Carolina Ocoee whitewater rafting is here to help with a list of 2023 spring festivals. Most are within, or less than, an hour away from our Ocoee Outpost located in Ducktown – a small town on the banks of the Ocoee River in Tennessee known as the Copper Basin where copper mining took place from 1847 to 1987. Ducktown is also known for its wildlife, the 1996 Olympics kayaking and canoeing competitions and, of course, awesome white water rafting. After you’ve had fun on the water, you might wonder what else is there to do in the spring? Once you’re dry from your white water trip, head out for some more fun in and near the Ducktown Basin!
Spring Bluegrass Festival – May 6
This arts, crafts, and bluegrass festival will be held on Saturday, May 6 2023 From 11:00 to 5:00 at the old Ducktown school. Several vendors are lined up for this event along with Bluegrass bands such as The Raven Welch Band and more. Be sure to head out and join the fun, hear some mountain music, and shop for handmade crafts.
Spring Arts in the Park – May 27 & 28
Spring Arts in the Park is held each year in Blue Ridge, GA at the Downtown City Park. On average over 12,000 people attend annually. Artists from all over Tennessee and elsewhere showcase their work. With over 170 artists and vendors, visitors can enjoy a variety of fine arts and fine crafts, demonstrations, food, and much more.
Sweet Tea and Sunshine Family Festival – April 22
Just 30 minutes from the Ocoee River in Ducktown the Sweet Tea and Sunshine Family Festival will be held in Cleveland, TN on April 22, 2023 10:00am-5:00pm . Sweet Tea and Sunshine is all about providing a clean wholesome festival for the entire family. They will host craft vendors, kids activity vendors, business vendors, direct sales, and food vendors!
1890’s Day Jamboree Festival – May 26 & 27
This small town street festival is about an hour away from the Ocoee River but, after a fun day on the Ocoee river, it’s well-worth the drive to join in on the fun. 1890’s Day Jamboree is held every Memorial Day weekend with food, arts, and crafts vendors, live music on multiple stages, a parade, classic car show, a fireworks display Saturday night and much more. Admission is FREE and all events are family friendly.
Tennessee Strawberry Festival – May 8 – 13
Love strawberries? Then this festival is for you. Less than an hour from Copperhill, TN the Tennessee Strawberry Festival kicks off on May 8th in Dayton, TN. The festival runs over several days with various events scheduled including, the Strawberry Chase, Strawberry Shortcake at Centennial Park, baking contest, parade and more, plus numerous vendors. I don’t know about you, but this puts us in the mood for some strawberry pie!
Bacon Festival – May 13
Go pig or go home! Eastern Tennessee loves their bacon! Who doesn’t? There are several bacon festivals in the area, so we chose the closest one in Cleveland, which is only about 20 minutes from Carolina Ocoee white water rafting. On Saturday, May 13, 2023, come out for a corn-hole tourney, lots of vendors, live music, an inflatable kid’s zone, entertainment and activities, plus bacon and bacon-related foods!
Chattanooga Craft Beer Festival – May 27
For all you beer lovers over the age of 21, Chattanooga holds a ticketed beer festival in May presented by Hutton & Smith Brewing Company. Advanced tickets are $48 per person and are limited to 1,200 for the 2023 event, so get them quick! Food vendors will be on site, plus the event will have water and other non-alcoholic drinks (no one wants to drink on an empty stomach!). Pace yourself and have fun.
Ramp Tramp Festival May 21 & 22
Hiking to a ramp patch is a tradition for the people of the south–a chance to get outdoors and shake off the winter blahs when spring hits, and have a mess of ramps with supper that evening. What’s a ramp, you say? This little gem of a culinary festival will answer your question and is held less than 30 minutes from the Ocoee River in Reliance, TN. Here’s your chance to learn what a ramp is and how to incorporate it into meals. Enjoy traditional ramp meals which include, ramps in eggs, white beans, cornbread, fried potatoes, and streaked meat bacon. All of that and bluegrass, folk, and rock-and-roll oldies music. Purchase a bag of ramps (while they last) before you leave! Polk County TN Ramp Tramp Festival.
The above festivals are just a few Carolina Ocoee favorites held in or near the Ocoee River area. Since these are spring festivals, keep an eye on the dates so you don’t miss out on all the fun and entertainment. What better way to emerge from cold weather to warmer weather? Get out there and enjoy spring of 2023.
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