Tennessee’s Oldest Town will celebrate the 48th Annual Jonesborough Days Festival on June 29 through July 1 with family activities, an exciting music line-up, handmade arts and crafts, patriotic parade, fireworks, storytelling and much more!
The 2018 Jonesborough Days Festival will begin Friday, June 29 at 10 a.m. and host the Annual Kick Off Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. with music and more until 10 p.m. The festival will continue on Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m. with the parade marching through downtown and festivities continuing until 10 p.m. On Sunday, July 1 activities start at noon and the event wraps up with the annual fireworks display at 10 p.m. Admission to the festival is free and open to the public.
The festival has been voted as one of the top events in the southeast and is known for its community patriotism and nostalgic atmosphere. Various entertainment and activities will take place throughout the historic district on all three days. Get your tickets now for the popular Kick Off Dinner on Friday evening at the International Storytelling Center. A low country shrimp boil is on the menu with entertainment by the Jonesborough Novelty Band and lots of family fun all for $15/person.
Doc’s Front Porch will feature a variety of storytellers and musicians on the plaza at the International Storytelling Center during the day. The Main Stage will also feature entertainment each evening including headliners The Beach Nite Band, Johnny Cash NOW and the Music City Stones. Shop over 70 vendors, showcasing local handmade crafters with a variety of wares. And of course, there will be a variety of great festival foods with everything from BBQ and tacos and of course funnel cakes being offered.
Discovery Park, located behind the Storytelling Center, will offer even more activities for children and their families this year. There you will find lots of hands-on ways to experience activities only found in Jonesborough including a taste of what they offer at the McKinney Center for the Arts classes, Oak Hill School sessions complete with a schoolmarm, heritage games and an archaeological dig provided by the Heritage Alliance and more. Visit Discovery Park each day and see what all Jonesborough has to discover!
The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre will also present 1776 the Musical with performances scheduled all weekend long. Visit their website, jonesboroughtheatre.com for show times and tickets.
Parking
Parking will be available at the Jonesborough Middle School for $5/car and a free shuttle will be running all weekend long. For a complete event schedule, tickets or for more information on the 48th Annual Jonesborough Days Festival, call 423.753.1010 or visit our website at jonesboroughdays.com.
Doc’s Front Porch
This area honors Doc McConnell and his medicine show, a symbol during the Storytelling Festival since the early 70’s. Join us on the Plaza in front of the Storytelling Center with music and storytelling provided from area performers each day.
Friday, June 29
Noon-1:30: Music by Southern Countryman
1:30-2:00: Storytellers Larry & Gayleen Kelley: Patriotic Stories and Songs
2:00-3:00: Storytelling Live! Inside the Storytelling Center (ticket required)
3:00-4:30: Music by Thistle Dew
Saturday, June 30
Noon- 12:30: Patriotic Songs by Jamie Hughes
12:30-2:00: Music by the Old Timers Band
2:00-3:00: Storytelling Live! Inside the Storytelling Center (ticket required)
3:00-4:30: Music by the Sound Travelers
Sunday, July 1
Noon-1:30: Music by the Sound Travelers
1:30-3:00: Music by Blue Railroad
3:00-3:45: Storyteller Guerry McConnell: Honoring Doc McConnell
3:45-4:30: Storyteller Mountain Man Bob: Honoring Doc McConnell
Main Stage
Join us on the East Side of the Downtown Courthouse with a great line-up of festival entertainment on the Main Stage.
Friday, June 29
7:00-10:00: Kids Our Age
The BrightRidge Main Stage kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 29 beside the Washington County Courthouse in Downtown Jonesborough. The Main Stage welcomes Kids Our Age who will bring everything from Rock to Pop to Beach Music! Their performance will continue until 10 p.m. and is sponsored by BathFitters.
Saturday, June 30
5:00-6:15: Aaron Jaxson Band
The Aaron Jaxon Band’s style cannot be placed in any decade or time. The all-encompassing use of diverse sounds and techniques, a talented ensemble from keys to better than usual drums, and electric guitar solos absent in modern music, assert the Aaron Jaxon Band as a vintage-esque, delicate band of musicians dedicated to making technically and artfully sound music.
7:00-7:30: Loretta Lynn Tribute Act
"Loretta Lynn" performs her top hits and tells about hilarious stories from her life as she opens for Johnny Cash NOW.
7:30-10:00: Johnny Cash NOW
We welcome the tunes of everyone’s favorite man in black with Johnny Cash NOW, a Johnny Cash Tribute Band hailing from Georgia. Johnny and June Cash along with Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three played during the Jonesborough Days Festival in 1973. 45 years later, we will commemorate that concert and welcome back his music that every generation has grown to love.
