Grains & Grits Festival
- Dates
- Nov 7, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Townsend Event Center
- Price
- $100
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
Grains & Grits Festival returns to Townsend, TN, Nov 7, 2026. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
What to eat & drink
Spirit-infused chef dishes, savory bites and sweets are tasted alongside regional craft spirits.
You must try…
- A chef-and-distiller paired dish
- A regional whiskey tasting
- A spirit-infused dessert
Festival weekend in pictures
The people, producers and atmosphere around the festival.
Watch before you taste
Food tours, crowd favourites and festival highlights.
The experience
What's special
A 21-plus Townsend tasting that pairs Southern Appalachian distillers with regional chefs, live entertainment and Smoky Mountain hospitality
What people love
Every chef is matched with a distillery and incorporates its spirit into a dish, creating genuine pairings rather than separate food and drinks areas
Music & entertainment
Lineup not yet announced. Email me the day it lands.
Getting there
How do I get to Grains & Grits Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Grains & Grits Festival. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Townsend sits roughly 45 minutes to an hour south of the airport through Knoxville along US-321, so booking ahead helps given thinner off-peak availability at this distance
Book / info →Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Onsite parking is available at the festival grounds, opening at 5pm. A complimentary shuttle also runs from a set of Townsend accommodations, departing the Townsend Visitor Center at 5pm with a final return trip at 9:30pm. Riders walk out to a marked roadside pickup point rather than being collected at the door
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hire →Car hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the centre of Townsend. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
Townsend Event Center
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Grains & Grits Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
In Townsend, less than 2 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and on the festival shuttle route
Book direct →Mid-range hotels 2
In Townsend, a few minutes' drive from the festival grounds, and on the festival shuttle route
Book direct →At 7824 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, right along the same road as the festival grounds at 7930 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, and on the festival shuttle route
Book direct →Luxe hotels 2
In Townsend and on the festival's official accommodation shuttle route; walk to the roadside pickup point rather than door service
Book direct →A boutique, pet friendly property in Townsend, a short drive from the festival grounds; not named on the official shuttle pickup list
Check rates →Airport hotels 3
2001 Alcoa Highway, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soon126 Cusick Road, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soon125 Furrow Way, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
Short-term rentals around Townsend and the Smoky Mountains gateway tend to book up and carry weekend and event-season surcharges well ahead of a named festival weekend
Search Airbnb →Hipcamp lists private-land camping and glamping sites across the Smoky Mountains foothills around Blount County as an alternative to a hotel room
Search Hipcamp →Browse all hotels near Townsend Event Center →
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
Watch
Grains and Grits Festival 2024 - Townsend, TN, Company Distilling on YouTube
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