10 Of The Friendliest Towns In Tennessee
Tennessee has a way of making strangers feel instantly welcome. In these small towns, friendly hellos come easily, community events feel like open invitations to stay a while, and advice is always freely shared. From story-filled sidewalks in Jonesborough, known as the storytelling capital of the world, to Bell Buckle’s famous RC Cola & MoonPie Festival, these places shine when people come together. Cheerful, fun, and rooted in deep connection, these ten Tennessee towns show just how far a warm welcome can go.
Jonesborough
Jonesborough sets the tone for friendliness the moment you arrive. As Tennessee’s oldest town, it thrives on shared traditions and easy conversation. The International Storytelling Center hosts live storytelling performances, workshops, and the National Storytelling Festival in early October. Here, professional and local storytellers perform on indoor stages and outdoor tents throughout downtown. Streets close, crowds gather, and the chatter continues between shows.
Just outside its doors, you'll find farmers' markets and seasonal celebrations in downtown Jonesborough. On Saturday morning market days, it’s common to see neighbors catching up, kids sampling fresh goodies, and visitors made to feel right at home. For a quieter pause, the Chester Inn Museum, built in 1797 as a stagecoach stop, offers exhibits inside Tennessee’s oldest commercial building. Kids can dig into hands-on activities (museum scavenger hunt!) that make history feel a little less like a lesson and a lot more like fun. However you spend your time here, Jonesborough makes it easy to feel at home.
Paris
What do you get when you mix togetherness, food, and a little European flair? Answer: Paris, Tennessee! Each spring, the World’s Biggest Fish Fry takes over downtown with parades, carnival rides, pageants, and enough catfish to feed thousands. Running since 1953, the event is a celebration of the county's rich fishing heritage and brings families back year after year for a shared celebration.
When the festival tents come down, Eiffel Tower Park keeps people coming together with splash pad fun, concerts, seasonal events, and its famous half-scale Eiffel Tower replica. Just outside town, Paris Landing State Park provides water views, picnic areas, and community-friendly spaces. The park is located along the western shore of the Tennessee River, which is dammed to form Kentucky Lake. Whether you enjoy festivals, snapping photos at a Europe-inspired setting, or relaxing by the water, Paris makes connections feel effortless.
Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle may be small, but it knows how to throw a party. Each June, the RC Cola & MoonPie Festival fills the town with parades, fun runs, live music, costume contests, and plenty of MoonPies shared between strangers. First held in 1997, the festival has been uniting people for more than two decades and is now one of Tennessee’s most recognizable small-town celebrations.
Outside festival season, the walkable downtown keeps people crossing paths at antique shops and local cafes, including the beloved Bell Buckle Cafe, a longtime meeting place for home-cooked meals and small talk. Bell Buckle Park is another central meeting spot. It hosts concerts and community gatherings that turn an ordinary evening into a social one. In Bell Buckle, friendliness isn’t scheduled; it just happens.
Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg mixes mountain-town warmth with experiences that bring people together. At the edge of town, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a perfect place for group hikes, scenic drives, and friendly small talk. Downtown, Gatlinburg SkyLift Park draws crowds for sunset views from the SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America.
Beyond the Parkway, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community creates a different kind of connection. This eight-mile loop of studios and galleries invites visitors to watch artists at work, ask questions, and spend time in spaces where creativity is meant to be shared. It’s the largest independent group of artisans in the country and one of Gatlinburg’s longest-running community traditions. Whether you’re swapping trail stories, riding the lift at sunset, or watching crafts take shape, Gatlinburg turns everyday moments into something shared.
Cookeville
Cookeville organizes much of its town life around shared public spaces. Dogwood Park, located downtown, hosts concerts, outdoor movie nights, and seasonal festivals throughout the year. For a quick look at local history, the Cookeville Depot Museum displays rotating exhibits inside a restored rail depot. The building itself is a conversation-starter, as one of the city’s most recognizable historic structures.
