September is here, and East Tennessee is getting ready for one of my favorite times of year! 🍁 Football is back, the temperatures are hopefully starting to cool down, and our calendar is packed with festivals, fairs, live music, food, and family-friendly events.
Whether you live in Knoxville or you're considering a move to East Tennessee, getting out and enjoying our local communities is one of the best ways to see why so many people love calling this area home.
Here are some of the best September 2026 events happening in and around Knoxville.
🎈 Monroe Life Balloon Festival
September 5–6 | 4:00–10:00 PM
📍 Monroe County Airport | Madisonville, TN
Kick off September with hot air balloons filling the East Tennessee sky! The Monroe Life Balloon Festival features balloon activities, live music, food, children's entertainment and an evening Balloon Glow set to music.
This would make a great little road trip from Knoxville—and the Balloon Glow should be beautiful!
🍗 Big Kahuna Labor Day Festival
Sunday, September 6 | 3:00–9:00 PM
📍 World's Fair Park | Knoxville
Bring your appetite! The Big Kahuna Labor Day Festival celebrates the holiday weekend with plenty of wings, food vendors, cooking competitions, live entertainment, kids' activities and a musical fireworks finale.
Labor Day Celebration at Tyson Park
Monday, September 7 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Celebrate Labor Day with a community event honoring local workers. Enjoy food, music, awards and family activities, including bounce houses for the kids.
🚗 38th Annual Hooray for Harriman Labor Day Festival
Monday, September 7 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Downtown Harriman
Take a short drive west of Knoxville for one of Harriman's biggest annual celebrations.
The festival features 200+ vendors, food trucks, live music, a classic car show, the Miss Labor Day Pageant and a large kids' zone. Admission is free!
Knoxville Greek Fest
September 11–13
📍 St. George Greek Orthodox Church | Kingston Pike
If you've never been to Greek Fest, put this one on your list!
It's one of Knoxville's longtime traditions and features authentic Greek food and pastries, traditional music and dancing, cooking demonstrations and plenty of Greek culture.
Come hungry. 😋
🎡 Tennessee Valley Fair
September 11–20
📍 Chilhowee Park | Knoxville
Nothing says September quite like the Tennessee Valley Fair! 🎠
Enjoy ten days of carnival rides, fair food, agricultural competitions, exhibits, family entertainment and concerts.
It's a Knoxville tradition and one of those events that offers something for just about everyone.
🍁 Atomic Fall Festival
Saturday, September 12 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 A.K. Bissell Park | Oak Ridge
Head over to Oak Ridge for a day of fall fun at the Atomic Fall Festival. It's another great opportunity to explore one of the communities surrounding Knoxville while supporting programs benefiting the local community.
🎷 Silk Jazz Festival
Sunday, September 27 | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
📍 Market Square | Downtown Knoxville
Finish September with live music in the heart of downtown Knoxville.
The Silk Jazz Festival is a free outdoor event featuring jazz performances throughout the day. Grab lunch or dinner downtown, find a spot on Market Square and enjoy the music. 🎶
🍁 There's Always Something Happening in East Tennessee
One of the things I love most about living in East Tennessee is that there is always something to do.
You can spend one weekend in downtown Knoxville, the next watching hot air balloons in Madisonville, and another exploring a festival in Oak Ridge or Harriman.
And we're just getting started—October and November will bring even more fall festivals, pumpkin patches, football weekends and holiday events. 🎃🏈
If you're new to Knoxville, relocating to East Tennessee, or considering making this area your home, I'm always happy to help you learn more about our different communities.
After all, finding the right home isn't just about the house—it's about finding the community and lifestyle that feel like home.
Angie Cody
