Fall Fairs and Festivals Guide: More than 100 day-trips around the Tennessee Valley

Brian Newton, left, and Culen Pearson demonstrate blacksmithing at last year's Ketner's Mill Country Fair. Experience the festival near Whitwell, Tenn., this year on Oct. 15-16. Brian Newton, left, and Culen Pearson demonstrate blacksmithing at last year's Ketner's Mill Country Fair. Experience the festival near Whitwell, Tenn., this year on Oct. 15-16.

By Susan Pierce September 4, 2016 22 min read

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Fall Fairs and Festivals Guide: More than 100 day-trips around the Tennessee Valley

Brian Everett stands outside historic Ketner's Mill, built in 1882 beside the Sequatchie River. Ketner's Mill Country Fair takes place Oct. 15-16.

Ricky Ritchie uses a portable sawmill to cut cedar planks during a demonstration at the 2015 Hamilton County Fair.

Taking home a blue ribbon is the goal of everyone entering the agriculture, home-centered and livestock competitions at the Hamilton County Fair. This year's fair is Sept. 24-25 at Chester Frost Park.

Enjoying fall color while driving to a festival is half the fun of the day-trip. Festivalgoers traveling Ochs Highway up Lookout Mountain to Cloudland Canyon's weekend hayrides, Rocktoberfest at See Rock City or New Salem Mountain Festival can expect treats like this.

The leaves of a Maple tree begin to turn to their Fall colors in Moreland Hills, Ohio on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

Bird and Barn Sale will be held at Black Fox Farms in Cleveland, Tenn., on Oct. 27. One of three barn sales scheduled this fall, Bird and Barn raises funds for Project Free 2 Fly, which trains unemployed, unsupported women to help them return to the workforce.

Labor Day signals the end of summer, which ushers in the season of football, colorful foliage – and fall festivals.

The Times Free Press presents its annual fall fairs and festivals guide today with 108 craft shows, fine art shows, county and state fairs, heritage festivals and harvest festivals. The list does not include music festivals nor athletic events such as River Rocks.

All events are day trips within a two-hour drive (one way) of Chattanooga. Keep this guide handy for when you’re looking for weekend fun in coming months. The guide is also in September’s issue of Chatter magazine.

TODAY

* Art in the Park: Marietta Square and Glover Park, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, free admission, $15 Chalk Spot children’s chalk art; 175 artists in Marietta Square. www.artparkmarietta.com.