On weekends, the Cookeville Farmers’ Market brings in both residents and visitors with local vendors, food trucks, and live music. Plus, kids usually end up at Cream City Ice Cream Co., a Broad Street favorite where a scoop (or two) turns a market stop into a reward everyone agrees on. If you’re looking for a place that’s active and welcoming, Cookeville takes the cake!
Greeneville
Greeneville knows how to keep things friendly, even when history is involved. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site spreads across downtown with a visitor center, historic homes, and a national cemetery, all completely free to explore and easy to work into a casual afternoon.
Community life shows up loud and clear during the Greeneville-Greene County Fair, a longtime summer tradition filled with rides, food stands, and live entertainment. Recognized statewide as one of the best fairs of its size, it draws visitors well beyond Greeneville each year. Between events, the Depot Street Farmers Market keeps weekends lively with local vendors and music, while nearby Kinser Park gives the little ones space (286 acres) to play and families a reason to linger a little longer. Greeneville is just one of those places that keeps things welcoming without making a big deal about it.
Shelbyville
Shelbyville’s calendar revolves around traditions that bring the entire town out. For ten days in late August, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration takes over with horse shows, parades, concerts, and nightly events that have been a local hit for decades. It’s one of the largest equestrian celebrations in the country and the town’s most anticipated gathering.
Outside of celebration season, the historic downtown square centers activity around the Shelbyville Courthouse Square Historic District, where festivals, holiday events, and community markets regularly pop up. For families with children, H.V. Griffin Park adds playgrounds and open space close to town. Friendly people, notable events, and just about everything happening within a few easy blocks make Shelbyville feel effortlessly accommodating.
Dyersburg
Dyersburg shows its friendly side through big, shared attractions and easygoing events. The standout is Discovery Park of America, located just outside town, where hands-on science exhibits, a recreated historic village, a vintage train, and wide-open grounds make it a popular day trip for families and groups.
Back in town, seasonal events like holiday parades and downtown celebrations fill the historic square throughout the year. The many (and tasty) Main Street food truck options add to the fun, while the growing collection of Dyersburg Murals turns a simple walk downtown into a colorful, self-guided stroll. When things wind down, time along the Forked Deer River offers a quieter way to enjoy the town. As you can see, Dyersburg makes it easy to turn a day out into one worth bragging about.
Winchester
Winchester is a small but lively town that puts lake activities at the center of it all. Just minutes away, Tims Ford State Park and Tims Ford Lake set the scene for shared boat days, lakeside picnics, and summer weekends that feel planned without being formal.
The downtown square revolves around the Franklin County Courthouse, a recognizable landmark and gathering point during festivals, holiday events, and community nights. Nearby, Winchester Park hosts popular fishing events like the Jonathan Acklen Fishing Rodeo each June, one of the largest fishing rodeos in the region. There is also the Take a Kid Fishing Rodeo, which turns a day on the water into a shared tradition for families. Winchester knows how to turn a small town into a place worth sticking around for.
Morristown
If you're looking for a place that gives people plenty of reasons to gather downtown, Morristown fits the bill. Located in East Tennessee, just northeast of Knoxville, the town is active around the Rose Center Museum, a former federal post office that now hosts rotating art exhibits, lectures, and public programs. The building also houses the local library, making it a steady place for events and everyday visits.
In December, downtown takes on a festive feel during Christmas on the Market, held at the Farmers Market Pavilion with local vendors, seasonal treats, and live entertainment. It's a perfect way to kick off the holiday season with others. For a quieter way to spend time together, Cherokee Park sits just outside downtown with walking trails, playgrounds, lakeside camping, and gorgeous mountain views. It's a place that gives everyone room to slow down and enjoy the nature around them. Morristown makes social time feel meaningful, no matter the season.
Where Tennessee's Friendliest Moments Happen
If you like places where you don’t feel like an outsider, these ten Tennessee towns deliver. They offer festivals worth planning your visit around, town squares that stay active, and easy ways to spend time together, whether that means lake days, art stops, or wandering historic streets. Come for the events and landmarks, stay for the sense that you picked the right spot. That's what friendly looks like here.