Sunday, July 1
5:00-6:45: The Mill Billy 2
Freddie Vanderford is a blues/folk/Americana musician who is known for his masterful harmonica playing, as well as impeccable rhythm on acoustic guitar and washboard, all of which garnered him the 2010 South Carolina Folk Heritage Award for his preservation of the Piedmont Blues genre.
7:30-10:00: Music City Stones
Featuring top Nashville musicians and performers, the Music City Stones pride themselves on integrity of the musicianship along with Louis Lee's spot-on rendition of Mick Jagger. The Music City Stones were founded by lead singer, Louis Lee Napolitano, and have been Rockin' the Stones tunes since 2004.
Kick Off Dinner
Get your tickets now for the popular Kick Off Dinner on Friday evening, June 29 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the International Storytelling Center. A low country shrimp boil sponsored by Food City is on the menu with entertainment by the Jonesborough Novelty Band and lots of family fun all for $15/person. This annual dinner is a fundraiser for the festival. Call or visit the Jonesborough Visitors Center to purchase your tickets at 423.753.1010.
Discovery Park
Located in Jimmy Neil Smith Park (behind the Storytelling Center), Discovery Park will offer even more activities for children and their families this year. You will find lots of hands-on ways to experience activities only found in Jonesborough including a taste of what they offer at the McKinney Center for the Arts classes, Oak Hill School sessions complete with a schoolmarm, heritage games and an archaeological dig provided by the Heritage Alliance, Meet the JRT Princesses, Story Circle with the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild and visits with Domino and Tumbleweed, ponies from Apple Valley Pony Parties. Go to Discovery Park each day and see what all Jonesborough has to discover!
Also new this year, we are exciting to host the I Made It Market where children of all ages will be offering items for sale that they have made.
Hours for Discovery Park
Friday and Saturday, June 29 & 30
Enjoy activities from 11 am-7 pm
Sunday, July 1
Enjoy activities from noon-8 pm
Join the Oak Hill Schoolmarm for 30 minute lessons, 12-2p & 3-5p on Fri, 12-2p on Sat, & 3-5p on Sun.
National Park Service Archeology Digs from 12-2p on Fri.
Old timey, Heritage Games will be available at multiple times on Fri-Sun.
Museums & Tours
Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum
The Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum will be open to the public on Fri & Sat, 11a-7p and Sun, 12-7p.
Historic Downtown Walking Tours
Beginning from the Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum, the Heritage Alliance will be offering four different tours. Town Tour on Friday at 1p, Sat & Sun 3p. Jonesborough Mythbusting Tour 3p on Friday & 1p on Sat, and Railroad Tour 12p on Fri & Sat, 1p on Sun. Cost is $5. Old Jonesborough Cemetery Tour at 2:30p on Fri & Sat. Cost $3. Combo tickets are available. Visit the Chester Inn for more info.
The Chuckey Depot Museum
The Museum is located on Second Ave. and will be open 11 am – 7 pm on Friday and Saturday and 1 pm – 8 pm on Sunday. We will have train-themed activities for kids from 1 – 3 pm each day as well as Thomas the Train movies. A new exhibit on communication on the railroad titled Train Talk will open that same weekend in the museum. Come learn about how signals, flags, lanterns, whistles and more have been and are still used to today as a means of communication along the railroad. We will also feature an interactive whistle machine at the Depot on during the Festival weekend.
Jonesborough Repertory Theatre Present 1776, the Musical
It's the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence... if only our founding fathers can agree to do it! 1776 follows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson as they attempt to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the shackles of the British monarchy by signing the Declaration of Independence. Go to jonesboroughtheatre.com for ticket info and performances.
Jonesborough Senior Center Presents A Tribute to the American Flag
Vintage Productions with the Jonesborough Senior Center proudly presents “Red, White, Blue and You: A Tribute to the American Flag”. Audience participation is encouraged so be sure to catch their shows on Sat., June 30 at 12, 12:30 and 1 pm in front of the Courthouse.
Parade
Everyone’s favorite patriotic event during the festival will take place on Saturday, June 30 at 10am. Enjoy watching marching bands, decorated floats and lots more as they proceed along Boone and Main Streets.
Fireworks
Come downtown and grab some festival food and then take your spot to watch the big show as it wraps up the festival weekend on Sunday, July 1 at 10 pm. We’ll be setting them off along Boone Street so they will be visible throughout the historic district and many areas along 11-E.