Concert on the Fourth
2025-07-04 18:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
Bring family and friends to an exuberant musical celebration featuring a 35-piece, American brass band, and special guests, celebrating our Declaration of Independence.

• At 8:00 pm in the GSM Heritage Center’s Large Covered Amphitheater

• Doors open at 6:30 pm. Overflow to be seated on the lawn.

• Complimentary American Flags For the First 300 Guests!

• Enjoy live portrayals of historically relevant characters in 1776 revolutionary-era costume.

• Thrilling music, led by internationally-celebrated conductor, Danny Griffin, includes rousing John Phillip Sousa marches, Appalachian-themed music, and a tuneful salute to active-duty military personnel and our beloved veterans.

• Fireworks Display in Downtown Townsend to follow! The concert ends with plenty of time to get there!

Admission is a suggested $10 donation to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, which houses a celebrated museum, a village of 18 authentic, historic homes and structures, indigenous peoples exhibits, and educational programs for children and adults.

Having joined the Heritage Center last December as its CEO, Francis Graffeo is energized to bring to life a special 4th of July celebration at the Heritage Center. “We aim to provide our guests with a moving, sensory, and participatory experience,” Graffeo explains, “one that delivers a rousing tribute to 18th-century American leaders, the world-changing declaration they created, and the very birth of the nation we cherish.” Graffeo encourages families to bring the kids and enjoy a spectacular Fourth of July.

Buy Your Tickets Today!

Blue Ribbon Country Fair - 2025
2025-09-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, Tennessee, 37882
Would you like to win a coveted blue ribbon? Click here to enter the fair and for more information about what to expect!

The deadline for Fair entry forms is Monday, September 22 at 5 PM.

Join in a fall celebration in the tradition of old-time county fairs, featuring all-around family fun.

Celebrate all that’s good (and delicious) about an old-fashioned country fair with activities including living history demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, spinning, weaving, wood turning, blacksmithing. Enjoy the gathered livestock, featuring cows, chickens, and goats.

Don’t miss the historical games, like Farmer in the Cove and the Ladies’ Skillet Throw. Farmer in the Cove is a hands-on experience for children in the chores of a busy and productive 19th century family farm. Some of the key chores children can experience include apple picking, gathering eggs, tending to the cabin porch (a vital family area), doing laundry by hand, corn shelling, and even planting crops.

Museum Events Coordinator:

Storytelling Sunday at the Heritage Center
2025-10-19 14:30 - 15:30
Join the members of the Smoky Mountains Storytellers Association for this favorite event.

Coming up: 10/19/25, 2:30-3:30pm

Nestled amidst the captivating backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, the Smoky Mountain Storytellers, a vibrant collective of individuals deeply passionate about the age-old art of storytelling, weave stories drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of the region. Their tales range from traditional Appalachian narratives to contemporary fiction and from classical tales of distant lands to intimate personal chronicles.

Through their telling, full of life, listeners are transported on a journey through time and imagination encapsulating the essence of what makes the Smoky Mountains so enchantingly timeless. Whether around a campfire or on a grand stage, the storytellers of this association ensure that every tale is a memorable journey.

About the Smoky Mountain Tellers

From Norway to the Smokies — Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra
2025-10-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, Tennessee, 37882
Southern Appalachia introduced Bluegrass to the world almost a century ago. Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra is bringing it back this Fall. From Norway to the Smokies — celebrate autumn in the mountains with the true-to-its-roots sound of Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra!

This talented and energetic ensemble is coming to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee during their 2025 U.S. Tour. Join us for a unique concert in our 400-seat covered amphitheater surrounded by mountains and fall foliage.

Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra is a seven-piece acoustic band from Oslo, Norway, that has captured hearts in both Norway and the US with its unique blend of bluegrass and Nordic folk that delivers a fresh take on American roots music wrapped in a finely tuned folk sound. Fronted by Rebekka Nilsson – winner of the 2022 IBMA Momentum “Vocalist of the Year” award – Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra combines original songs, classic tunes, and timeless covers into an energetic and soulful repertoire.

Highlights

Billboard Chart Success: Debut album Migrants (2021) debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart and stayed for 11 weeks. Follow-up live album The Broken Circle Sessions (2023) reached #9 on the Bluegrass chart.

Awards: Migrants was nominated for Norway’s Spellemannprisen (Grammy) 2021 and was nominated “Band of the Year” in 2022 and 2023.

Online Popularity: The band has amassed over 18 million views on YouTube, including a viral performance of “Wayfaring Stranger” (nearly 10 million plays).

International Acclaim: Hayde was an official showcase artist at the IBMA World of Bluegrass (2022, 2024) and at Folk Alliance International 2022. In 2021 they were invited for a three-week engagement at Dollywood in Tennessee, and even booked to perform on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville – opportunities unfortunately derailed by COVID.

New Music: In fall 2025 they embark on a three-week US tour with copies of their upcoming 2026 album – available here before anywhere else! With an expanding international fanbase, audiences at upcoming shows may be treated to exclusive premieres of brand-new songs!

Listen & Watch

Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra – Wayfaring Stranger | Live at John Dee

Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra – Back Home to Harlan / Heaven and Hell / Smokey Mountain Railway | Live

Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra – All My Tears | Live at Riksscenen

Hear more: Both albums Migrants (2021) and The Broken Circle Sessions (2023) – as well as numerous singles – are available on SPOTIFY and all streaming platforms.

Holiday Handcrafters Fair
2025-11-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, Tennessee, 37882
Come celebrate the season at our annual Holiday Handcrafters Fair! Wander through a warm and welcoming marketplace filled with local artisans, handmade treasures, and the sounds and scents of an old-fashioned Smoky Mountain Christmas. It’s more than a place to shop — it’s a time-honored tradition that brings friends, families, and neighbors together to share the simple joy of the holidays.

Admission to the fair is free, so come on in and enjoy the sights, sounds, and spirit of the season! We do encourage you to bring a little spending money — with so many talented artisans on hand, you’re sure to find something special. It’s the perfect chance to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends, or maybe treat yourself to a handmade treasure while you’re here. Join us and celebrate the heart and craft of our mountain community!

Whether you are selling or shopping, we hope you will be a part of this beloved holiday tradition in the Smokies!
