If you're a fan of bluegrass music, the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, etc. - you have to try to the Jamboree! The performers are amazing. The schedule is online, but typically they have the adult competitions the first day, with the finals in the evening (the top 3 in each category perform again) and the country music beginner national championship (12 &under) the second day, along with more adult competitions. In addition to the instrumental performers, they have buck dancing, clogging, flat foot Appalachian dancing, and square dancing.
They have an awesome craft fair as well, and plenty of food and drink vendors. The crafts were probably the best we've seen, and we've been to several craft fairs in the area. Prices varied, but there was an awesome woodworking booth that was incredibly cheap. The food was mostly typical fair food - gator on a stick, turkey legs, shrimp kabobs, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, etc. - but there was a Greek food truck with Mediterranean salad, a smoothie truck and some other options too. Food prices were a bit high, similar to fair food (ie, $9 for a turkey leg) but all food stations were run by local non-profits (like the fire station, schools, etc.) and the proceeds benefited them. The event itself is free, which is awesome. My husband and I went both days and really enjoyed seeing the beginners on the second day. Some of them were incredible.
If it's hot, I highly recommend hats and sunscreen, since most of the seating in front of the stage is not in the shade (there's a small area at the back under the awning of some buildings, but people camped out there to claim those spots early). They were giving out free water, which is nice. Several port-a-potties around, reasonably clean. Only about an hour from Nashville. Check it out sometime! read more