October 24–26, 2025 @ Rose Center
The 49th AnnualMountain Makins Festivalreturns to Rose Center this weekend, celebrating Appalachian heritage, artsand community through three days of live music, traditional crafts, storytelling, regional authorsand family-friendly fun. The festival isheld Saturday and Sunday, Oct.25–26, with anexclusive Preview PartyFriday, Oct.24, from 6:30–9 p.m.
ThePreview Partyoffers guests an early look at the juried arts and crafts show, live musicfrom Boogertown Gap, hors d’oeuvres,wine,and the opportunityforearly purchaseofselect crafts.Each Preview Party ticket includes admission for both festival days, andtickets must be purchased in advance atwww.rosecenter.org/online-store.
The weekend’s festivities begin Saturday with live performances byBlue Ridge Gathering,Appalatin,UT String BandandMy New Favorites. FollowingAppalatin’sfinal set, the group will host aspecial workshop at 2:30 p.m., in Classroom 2, offering insight into their fusion of Appalachian and Latin American musical traditions.Sunday’s lineup featuresBoogertown Gap,The Flying J’s,Grassy Creek, andYun’sJugband, ensuring a lively mix of regional roots, folk,old-timeand bluegrass sounds.
Visitors can enjoyfolk life demonstrationssuch as apple butter making, beekeeping, caricature art, cornhusk doll crafting, leatherworking,master cooper, quilting, spinning, weavingand wheel-thrown pottery.
Thejuried artisans market showcases a wide variety of handmade goods, including bee products, clay and pottery, fiber art, fine art, florals, glass, goat milk products, greeting cards, pewter, handmade brooms, herbal teas, jewelry, leather goods, metalwork, mixed media, musical instruments, natural cork bags, hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns, wood décor, andwoodturnedutensils.
Participantscan also meetregional authorsincluding Bill Barbour, Jim Hartsell, Timothy Holder, Janae Mitchell, Cheryl Peyton, Nancy Holder Pressley, Ron Pressley, Leanna Sain, Dr. Linn and J.L. Stepp, and D.L. Winchester, who will be signing books throughout the weekend.
Storytelling sessionswill feature local favorites such as Steven Hollen, Sherrie Peters, Linda Poland, Jim Preismeyer, Libby Street, Catherine Shealy, Wallace Shealy, Michael Reno Harrell, Don Britton, Jim Clabornand Dr. Linn Stepp.
Dance groupsperforming include Dancers Unlimited, TennesseeHoedowners, Mountain Line Dancers, Morristown School of Dance Arts, Sweet Southern Dance, Pacific Islandersand Broken Spur Dance Club.
Food lovers will find a variety of local and regional flavors fromThe Country Store, Wetzel’s Pretzels, African Cuisine, Mo Smoke BBQ,KettleKorn, Donut NV, Big Daddy’s Gruband Tennessee Tater.
To help with parking, ETHRA/Lakeway Transit provides shuttle service from downtown lots to Rose Center both days of the event.Mountain Makins Festival is open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 per adult or $15 for both days; children 12 years of age and younger are free.
The festival is held in the building and on the grounds of Rose Center, located at 442 W 2nd North Street in Morristown. Thenonprofit arts organization hostsclasses, concerts, a professional art gallery, a local artists' shopand business and party rentals. More information about Rose Center’s programs is available at rosecenter.org or by calling 423-581-4330. Rose Center receives support from the Tennessee Arts Commission and United Way.
Category: Festival