13 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In Tennessee

Tennessee is often ranked among the friendliest states in America, known for its classic Southern charm. Residents are always eager to welcome strangers and share with them what the Volunteer State has to offer. This genuine hospitality is most pronounced in small towns, as opposed to big cities, where locals greet each other by name and visitors are treated like family. From lively county fairs and farmers' markets to bluegrass festivals and holiday parades, these towns know how to bring people together in celebration of local culture and community spirit.

Their warmth and authenticity have made them magnets for travelers seeking a taste of true Southern life. Whether savoring homemade pie at a community bake-off in Bell Buckle or dancing at a summer festival in Sevierville, here are some of the most welcoming towns in Tennessee.

Jonesborough

Tennessee's oldest community maintains a tradition of holding a variety of annual events and festivals that draw participants from across the state. The annual Jonesborough Days coincided with the 4th of July Celebrations in the rest of the country, featuring a parade, Moon Pie contest, flea market, fireworks displays, and live stage entertainment in an electric social atmosphere.

Jonesborough also hosts one of the nation’s best-known storytelling festivals during the National Storytelling Festival. The event draws performers from different backgrounds and cultures, and plays a critical role in preserving the ancient art of oral narration. Finally, Christmas in Olde Jonesborough headlines the end-of-year festivities in downtown, offering a family-friendly way to welcome the season with carols, lights, Santa visits, and more.

Bell Buckle

Bell Buckle is a historic Southern community in Bedford County with a Nationally Registered landmark district that plays host to a fair share of local festivals. Prominent among them is the RC Cola-MoonPie Festival, a quirky family event in June dedicated to some of the town's favorite foods. Guests can participate in fun activities, such as a 5K run, MoonPie games, craft exhibitions, and a colorful parade.

Bell Buckle also holds the Webb School Art and Craft Show, which attracts thousands of local and regional artists for an art celebration, featuring antiques, an art market, games, and more. Finally, the Bell Buckle Daffodil Days in March signal the arrival of spring, as thousands of daffodils transform the town into a sea of colorful blooms, accompanied by a slew of family-friendly fun.

Smithville

Smithville is a tiny lakefront village in DeKalb County with tight-knit relationships among residents, which makes newcomers feel right at home. It is home to the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival in July, which proudly celebrates the region's bluegrass music heritage and crafts, bringing together established and upcoming musicians to entertain audiences. The annual Middle TN Cornbread Festival is a major food celebration that plays out in downtown Smithville. Over 80 artisans and food vendors from Tennessee and its surrounding states converge in the town, as attendees enjoy face painting, pony rides, food trucks, and a petting zoo.

Beyond the festivals, townsfolk gather at the DeKalb Farmer's Market on Saturdays for local items, fresh veggies, artisan goods, and baked creations, creating a sense of community where tourists can feel a sense of belonging.

Columbia

Columbia is the self-proclaimed "Mule Capital of the World," and backs this claim with the annual Mule Day. This enduring tradition in April draws more than 200,000 attendees from within and outside the state, tracing its origins to the 1840s when it was known as "Breeder's Day." Activities include a mule parade, a mule exhibition, carnival rides, and a flea market, accompanied by live music. Columbia also stages the Homestead Festival on a 100-acre farm, where participants enjoy a weekend of music, interactive learning, and lots of family-friendly fun.

Another great time to meet and mingle with the locals is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the Columbia Farmers' Market, where you can shop for a variety of items, including baked goods, eggs, honey, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and handicrafts.

Sevierville

This East Tennessee town, situated near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is renowned for its year-round calendar of entertaining events. Sevierville is home to the well-attended Smoky Mountain Harvest Fest, which celebrates the arrival of autumn with pumpkin patches, hayrides, craft exhibitions, gospel music, and a range of family-centric activities. Meanwhile, the Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in May breathes life into downtown Sevierville with a celebration of Southern cuisine, featuring crispy barbecues, cook-offs, live performances, and more.

Summers in Sevierville are dedicated to the Summer Celebration at Dollywood. The popular amusement park invites guests to celebrate the warmth of the season with a range of fun events, including drone shows, a bubble show, a dance party, and water activities.

Greeneville

Besides being one of the state's oldest communities, Greeneville is also one of the most welcoming towns in Tennessee. You can tell this from the plurality of cultural hubs spread across its downtown district. Between the Niswonger Performing Arts Center and the Capitol Theatre of Greeneville, residents find plenty of reason to come together and support local arts in a vibrant atmosphere designed for the whole family. Additionally, the annual Greeneville Iris Festival, held in May, has been a staple of the local events calendar for three decades, offering food, entertainment, crafts, and arts to downtown Greeneville for the community's enjoyment.

The Greeneville Antique Market is another important public space in the town, where the townspeople constantly converge and interact while shopping for different souvenir items, including furniture, books, jewelry, and glassware.

