniques, whether it’s throwing pottery, blacksmithing, or creating glass art.
Waverly sits about an hour west of Nashville on Highway 70, making it an easy drive if you’re looking for a low-key Saturday outing. Parking is free in lots around the square, and admission is also free, though donations are encouraged to support local arts programs.
The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, and both days offer the same lineup of vendors and entertainment, so pick whichever fits your schedule.
6. Blooms, Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, Sweetwater
Sweetwater figured out the perfect festival formula: flowers, live bluegrass, and barbecue. Held in mid-September when the weather finally breaks and fall starts creeping into East Tennessee, this two-day event combines three things the region does well into one package.
The festival takes place at the Lost Sea Adventure property, which already draws visitors year-round for its underground lake, but in September it transforms into a celebration of regional culture and cuisine.
The blooms part of the festival features thousands of mums in full color, creating photo-worthy displays throughout the festival grounds. Local garden clubs and landscapers go all out with arrangements, and vendors sell plants, bulbs, and gardening supplies if you want to take some color home.
It’s not just about looking at flowers, though. Workshops and demonstrations cover everything from fall planting tips to creating your own arrangements.
Bluegrass bands play continuously on the main stage, pulling from East Tennessee’s deep well of traditional musicians. The music stays true to the region’s roots, with fiddles, banjos, and mandolins driving the sound.
You’ll hear classic songs alongside newer compositions that respect the genre’s traditions, and the performers actually interact with the crowd between sets instead of just running through a setlist.
Then there’s the barbecue. Competition teams set up smokers and spend the weekend slow-cooking pork, ribs, chicken, and brisket, competing for prizes and bragging rights.
Even if you’re not judging, you can sample from vendors selling plates piled high with meat, sides, and all the fixings. The smell alone is worth the drive.
Sweetwater is about 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, sitting just off Interstate 75. The festival charges a modest admission fee that includes access to all music, flower displays, and vendor areas.
Barbecue and other food is sold separately, but prices stay reasonable. Parking is available on-site, and the festival runs Saturday and Sunday, giving you two chances to catch the full experience.
7. Chester County BBQ Festival, Henderson
Henderson has been hosting this barbecue festival since the 1970s, making it one of the longest-running food competitions in West Tennessee. The 48th annual event proves that small towns can throw serious barbecue parties, drawing pit masters from across the region to compete in categories covering ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, and whole hog.
If you take smoked meat seriously, this festival belongs on your September calendar.
The competition is sanctioned, meaning teams follow strict rules and judges evaluate based on appearance, taste, and tenderness. But even if you’re not competing or judging, you can taste the results.
Vendors sell plates loaded with competition-quality barbecue, and you’ll find styles ranging from dry-rubbed Memphis ribs to saucy pulled pork that drips down your hands. Sides include baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, and mac and cheese, all prepared by teams who take their recipes as seriously as their meat.
Beyond the barbecue, the festival includes live music on a main stage, with country, rock, and blues acts performing throughout the weekend. A carnival midway offers rides and games for kids, and craft vendors set up booths selling everything from handmade jewelry to home décor.
It’s a classic small-town festival layout, but the quality of the barbecue elevates it above the typical county fair.
Henderson sits about halfway between Memphis and Nashville, just off Interstate 40, making it a convenient stop if you’re traveling across the state. The festival takes over the town square and surrounding streets, creating a walkable area where you can hit multiple vendors and stages without trekking across a massive fairground.
Admission is free, though you’ll pay for food, drinks, and carnival rides. The festival runs Friday evening and all day Saturday, with Friday offering smaller crowds if you prefer a more relaxed vibe.
Parking is available in lots around downtown, and volunteers direct traffic to keep things moving smoothly. Bring cash, as not all vendors accept cards, and arrive hungry because you’ll want to sample from multiple pits before settling on a favorite.
8. Covered Bridge Days, Elizabethton
Elizabethton’s covered bridge is one of the oldest in Tennessee, and every September the town uses it as the centerpiece for a three-day festival that blends history, music, and community celebration. Covered Bridge Days has been running for decades, drawing crowds from across East Tennessee and beyond to a festival that manages to feel both nostalgic and genuinely fun.
The bridge itself is worth the visit even without a festival. Built in the 1880s, it spans the Doe River and still carries foot traffic today.
During the festival, the bridge becomes a gathering spot where musicians perform, photographers line up for shots, and families pose for pictures with the wooden structure in the background. It’s one of those rare historic landmarks that doesn’t feel like a museum piece because people actually use and enjoy it.
