A time for long nights, fireflies and relaxation. It is time for a summer in Tennessee. What is a better way to relax than visiting the copious amounts of artistry that this beautiful state brings? A lot of people don’t know that some of these events exist. If you aren’t venturing out of The Volunteer State this summer, it is worth checking out some of them!
Tennessee Renaissance Festival – The Tennessee Renaissance Festival is held at Castle Park in Arrington, Tenn. At this festival, you can dress up in your finest renaissance gear. Make sure to stop at the many local Tennessee vendors who are selling their art! You will find all sorts of art mediums such as handcrafted wares, hand-forged swords and hand-made fantasy realm clothing. Listen to the local musicians bring medieval vibes with their traditional songs. The festival will take place every Saturday and Sunday in May, with the last date of the festival landing on Monday, May 26. You can find more information about the festival on their website www.tnrenfest.com
Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival – This festival takes place in Portland, Tenn. This summer festival will mark 87 years of the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival taking place. Patrons of this festival will be able to indulge on all things strawberry. The festival will also hold over 200 vendors selling their many different crafts. Many artists will make strawberry themed crafts to sell at the festival. There will also be live music and magic shows taking place throughout the day! The main festival date is May 10. You can find more information on their website www.middletennesseestrawberryfestival.net
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Held in Manchester, Tenn., this music festival is one of the largest Tennessee festivals there are. They celebrate all kinds of music from country to rock. Along with the music, you can find vendors selling clothing and crafts. Camp out with other festivalgoers in the middle Tennessee field. The festival also holds events outside of the festival called outeroo, where there is a ferris wheel and yoga classes! This festival has 80,000 attendees every year. This year’s headline includes Avril Lavigne, Luke Combs, Tyler the Creator and many more! Bonnaroo will take place from June 12 to June 15. To purchase tickets and learn more about the lineup visit www.bonnaroo.com
Nashville Punk Rock Flea Market – This event held in Nashville, Tenn. will host live music and multiple small-artist vendors. This is a FREE event you can walk into and shop at. If punk is your style, this is the market for you. Many different collections of handmade magnets, shirts, buttons and more are sold at this large market. Attending the Punk Rock Flea Market is a great way to find new music to listen to! The live music is mainly for punk and pop-punk fans, but the market is for everyone. Although they have not announced a music lineup yet, it will come soon. This event will be held on July 19 and 20. To find more information about the event follow their Instagram @punkrockfleamarket_nashville
Cavejam at The Caverns – This event is located in Grundy County, Tenn. at The Caverns. The festival is a two-day event featuring obscure small bands. Bands such as The String Cheese Incident and The Headhunters will be performing. Even if you have never heard of these bands, it’s worth going to because of the beautiful scenery that The Caverns provides. The Caverns are known for their cave venue which is like no other! Guests will have the opportunity to take tours of The Caverns while at the festival. The Cavejam festival will be on May 24 and 25. To find more information on the festival you can visit the website www.thecaverns.com
Experience all that Tennessee has to offer this summer! Take a much-needed break from your studies and focus on yourself for a change. Be safe and have a great summer!
