Join Vacation Races for a beautiful 5k or half marathon through gorgeous scenery! Escape to the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies" with a gorgeous course through the woods. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful destination! Expo and 5K are on September 6th, with the Half Marathon on the morning of September 7th. Pick your perfect race weekend: 🔹Half Marathon (run on Saturday morning) 🔹5k (run this on Friday evening) 🔹Black Bear Double! (run both the 5k and half marathon) 🐻 (HINT: running the Black Bear Double earns you three medals! 5k, Half Marathon, and a third 'double medal') INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION: 🔹Race entry and race bib 🔹Tech-fabric race shirt 🔹Large, high-quality finisher's medal 🔹FREE professional race photos 🔹Exclusive discounts from our sponsors 🔹Race Guide 🔹Re-usable hydration cup 🔹Snack-packed "Refuel Box" at the finish line 🔹6 aid stations with hydration and snacks (5k has only 1 station with hydration ONLY) 🔹Top finishers get additional medals 🔹Overall winner gets a FREE race entry to come back and defend their title.

A delightful event for food enthusiasts—sample the best of Blount County’s culinary scene. New for 2024 are a Premier Experience and a special appearance by celebrity guest chef Christian Gill. Gill, who will be a judge and emcee at the event, is no stranger to Southern cooking or food competitions. Inspired by the drop biscuits his grandma taught him to make as a child, he opened Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the past few years, Chef Christian has parlayed his success in the restaurant business into becoming one of the fiercest competitors on Food Network. He’s beaten Bobby Flay, taken top prize on Guy’s Grocery Summer Games and been crowned champion on Giada’s Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge. The Premier Experience includes a meet and greet with chef Christian Gill, reserved seating area, two (2) complimentary adult beverages and tray service for $75 (Limited to 100 guests). Ticket holders can try savory favorites from local restaurants, caterers and gourmet grocers in addition to voting for their favorite appetizer, main course, sandwich, dessert, beverage, presentation and overall winner. Culinary judges will present the “Culinary Excellence Awards” based on one item from each Taste of Blount vendor.

The 38th Annual Townsend 15k/7k is September 15! Join us for a rolling, fun course through the backroads of Townsend at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains! https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Townsend/Townsend15K

Bike Bash returns to Dancing Bear for its 10th Year! The 10th annual 2024 Bike Bash returns with the best event yet on Saturday September 21st and you’re invited! Riders will be capped at 250 (or less) so please register early as this ride WILL sell out! We will have three rides of 27, 38, and 60 miles with full support. Please note, the escorted ride through the Curves will go faster this year. Our famous post-ride gourmet lunch at the Appalachian Bistro returns with a fabulous spread curated by Chef Jeff Carter, live music and complementary beer from Peaceful Side Brewery. Packet pick-up starts on Friday evening 9/20/24 (location and time still TBD) and resumes on Saturday morning of Bike Bash (9/21/24) at 7:30am. All rides promptly take off at 8:30am this year. Once again, we will ride through the Curves with a full police escort! Post-ride gourmet lunch starts at 10:30am and ends at 1:30pm. Please plan your ride accordingly. Limited accommodations are available at Dancing Bear Lodge. We also recommend Highland Manor Inn, Tally Ho Inn, and Dogwood Cabins.

Immerse yourself in live bluegrass, crafts, historical demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. The foothills of the Smoky Mountains come to life with Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, time honored traditions and Appalachian cooking at the Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival, Sept. 27-28, 2024. The festival provides an atmosphere where family and friends of all ages can partake in time-honored Appalachian traditions at a free community event. An event for all ages, the festival centers around traditional and contemporary Bluegrass and mountain music; along with clogging and square dancing; art and craft booths; numerous Appalachian demonstrations; old-fashioned kids’ games; and Southern food, such as fried pies and kettle corn. NEW LOCATION: Townsend Event Center, 7930 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882 This is next door to the Townsend Visitor Center. All events will be held at the Townsend Event Center.

Join us for a fall celebration in the tradition of old-time county fairs with all-around family fun for the whole family. We will celebrate all that is good about an old-fashioned country fair with activities that include living history demonstrations of open hearth cooking, spinning, weaving, wood turning, blacksmithing and there will be livestock with cows, chickens, and goats. Popular activities include historical games like Farmer in the Cove and the Ladies Skillet Throw. Farmer in the Cove is a hands-on experience for children to learn the chores of a typical farm family in the 19th century. Some of the ‘chores’ include picking apples, gathering eggs, sweeping the cabin porch, doing laundry by hand, corn shelling, and planting crops.

Step back in time and explore the rich history of the railroad in the Smokies. A full weekend of Historic Fun Trains Tractors & More, History Demonstrations, Craft Vendors, Music, Food & Fun

The Very Scary 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run will start from the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Rd, Townsend, TN 37882) and will feature the scariest swag in the history of Very Scary 5Ks! Race, run, walk, or zombie crawl 5K (that's 3.1 long miles if you're a zombie) and take home: ➡️ Glowsticks ➡️ Scary medal (but you gotta' cross that finish line!) ➡️ Killer lanyard attached to that scary medal (if the zombies don't get you!) ➡️ Spine-chilling long sleeve t-shirt (relaxed fit, crazy comfy!) ➡️ Bloodcurdling decal ➡️ A custom headlamp to keep you safe in the scary darkness! The 5K & 1 mile runs start at 8:00 pm ET, with full support along the way and a guaranteed good time. You might even (OK you almost certainly will!) experience a scary sighting along the course! Due to insurance regulations we can't have pets, strollers, wagons, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, parachute pants, or Members Only jackets on-course. But we can have costumes! Show up and show out in your best Halloween costume. We will start the costume contest 1 hour before race start, promptly at 7:00 pm. Awards will be presented for the top costumes. It's completely […]

Experience Smoky Mountain Traditions! Guests can celebrate the holiday season with family at the Heritage Center’s “Christmas in the Village” by stepping back in time to a pioneer celebration. Living history interpreters will welcome you as you venture through the holiday-adorned historic Appalachian village with handcrafting demonstrations allowing visitors to connect with the spirit and history of Townsend, Cades Cove and the Great Smoky Mountains. Hot cider, hot chocolate, and other snacks will also be available for purchase. Buy Your Tickets Here What's Included Appalachian Christmas Village Living History Interpreters Hand-Crafting Demonstrations Craft Stations for Families and Kids Sponsored by Blount Partnership and Tennessee Arts Commission This event is from 5:30pm until 7:00pm. We close at 8:00pm, but tickets are sold 5:30pm until 7:00pm.