East Tennessee Residential Communities : Holrob Communities : Private Communities near Knoxville, Knox County, Blount County, Anderson County, Sevier County

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Here’s one you’ve probably never heard of: agritourism. Family-oriented vacation and outing destinations, events, or activities that feature a community’s ties to its agricultural roots. With Tennessee’s historical dependence on agriculture (although the state has come to rely on manufacturing and services as primary industries), it just makes sense that our culture, music, values, scenery, and communities would be uniquely shaped by agrarianism. Over time (and out of necessity), farmers and rural communities have discovered that vacationers are drawn to agritourism and citizens of these communities are proud to share their heritage. Touting Southern hospitality, a slower pace, peaceful scenery, wholesome family environments, and homegrown produce, Tennessee’s agritourism industry involves over 600 farms and generates about $21 million in revenue annually. Agritourism is such a growing industry, most of these farms are planning to expand or offer new attractions in the near future.

On what do agritourists spend their money? Bed and breakfasts are certainly options but you might also visit a pick-your-own-orchard, a Christmas tree farm, take a hayride, visit an equestrian farm or a pumpkin patch, or navigate a corn or hay maze. Some farmers offer informational tours while others allow visitors to roam about as they choose, hiking and picnicking on their land. Farmers’ markets and restaurants offering home cooking are common; camping is available on some farms and wineries are operated on others.

Most farm festivals feature a choice product. For instance, Franklin offers its Annual Pumpkin Fest in the fall and South Pittsburg has a popular National Cornbread Festival each year. Featuring a Tennessee favorite, Grainger County hosts its annual Grainger County Tomato Festival each summer. Even local realtors packed up shop and attended the Festival this weekend:

Organized in 1993 the Tomato Festival has grown into a huge undertaking to showcase the Grainger County Tomato crop, area artists, craftsmen, and other local enterprises. Today it’s one of the largest local events in the state of Tennessee.

Annual county fairs are old traditions in most rural areas and East Tennessee hosts a number of them. While county fairs were once events where farmers could bring livestock and produce for trade, today they are family affairs. Hamilton County’s fair has boomed with over 50,000 people attending last fall. Greene County hosts their fair in the fall, as well, sporting strong man competitions, pageants, livestock demonstrations, carnival rides, and live shows, among other events. For the big one, the Tennessee Valley Fair is held yearly in Knox County. This event has been listed as one of the top 20 in the southeast for six of the past seven years.