The only thing better than a weekend is a long weekend. Labor Day weekend is right around the corner and no matter which region of Tennessee you are in, there are tons of events going on to help you celebrate the holiday weekend.
In Tennessee, our workforce is one of our greatest assets. Labor Day is a holiday that honors the American labor force and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, economy and prosperity of our country. We know you work hard, so we rounded up a few ways to help you celebrate all across the state this weekend.
Summertown Blue Grass Reunion – Summertown, TN
If you’re looking for some family fun this Labor Day weekend, head to Summertown for the Summertown Bluegrass Reunion Music Festival. This three-day concert series goes from Thursday, August 31 to Saturday, September 2 and includes live music, instrument vendors, craft booths, jamming, clogging, square dancing, line dancing and good food. Camping spots are available on a first come, first served basis.
Memphis Music and Heritage Festival – Memphis, TN
The annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival, presented by the Center for Southern Folklore, will take place in downtown Memphis this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day. This two-block celebration of music, art, dance and food will feature over 100 performers, dancers, craftspeople and chefs. This will be the festival’s 31st year celebrating the Memphis Delta Region and the deep artistic history that makes this region unique. With four outdoor stages, two inside stages and numerous arts, crafts and food stations throughout the festival, there will certainly be something for everyone.
Rock the Smokies – Pigeon Forge, TN
Dollywood’s Annual Rock the Smokies event pairs amusement park fun with great music for an unforgettable Labor Day celebration. The concert will take place in the Dollywood Celebrity Theatre on Saturday, September 2nd with three showtimes throughout the day. One ticket will get you entrance to the concert and admission to the theme park, so it’s the best of both worlds.
Muscadine Balloon Fiesta – Madisonville, TN
The 5th Annual Muscadine Balloon Fiesta will be held at Tsali Notch Vineyard in Madisonville. There will be plenty of fun for the entire family, including hot air balloon rides, live music, food, games, an inflatable Kid’s Zone, pony rides and wine tastings. The Muscadine Balloon Fiesta will run from Saturday, September 2 to Sunday, September 3 and each night will conclude with a “Balloon Glow” with more than 20 colorful hot air balloons. To make this event even better, proceeds will benefit CASA Monroe, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children.
Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration – Shelbyville, TN
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is the largest horse show for Tennessee Walking Horses and has been held annually around Shelbyville since 1939. Tennessee Walking Horses are unique to Tennessee and are the first horse breed to be named after a state. The festival brings hundreds of thousands of spectators from more than 40 states to watch over 2,000 horses compete during the 11-day competition. While the competition spans for 11 days, the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse is selected the Saturday before Labor Day each year, so you’ll be right in time to witness this end of this one-of-a-kind horse show.
Live on the Green – Nashville, TN
Live on the Green Music Festival in downtown Nashville is a free outdoor festival featuring local, regional and national artists, food trucks and entertainment in Public Square Park. The festival, presented by Lightning 100, believes in the importance of music and strongly supports the idea that each person should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy live music free of charge. This weekend, the festival will be Thursday, August 31 – Saturday, September2, which will include more than fifteen performances. Since its inception in 2009, over 500,000 fans from all 50 states and 13 countries have attended this event.