The festival spreads out along the riverbanks and into downtown Elizabethton, with vendor booths selling crafts, food, and antiques. Live music runs continuously on multiple stages, featuring bluegrass, country, gospel, and rock acts.
You’ll also find historical reenactors demonstrating blacksmithing, weaving, and other traditional crafts, giving the festival an educational angle without feeling like a lecture.
Food vendors offer everything from barbecue and funnel cakes to corn dogs and homemade ice cream. Local restaurants also set up booths, giving you a chance to sample from places you might want to visit later.
A kids’ area includes inflatables, games, and activities designed to keep younger visitors entertained while parents browse or catch a concert.
Friday night kicks off with a fireworks show over the river, drawing crowds to the bridge and surrounding areas. Saturday and Sunday continue with full schedules of music, vendors, and demonstrations, giving you three chances to experience the festival at different paces and crowd levels.
Elizabethton sits about 30 minutes from Johnson City and an hour from Asheville, making it accessible from multiple directions. Parking is available in lots around downtown, and shuttles run from overflow areas during peak times.
9. Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival, Caryville
Named after Howard Armstrong, a legendary East Tennessee musician known as Louie Bluie, this festival celebrates Appalachian music and art in a way that feels distinct from the usual fall festival circuit. Held in Caryville, a small town in the Cumberland Mountains, the festival honors the region’s rich cultural traditions with a lineup of string bands, folk artists, storytellers, and craftspeople who keep old traditions alive while pushing them in new directions.
The music is the heart of the festival, featuring bluegrass, old-time, blues, and folk acts on multiple stages. You won’t find pop-country or radio hits here. The focus stays on traditional Appalachian sounds, played by musicians who learned from older generations and are now passing those skills forward.
Fiddles, banjos, guitars, and mandolins dominate, and the harmonies sound like they’ve been sung in these mountains for centuries.
Art vendors display work that reflects Appalachian culture, including paintings, quilts, woodcarvings, pottery, and folk art. You’ll also find demonstrations showing traditional crafts like basket weaving, chair caning, and blacksmithing.
The festival makes a point of highlighting artists who create functional, everyday items rather than just decorative pieces, emphasizing the practical roots of Appalachian craft traditions.
Food options lean toward regional specialties, with vendors serving cornbread, beans, fried pies, and other dishes that have fed mountain families for generations. You’ll also find barbecue, burgers, and festival staples, but the emphasis stays on honest, homemade food rather than flashy food truck trends.
Caryville sits about 30 minutes north of Knoxville, just off Interstate 75, making it an easy drive from the city or from travelers passing through on their way to Kentucky. The festival takes place in a park setting, giving it a relaxed, outdoor vibe that fits the music and culture being celebrated.
Admission is charged, with proceeds supporting local music and arts programs. The festival runs for one day in late September, typically a Saturday, so plan accordingly if you’re adding it to a weekend road trip through the region.
10. Jackson International Food and Art Festival, Jackson
Most Tennessee festivals stick to Southern food and regional traditions, but Jackson flips the script with an international celebration that brings cuisines and cultures from around the world to West Tennessee. The Jackson International Food and Art Festival runs for one day in late September, transforming downtown into a global marketplace where you can sample dishes from a dozen countries without leaving the state.
Food is the main attraction, with vendors representing countries like Mexico, Thailand, India, Greece, Ethiopia, China, and more. You’ll find tacos, curry, gyros, injera, dumplings, and other dishes prepared by people who actually know how to cook them, not watered-down festival versions.
Portions are priced to encourage sampling, so you can try multiple cuisines without maxing out your budget or your stomach capacity.
Art vendors complement the food with displays of international crafts, textiles, jewelry, and artwork. You’ll find items imported from various countries alongside pieces created by local artists inspired by global traditions.
Cultural performances take place throughout the day, including dance troupes, musicians, and demonstrations that give you a taste of traditions from around the world.
The festival also includes a kids’ area with activities focused on teaching about different cultures through games, crafts, and interactive displays. It’s a solid educational angle wrapped in enough fun that kids don’t realize they’re learning.
Jackson sits about 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west of Nashville, making it a logical stop if you’re crossing the state on Interstate 40. The festival takes over downtown streets, creating a walkable area where you can hit multiple food vendors, catch performances, and browse art booths without needing to drive or shuttle between locations.
Admission is free, though you’ll pay for food and any art or crafts you purchase.
Parking is available in lots around downtown, and volunteers help direct traffic during peak arrival times. Bring cash, as some vendors may not accept cards, and arrive with an appetite and an open mind about trying something new.