The award-winning Mountain Makins Festival was created to celebrate the best of Appalachian culture, from crafts to music. If you happen to be in the Smoky Mountains on Oct. 23-25, 2021, then head on over to Morristown, Tennessee, and spend the day eating great home-cooked food, enjoying a host of entertainment, and taking in the abundance of arts and crafts.
Best Festival in the Southeast
The annual Mountain Makins Festival was selected as the “Best Festival in the Southeast” in 2016 by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association, as well as being named a “Top 20 Event in the Southeast” four times by the Southeast Tourism Society. The event offers guests a chance to witness blacksmithing, apple butter making, broom making, traditional basket weaving, beekeeping, and other frontier life necessities. Furthermore, you can explore the historic Rose Center and the grounds that are adorned with jewelry, wood carvings, lotions, art, candles, sculptures, toys, among others.
The Mountain Makins Festival requires that all items are hand-made with no reselling. Admission rates are $7 for adults and $1 for children aged 6-12. A Friday preview costs $25. Hours are 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Mountain Makins Festival takes place in beautiful Morristown, Tn., which is located in East Tennessee and offers lakes, mountains, hiking, and historical sites. Check out some things to do in Morristown!
Panther Creek State Park
In addition to the Mountain Makins Festival, there are a plethora of activities located throughout Morristown. A perfect outdoor getaway spot is the Panther Creek State Park, which is located just minutes from downtown Morristown. This park features more than 1,400 acres of land with more than 30 miles of hiking trails. You can even hike up to Point Lookout. The lookout is located 1,460 feet above sea level.
Panther Creek is also home to a championship 18-hole disc golf course.
Cherokee Lake
If you wish to take to the water, then venture on out to Cherokee Lake. As one of the best bass-fishing lakes in the Southeast, Cherokee Lake is flush with fish, including bass, crappie, sunfish, walleye, and catfish. Boat docks, marinas, camping, water sports, and rentals are all available for a full lake life experience.
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Crockett Tavern Museum
You can also visit the Crockett Tavern Museum, which is built on the site of David Crockett’s boyhood home. The museum is a reconstruction of the 1790s tavern, which was owned by Crockett’s parents.