Springtime in Tennessee

Image credit: Tennessee Tourism

Spring is in bloom in Tennessee which means a host of festivals and events as the great outdoors beckon.

From a live mural painting festival, Cork to Fork Culinary Trail experience on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, here’s what’s new and happening this season in Tennessee.

NEW ATTRACTIONS, EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES

Statewide –The Tennessee Whiskey Trail debuts the Cork to Fork Culinary Trail March 31, pairing distilleries with local restaurants to create spirit-infused, chef-driven dishes like maple bread pudding and smoked old-fashioned bone-in pork loin. Register for a Cork to Fork digital passport to find your perfect pairing.

Gatlinburg – Anakeesta’s Mountaintop Adventure Park debuts an immersive Firefly Experience, inspired by the Synchronous Fireflies and the new Crystal Express, a 56-glass gondola experiences offering panoramic views of the mountains.

Pigeon Forge – NightFlight Expedition takes flight spring 2026 at Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove. Adventurers will fly through the Smokies, conquer raging rapids, climb mountain peaks and glide across a shimmering lake on this first-of-its-kind ride.

Knoxville – Muralists go head-to-head in a live painting competition during the new KnoxWalls Murals & Music Festival May 30 around Emory Place. Festgoers can watch the art unfold, enjoy performances by local & regional musicians and shop from local gifts.

Chattanooga – Ruby Falls has a new Junior Caver Tour. In this guided cave adventure, families see incredible ancient formations on the way to the waterfall, explore cave geology, learn why caves form and why conservation matters.

Nashville – Lost & Found, a new community space and outdoor hangout in East Nashville, features an open-air bar, wine shop, shopping, and rotating food trucks including The Pepper Pot.

Memphis – The National Civil Rights Museum’s Legacy Experience opens May 16. Five immersive thematic galleries explore poverty, education, housing, gender equity and nonviolence, weaving together history and urgent questions of today. New outdoor spaces also feature reflection areas. This landmark expansion also marks the museum’s 35th anniversary.

Clarksville – The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum opens May 16 and will be the second largest museum in the nation’s Army-museum enterprise. Exhibits and artifacts will represent and honor the legacy of service members.

NEW LODGING 

Nashville – Opening June 2026, the Songteller Hotel will celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton with Dolly’s Life of Many Colors museum, rooftop bar, live entertainment, and immersive storytelling elements.

Jackson – The new Hyatt Place offers 127 stylish guest rooms, a restaurant, fitness center, and pool, located just minutes from downtown. Guests and locals can also enjoy classic Italian cuisine at Vicari, a warm and inviting restaurant on the hotel’s first floor.

Oneida – Stay, celebrate and relax at Timber Rock Lodge, a boutique hotel, spa and event venue near Big South Fork with mountain views, scenic trails and outdoor adventure.

NEW RESTAURANTS & MUSIC VENUES

Knoxville – The new Belltown development opens this spring with a more than 40-acre public park, playground, dog park, kayak area, food truck park, an amphitheater, walking trails and restaurants, including Abridged Beer Company, Soccer Taco, and Sugar Queen Creamery. 

Nashville – Bar Mar and Butterfly bring two new vibrant culinary options to W Nashville. Bar Mar celebrates the bounty of the sea and exceptional meats, while Butterfly brings elevated craft cocktails and vibrant music set amid the backdrop of sweeping skyline views.

Elizabethton – The Downtown Post is a newly opened boutique set inside the city’s historic former post office building in the heart of downtown. Shoppers are also within walking distance of local restaurants, other local shops and landmarks.

Waynesboro – Laughter and conversation flow for locals and visitors alike at The Family Diner. This new space serves dishes for every palate and hosts fun bingo and trivia nights in the heart of the town.

Hampshire – Valley Kitchen Restaurant serves creative, fine Southern food, like chicken marinated in sweet tea, prepared by primo chef Braiden Mallon.

NEW BARS, BREWERIES AND WINERIES

Clarksville – The veteran-owned Leatherwood Distillery proudly crafts award-winning spirits with unmatched passion and precision and opens its doors in the heart of Clarksville May 15.

Tullahoma – Tully’s Coffee Co. is now open and serves fresh brews and delicious baked goods. A mural featuring the shop’s namesake, a puppy named Tully, is the perfect photo op.

Winchester – Filo’s Tavern, a restaurant with a from scratch kitchen using the finest local sourced ingredients, will open a new speakeasy with classic Filo’s vibes and cocktails.

ANNIVERSARIES

Memphis – Celebrate 50 years of beauty at Dixon Gallery and Gardens with Tulips & Spring Color at the Dixon, the largest spring bulb display in the museum’s history. Over 500,000 bulbs including tulips, daffodils and anemones will cover the grounds.

Nashville – Frist Art Museum celebrates 25 years. Housed in a beautifully preserved Art Deco former post office, the museum brings world-class rotating exhibitions from around the globe to Nashville.

NEW AND POPULAR SPRING FESTIVALS

Bartlett (Now-spring) – Old Brownsville Farms is expanding its you-pick flower farm experience this spring. The farm will have 7,500 bulbs blooming including tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, iris and more. Visitors can pick their own flowers for Mother’s Day and throughout spring.

Jackson (Now-April 4) – Donnell Century Farms is launching a new seasonal spring tradition with its first-ever Tulip Festival, with family-friendly fun, beautiful blooms, classic farm experiences with Easter egg hunts, baby animal encounters, vibrant tulips and photo-worthy displays.

Nashville (Now-April 12) – Cheekwood in Bloom returns with a patriotic theme to celebrate America’s 250th with 250,000 red and white tulips, purple-blue violas, and hyacinths. Popular events return during the spring festival like the Great Spring Art Hop and Dogs & Dogwoods.

Cleveland (April 11) – Hot Slaw is the first official state food of Tennessee. Get ready for a fun, unique and totally unexpected food and art festival at Hot Slaw & Art Y’all, 12-7 p.m. in the historic downtown with art, a hot slaw cook-off, live music and more.

Kingsport (April 18) – The Kingsport ARTS Festival held downtown features an iron pour, glassblowing, chalk art, watercolor, hands-on activities, art demos, music and storytelling.

South Pittsburg (April 25-26) – The National Cornbread Festival features a cornbread cookoff, tours of the Lodge Cast Iron Foundry, tours of the Lodge Cast Iron Museum live music, arts and crafts, games, carnival rides and fun activities.

Knoxville (May 1-2) – Go over the moon and into the woods during the Outlandish Adventure Festival. The event is packed with live music, daring spectacles and encourages festgoers to experience the untamed beauty of Knoxville’s trails, rivers and wild spaces.

Gatlinburg (May 1-June 1) – Experience the breathtaking beauty of Smokies in spring during Mountain Laurel Days at Gatlinburg SkyPark, which transforms as mountain laurel blooms create a stunning pink and white tapestry along hiking trails.