Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest

The Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest takes place each spring at the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, a campus of historic studios and gardens on the edge of downtown Gatlinburg, typically scheduled for a Saturday in late April or early May from 1 to 6 p.m.

You’ll sample wines from regional producers across East Tennessee and North Carolina—expect Muscadine reds, Niagara whites, and fruit wines from small vineyards in the Appalachian foothills—while local chefs set up tasting stations with pairings like smoked trout crostini, Tennessee cheddar bites, and honey-drizzled biscuits.

Arrowmont’s artisans often demonstrate pottery throwing, weaving, and metalwork in open studios during the event, and you’re welcome to watch glassblowers shape molten orbs in the hot shop or wander through the on-site galleries displaying student and instructor work.

Tickets usually cost around $35 in advance, $40 at the door, and include a commemorative wine glass, tastings from all vendors, and access to the craft demonstrations; designated drivers enter free but don’t receive tastings. Parking at Arrowmont is limited to about 50 spaces, so arrive by 1:30 p.m. or park downtown and walk the half-mile uphill on Arrowmont Way. The campus sits at an elevation of 1,500 feet, so spring afternoons can shift from sunny to cloudy quickly; bring a light sweater and sunglasses.

If the fest sells out or the weather turns, spend the afternoon touring the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, an 8-mile loop of over 100 studios and galleries just east of town, then circle back for dinner at The Old Mill Restaurant, operating since 1830 in a working gristmill along the Little Pigeon River, where you can order stone-ground cornbread and trout while watching the water turn the mill’s wheel.

Make it a weekend by staying at a riverside cabin near Gatlinburg and spending Sunday morning on Watauga Lake, about 90 minutes northeast, for paddleboarding or a quiet breakfast by the water before driving home.