Savannah

Savannah is a relaxed community situated on the eastern bank of the Tennessee River, renowned for its rich river heritage and strong sense of community. The town hosts several festivals as a tribute to its history, including the Savannah River Days Festival. This fun occasion takes place in September, bringing participants together at the riverfront to honor the waterway that has long shaped the town's character through fishing tournaments, traditional foods, and related games. The adjacent Catfish Derby & RiverFest celebrates Savannah's reputation as the "Catfish Capital of the World."

Elsewhere, the Savannah Farmers Market serves as a lively hub where community gatherings and commerce intersect, inviting newcomers to engage with local vendors while supporting their modest ventures.

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg maintains a vibrant atmosphere throughout the year, welcoming guests at all times, especially during the community's numerous festivals. The Gatlinburg Harvest Festival is one of its most anticipated events, spreading autumn cheer through fun-filled adventures for the whole family, including a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving, scarecrow decorating, and kids' games. It spans multiple weeks from September to November, so visitors have lots of time to plan a trip. Autumn also sees the Bear-Varian Fall Festival happening at Anakeesta, inviting guests to indulge in tasty German-inspired cuisine and beers, such as pretzels and pork belly.

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair attracts hundreds of local and regional artisans, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their creations. It features fine examples of leatherwork, woodwork, glassware, and other refined art forms.

Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is a town in the Smoky Mountains with a reputation for being a family-friendly destination. You can attribute this to the numerous amusement venues it offers and its extensive list of festivals, which foster a sense of community and belonging. The famous Dollywood hosts several exciting fairs, starting with the Dollywood Harvest Festival. During the fall, Fun Galore invites travelers to enjoy pumpkin carving and decorating, food sampling, and arts and crafts. Meanwhile, the Pigeon Forge Winterfest lights up the town as over 6 million lights drape the region to create a winter wonderland. From November to February, this event keeps the town full of life.

Also, the Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run brings the largest automotive event to town. Car owners and enthusiasts converge in the community to showcase and admire over 500 classic cars, taking the opportunity to cruise around in them.

Crossville

This Cumberland County municipality offers boundless opportunities for residents to congregate in one location and celebrate a mutual interest. Every August, it hosts the Cumberland County Fair, which pays tribute to the region's farming heritage, drawing thousands to the fairgrounds. The occasion features exciting activities for the whole family, including a livestock show, a beauty pageant, rides, and kids' games. Additionally, the annual Upper Cumberland Strawberry Festival offers participants a variety of delicious strawberry-related treats, accompanied by live music and hundreds of crafts.

Crossville boasts a lively performance art landscape, which sees regular gatherings by locals at the Cumberland County Playhouse. This essential cultural hub hosts entertaining stage performances by regional and touring professionals.

Lawrenceburg

Lawrenceburg is a laid-back town in southern Tennessee, situated on the banks of Shoal Creek, and is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere and down-to-earth residents. Every once in a while, you will find a convention of local performers at the Crockett Theater, entertaining audiences with thought-provoking stage productions in a lively social setting. One of the most anticipated occasions at the venue is the James D. Vaughan Quartet Festival, which attracts dozens of talented quartets for a family-friendly singing competition.

The Middle Tennessee District Fair highlights the town's annual events, encouraging locals to celebrate their farming heritage by participating in agricultural exhibits, children's entertainment, motor sports, and food samplings. Those planning to attend should visit at the end of September.

Lynchburg

Lynchburg is a famous town in south-central Tennessee, often associated with the Jack Daniel's whiskey brand. The community boasts a rich wine and dine scene, evidenced by the nature of events and festivals it hosts. This includes October’s Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue, which pits some of the most talented smokehouse masters from the region against one another. Furthermore, the Lynchburg Frontier Days connects the community with its origins during this cultural occasion that feels more like a family reunion.

Some of the event features include carnival games, a rodeo show, a street dance, and delicious food. Lastly, the Lynchburg Music Festival is an excellent place for music lovers to come together and dance to country music tunes by renowned performers from the Southern region.

Paris

This Henry County village stuns visitors with one of the quirkiest festivals in the state. Paris is home to the annual World's Biggest Fish Fry in April, which involves more than 12,000 pounds of catfish fried during the event. For an entire week, the town transforms into an electric jamboree with carnivals, parades, pageants, rodeos, and crafts on the menu. Meanwhile, the Tennessee River Jam attracts music lovers for a celebration of music, with bands from around the state treating attendees to electrifying performances.

Those who fail to make it to the festivals can still have a fulfilling experience at the Henry County Farmers Market, where local vendors bring together their agricultural bounty to sell to the community, creating a vibrant hub for social animals.

Feel Welcome In These Tennessee Towns

From frying tons of catfish with locals in Paris to enjoying bluegrass music performances in Sevierville, these welcoming towns in Tennessee reveal a softer, more inviting side to the state that backs up its renowned Southern hospitality in the United States. Each community, with its lively festivals, homegrown traditions, and friendly faces, invites visitors to experience authentic Tennessee life. Wherever and whenever you go, expect to find warmth and connection around every corner in the Volunteer State.