Welcome to the delightful season of spring, where vibrant flowers bloom, trees burst into life, and outdoor enthusiasts eagerly seek new adventures. If you’re in East Tennessee, we’ve rounded up five family-friendly activities to make the most of this beautiful season!

1. TAKE A SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE.

Each year, nature presents a beautiful display of spring wildflowers. Join Norris Dam State Park Rangers at the River Bluff Trailhead as they hike along the cool Clinch River where guides will acquaint hikers with the identification, natural history and the folklore of the spring wildflowers. Hike is moderate in difficulty and will be 3 miles total. Hike will take 2+ hours. Parking is limited at the trailhead so carpooling is encouraged. This is a free event, but donations and registrations are encouraged. For more information call the park office at 865-425-4500 or click here.

2. CHECK OUT SHEEP SHEARING.

Sheep are a lot like humans in that they are ready to shed their winter coat as soon as spring hits. The Museum of Appalachia shows visitors how sheep are sheared and also has demonstrators showing all the ways that pioneers turned fleece into woven goods.. Guests will also enjoy sheep herding, Appalachian music, and other historical demonstrations. Admission includes a tour of the Museum mountain farm and village, which contains some three-dozen historic log structures, exhibit halls filled with thousands of Appalachian artifacts, gardens, and free-range farm animals. School groups, home-schooled students, families, and individuals are all welcome to attend. Click here to find out everything you need to know.

3. ENJOY A SPRING CONCERT

When you Google “top 10 things to do this spring”, enjoy an outdoor concert is high on the list. Well, you can knock that item off the list with a trip to Windrock Park’s Spring Shindig.The event starts with guided off-road rides and competitive events and ends with a night of country music concerts. Everything takes place at Windrock Park, a 73,000 acre off-road park. So if music and mud is your thing, check out the Shindig.

4. MOUNTAIN BIKE THE HILLS AND VALLEYS OF EAST TENNESSEE.

Mountain Biking is a great way to explore the trails of East Tennessee. In Anderson County we have seven riding areas designed specifically for mountain bikes that range from moderate to extreme in difficulty. You can find information about them all at hitthetrails.net. You can also participate in a mountain biking event this spring and help raise money to improve the trails. Check out www.natstrails.com and find out about their Poker Run.

5. MOSAIC-A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS

Calling all artists and art lovers! This event is for you! The Annual Mosaic event in Historic Downtown Clinton features performances all day from area school art programs and local businesses. Dancing, acting, a color fun run, interactive murals, projects for the kids and more! Find out more about Mosaic here.

UPDATED 2024