Things to Do this Fall

Chattanooga Area

Cruise the Tennessee River Gorge on the Southern Belle and see one of nature’s most brilliant displays of color. This three-hour foliage cruise is a great way to see fall color in Tennessee and includes live entertainment, live narration of the historical sites along the river, lunch and more.
Oct – Nov

Sample the season with fresh produce, local art and live music…what’s not to love about the Chattanooga Market? Every Halloween the city celebrates all things ghosts and goblins in a family-friendly way with a costume parade and trick or treating event during The Haunted Market.
October 29

If haunted houses are your thing, you will NOT want to miss Chattanooga’s Dread Hollow. Named a Top 10 Haunt in the Nation for the last 5 years, the nightmare returns with all-new 3 terrifying haunted houses and 3 brand-new horror themed escape rooms.
Sept – Oct

Knoxville Area

Join the celebration of Knoxville Pride Fest at World’s Fair Park with music and entertainment with speakers focused on promoting equality and inclusion for all. Throughout the weekend, there will be a market, a parade and live entertainment. Join in promoting inclusion and equality for the LGBTQ+ and ally citizens of Knoxville and surrounding areas.
October 6-8

Investigate Knoxville’s greatest haunts with real history, real investigations and a whole lot of fun. Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours is a hands-on paranormal adventure that gives you the opportunity to Investigate the historic and haunted side of Knoxville.
Every weekend

Bristol Area

Soak up all of the fall colors by planning a drive through the Appalachian foothills of East Tennessee’s beautiful Cherokee National Forest. Whether you’re along for the drive or you want to hike to one of the many waterfalls, there’s no shortage of beauty to be found here. We highly recommend the drive by Bald River Falls which is located just steps from the main road.
Daily

Shop with local area small businesses such as boutique clothiers, artists, artisans, crafters, makers, bakers and more. The Mercantile Vendor Market in Kingsport is fall fun for the whole family with face painting and a build-your-own wooden pumpkin craft station.
October 8

The Smokies / Townsend Area

Get lost in a corn maze as you head to Maple Lanes Farm for pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes and more. This year’s 10-acre maze is sponsored by Chick-fil-A and is shaped like the Chick-fil-A cow.
October

Spend the evening storytelling at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Explore the Smokies with the changing fall colors. Private tours and behind the scenes tours of Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are offered.
Daily

Don’t miss the annual Grains & Grits festival, celebrating Tennessee whiskey and cuisine. It’s a great opportunity to sample whiskey from distilleries across the state all in one place. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful backdrop of the Smokies for social media-worthy photos.
November 4

Gatlinburg Area

Celebrate a mountaintop of fall fun at Ober Gatlinburg’s, Smoky Mountain Fall Festival with a month-long event full of music, food and fun. The changing leaves and cooler temperatures make it the perfect time to visit the area and enjoy this indoor/outdoor festival.
September – October

Enjoy a leisurely stroll and search for ghosts along the shadowy streets and alleys of Gatlinburg. Hear stories of the unexplained and strange happenings of the city with the GhostWalk of Gatlinburg. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult.
September – October

Sevierville / Pigeon Forge Area

Stroll the streets of historic downtown Sevierville and enjoy a family-friendly night of frights and fall fun at Sevierville’s History & Haunts festival. The event brings a harvest of family-friendly activities in the Smokies from guided historic walking tours and costume contests to storytellers, a Halloween-themed dance party, lawn games and fireworks to end the evening.
October 19

Experience the beauty of a Smoky Mountain fall at Dollywood Harvest Festival Presented by Humana. The forests come alive with vivid color; the smells of apple and pumpkin treats waft through the streets; and the sounds of thrilling rides fill the air with adventure. Stay after sundown for the award-winning Great Pumpkin LumiNights featuring a whimsical warming glow of more than 12,000 illuminated pumpkins.
Sep. 20 – Oct. 30

Nashville Area

Celebrate all things fall during Cheekwood Harvest at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville. The changing of the leaves are one of many garden highlights you’ll find as oaks, maples, dogwoods and other trees greet you with their fall colors. Enjoy fall activities and experiences such as the Pumpkin Village featuring photogenic pumpkin houses, mums and scarecrows throughout the garden. Enjoy live music from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Beer Garden as well as special events like the Japanese Moon Viewing, Halloween Pooch Party and the annual El Dia de los Muertos.
Sept. 16 – Oct. 29

More than just a beer festival; there’s something for the whole family at Germantown’s 42nd annual Oktoberfest. The event is jam-packed with delicious German foods from dozens of Nashville restaurants & vendors, world-class beer, entertainment, arts and crafts, live German music, a Dachshund Derby and so much more,
October 5-8

Farm fall fun is calling and this family-friendly stop is a must.Fall treats like caramel apples and pumpkin-flavored desserts corn mazes and pumpkin picking are just a few of the more than 50 fall activities they have planned at Lucky Ladd Farms this year.
Sept. 16 – Oct. 29

Franklin Area

Savor fall flavors at Middle Tennessee’s largest family fall festival, PumpkinFest. Enjoy a full day of fall-inspired foods and drinks, children’s activities, live music, costume contests for pets and families, and outstanding arts & crafts – featuring seasonal and specialty gift items. Leiper’s Fork Distillery is sponsoring their Whiskey Lounge so stop by and grab a fall cocktail (or two!).
October 28

Explore the ghosts and haunts that linger on the brick-lined streets and historic dwellings in charming Downtown Franklin with the family-friendly Haunted Franklin tour presented by Franklin on Foot. Departed socialites, a Civil War spy, failed businessmen, Confederate soldiers, and at least one dog roam downtown. You’ll spend an intriguing hour and a half on this unique history tour.
September – October

Clarksville Area

Shop all things strange, unusual and spooky from local makers and artists during Clarksville’s Halloween Market. There will be over 60 vendors, oddities and more during this free, family-friendly event. Food, snacks and treats will be available from local food trucks.
October 15

A short drive from Clarksville will take you to the small town of Adams where you can take a haunted cave tour. Learn the spine-tingling story of The Bell Witch, said to haunt the cave. Immerse yourself in the legendary Tennessee folklore and Native American history as you explore the cave and cabin onsite. Note: The Bell Witch Cave is closed during and after heavy rain.
Wednesdays-Sundays, September – October

Memphis Area

Indulge in creative bacon-inspired dishes from some great Memphis restaurants and a vast array of distilled spirits to tempt your tastebuds at the Memphis Bacon and Bourbon Festival. Enjoy live music, party activities and more. A portion of all proceeds go to support the Memphis Farmers Market.
October 6

Celebrate the fine arts and fine local music with live artist demonstrations and hands-on art activities at RiverArtsFest. Enjoy more than 150 local, regional and national artists who showcase their latest works. The Memphis fall festival is one of the largest juried artist market and urban festivals in the Mid-South.
October 21-22

Take a spooky stroll through Memphis with Backbeat Tours on a Memphis Ghost Tour. Experience the darker side of downtown as professional storytellers share tales of the city’s haunted heritage. The two-hour tour takes you to Earnestine and Hazel’s, a former brothel that is well known as one of the most haunted buildings in Memphis, Orpheum Theatre, the John Alexander Austin House, an after-hours tour of the Woodruff-Fontaine House and more.
September – October