Oh, Springtime, welcome back! We are glad to see you.
If you’re longing for fresh breezes, landscapes of ever-changing pastels, and a hometown mountain getaway, you’ll love the Great Smoky Mountains of NC. After a long winter, who isn’t craving perfect temperatures? Beyond the natural beauty of spring, the region offers inspiring festivals celebrating the weather, local resilience, natural beauty, and traditions of Western North Carolina.
2025 Springtime Festivals & Events Calendar
It’s time to bring the whole family and make new memories at these springtime festivals in the Great Smoky Mountains!
April 26th, 2025: May Day Parade and Maypole Dance
Location: John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown (Clay County)
Time: Parade begins at 11:30 AM
The John C. Campbell Folk School offers year-round weeklong and weekend classes for adults in craft, art, music, dance, and more. Their annual May Day Parade and Maypole Dance celebration of spring is free and open to the public. Enjoy a day of costuming, puppets, ribbon dances, and general merrymaking on their beautiful campus.
April 26th, 2025: Greening Up the Mountains Festival
Location: Historic Downtown Sylva
Time: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sylva, NC, known for its historic charm, plentiful restaurants, and famed WNC fly fishing, hosts the 27th annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival. This heritage arts festival highlights the arrival of Spring through traditional and contemporary forms of Appalachian art, live music, local and regional vendors, plus food and beverages.
May 2nd-4th, 2025: 2025 Thunder in the Smokies Spring Motorcycle Rally
Location: Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, Maggie Valley
Time: All weekend
The largest motorcycle rally of its kind in Maggie Valley. Enjoy a weekend that will knock your winter socks off with tour rides, a bike show, games, vendors, nightly live music, and more!
May 3rd, 2025: Murphy Spring Festival
Location: Tennessee Street and Valley River Avenue, Murphy
Time: 12 PM – 8 PM
Murphy, NC, the county seat of Cherokee County, celebrates Spring with a proper street festival. The blocked-off streets fill with unique vendors and crafters, kids’ activities, live stage performances throughout the day, dancing, art, food, shopping, and a fun beer garden.
May 3rd, 2025: Smoky Mountain Spring Fest at Stecoah
Location: Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, Graham County
Time: 11 AM – 4 PM
Come for a full day of springtime celebrations at the 2nd Annual Smoky Mountain Spring Fest. Enjoy free activities scheduled throughout the day for all ages. Shop arts & crafts, dance to live music, participate in the plant & seed swap, and watch fly fishing casting demonstrations (perfect timing for anglers!).
May 10th, 2025: Pickin’ On the Square
Location: Gazebo on the Square, Franklin
Time: 6 PM onwards (bi-weekly through October)
While not a festival by definition, this bi-weekly gathering is a beloved springtime tradition. Weather-permitting, enjoy live music with friends and family featuring country, bluegrass, oldies, and rock-n-roll. Local restaurants remain open for dinner, and food vendors line the streets.
May 10th, 2025: The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival
Location: Historic Frog Level District, Waynesville
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM
This fun fest offers a full day of flowers and festivities! Shop from local growers and artisans offering plants, handmade goods, and garden-inspired products. Enjoy live music, shopping, food, and beverages in the Historic Frog Level Shopping District.
May 17th & 18th, 2025: Annual Strawberry Jam Festival on the Farm
Location: Darnell Farms, Bryson City
Time: All weekend
The good folks at Darnell Farms create special springtime magic during this two-day celebration. Guaranteed treats for all senses with arts, crafts, inflatables, live music, pie-eating contests, u-pick strawberries, and more!
June 5th-7th, 2025: Cherokee Bluegrass Festival
Location: Happy Holiday RV Village, Cherokee
Time: Three-day event
American bluegrass music originated in Southern Appalachia, and that old-time sound still echoes throughout the Smokies. Pay tribute to this musical tradition during a three-day, jam-packed event filled with live bluegrass music. Bring your own chairs; kids are welcome, and camping is optional. This is one of the region’s favorite late-spring festivals in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Explore our full events calendar for the Great Smoky Mountains.
Header image courtesy of Jackson County TDA and Photo by Leslie Cross on Unsplash.