Elizabethton Fall Art Festival

Free October 3 festival expands with twice the artist vendors, interactive art experiences, live performances and activities for all ages

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — Downtown Elizabethton will become a showcase for the region’s artists, musicians, dancers and makers on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as the Second Annual Fall Arts Festival returns to the 400 block of East Elk Street from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hosted by the Elizabethton Arts and Cultural Alliance (ElizArts), the free, family-friendly festival is expanding significantly in its second year, with more than 40 artist vendors, more than double the number featured at the inaugural festival.

Throughout the day, visitors will be able to meet artists, shop original work and see creativity happening in real time through a variety of interactive demonstrations.

Festival demonstrations and activities will include pottery, glass flameworking, live mural painting, chalk art and a found-object musical jam session, creating opportunities for visitors to do more than simply look at art. The goal is to make the arts something people can see, hear, experience and participate in throughout downtown.

Live entertainment will continue throughout the festival, with regional musicians performing blues, jazz and improvisational percussion, along with dance performances by East Tennessee Ballet and Appalachian Irish Dance. Additional performers and programming are still being finalized.

Young festivalgoers will have their own opportunity to create in the Kid Zone at Crossroads Craftworks, featuring hands-on art activities sponsored by Carter County Drug Prevention.

The festival will also celebrate the people and places of the community through the Celebrate Carter County Photo Contest. Photographers are invited to submit images capturing Carter County, with entries due September 25. Ten finalists will be selected, and their photographs will be displayed during the Fall Arts Festival. Information and application details are available at elizarts.org.

The Fall Arts Festival was created as a community celebration of the arts in all their forms, bringing professional and emerging artists together with residents and visitors in the heart of downtown Elizabethton. With visual art, demonstrations, music, dance, storytelling and hands-on experiences all sharing the same downtown space, the festival is designed to make the arts accessible to everyone.

Admission to the Fall Arts Festival is free.

ElizArts is also seeking volunteers to help make the expanded festival possible. Multiple volunteer shifts and opportunities are available throughout the day. Volunteers can sign up at elizarts.org.

EVENT AT A GLANCE

Second Annual Fall Arts Festival

Saturday, October 3, 2026

10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

400 Block of East Elk Street

Downtown Elizabethton, Tennessee

Admission: FREE

Highlights include:

More than 40 artist vendors

Pottery and glass flameworking demonstrations

Live mural painting and chalk art

Found-object interactive musical jam session

Live blues, jazz and percussion

East Tennessee Ballet

Appalachian Irish Dance

Kid Zone and hands-on art activities

Celebrate Carter County Photo Contest finalist exhibition

For festival information, photo contest applications and volunteer registration, visit elizarts.org.

Community event in Blountville, TN 37617.