As the air crisps and the leaves begin their autumn transformation, Tennessee organizations and nonprofits turn their attention to fun — and so should you! Here are five fun festivals happening in the next 10 days to appeal to all kinds of interests.
Hola Festival: The 21st annual Hola Festival celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month will be Sept. 25-26 at World’s Fair Park. The fun starts at 4 pm Saturday with music, dancing, food and drink and artisan craft vendors and wraps up at 9 pm with fireworks. It continues on Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm with a family fest which includes, besides the previous mentioned activities, kids’ fun and Hispanic Heritage booths. $1 admission.
Greekfest: Opa! St. George Greek Orthodox Church hosts its 42nd annual Greekfest Oct. 1-3 at the church at 4070 Kingston Pike. The souvlaki, the spanakopita, the baklava sundaes and all the other goodies, the music, the dancing and shopping begin at 11 am each day and wrap up at 10 pm Friday and Saturday and 6 pm Sunday. Admission is $2 per person.
Southern Festival of Books: The Southern Festival of Books is a Nashville tradition, but the 33rd annual occasion will be held virtually so we can enjoy author talks and other activities from our own homes. The event is free and will feature 100 authors, poets and songwriters — including our own former Gov. Bill Haslam — over the period of about 3 weeks. Get the schedule and more info here.
International Storytelling Festival: Jonesborough in upper east Tennessee has chosen to hold its annual International Storytelling Festival virtually this year on Oct. 1 and 2. You can enjoy more than 20 hours of storytelling online that weekend, or for 14 days after with continued viewing access. A $75 weekend pass will cover all the events for everyone in your household. More details about the event and tickets can be found here.
Allardt Pumpkin Festival: An hour or two to the northwest of us is tiny Allardt, Tennessee, which will show off the biggest pumpkins you’ll ever see at its 30th annual Great Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, Oct. 2. It kicks off at 10 am, and the main event is the weigh-off of gigantic pumpkins and other veggies. The fun also includes a parade, auto and motorcycle shows, antique tractor display, BBQ meals with prize-winning desserts, a children’s costume contest, live music and arts and crafts vendors. Admission is free.