If your holiday spirit starts in your stomach, Tennessee’s Christmas markets are about to be your happy place. From skillet crackle to cocoa steam, these festive gatherings turn sidewalks into snack lanes and plazas into pop up kitchens. You will follow the scent of cinnamon and hickory like a compass, then stay for stories from bakers, pitmasters, and candy makers. Bring mittens and an appetite, because grazing is the only sensible plan.
Dollywood — Smoky Mountain Christmas (Pigeon Forge)
The aroma hits first, a swirl of cinnamon bread, wood smoke, and vanilla drifting beneath millions of lights. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas turns food into the star, from skillet potatoes hissing beside brown sugar ham to that legendary cinnamon bread tearing apart in pillowy steam. You wander between carols and carousels, fingers wrapped around hot cocoa crowned with marshmallow peaks.
Vendors lean into Smoky Mountain flavors, offering apple butter biscuits, fried green tomato sliders, and pimento cheese tucked in warm pretzels. Sweet tooths chase pralines and chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick, while kids negotiate for kettle corn tossed in warm cinnamon sugar. Sips swing festive too, with spiced cider, local roastery lattes, and nonalcoholic nog served in souvenir mugs.
To keep it unconventional, look for savory funnel cake topped with pulled pork and tangy slaw, a glorious fairground mashup. If you crave heat, a smoky pepper jam adds sparkle to everything. Between bites, catch candlelight carols and the parade, then circle back for one last loaf of cinnamon bread. Trust me, you will crave another slice tomorrow.
Gatlinburg — Winter Magic & Parkway food events
Gatlinburg glows like a snow globe under Winter Magic lights, and the Parkway becomes one long tasting lane. You graze from booth to booth, warming hands on paper boats of crispy trout bites, cornbread wedges dripping butter, and skillet sausage with peppery onions. Sweet stands tempt with honeyed pecans, candied apples shattering under a toffee crack, and warm churros dusted in cinnamon.
Local pride runs strong, so you will find sorghum syrup on biscuits, moonshine infused caramels, and blackberry jam from nearby hollers. Some vendors offer quirky twists like hot chicken tacos or smoked bologna bao, proof that mountain cravings can travel. Cider flows in spiced and sparkling versions, while cocoa gets stacked with whipped cream and crushed peppermint.
Street musicians soundtrack your snack parade with fiddles and carols, making every nibble feel like a celebration. When the wind turns brisk, duck into a lodge style café for skillet cobbler bubbling with tart apples. Then step back into the lights for a final round of praline brittle. Your pockets will smell like roasted nuts all week.
Knoxville — Market Square Holiday Market and World’s Fair venues
Knoxville’s Market Square transforms into a cozy corridor of flavors, with local farms and bakers sharing the spotlight. Imagine steaming bratwurst tucked into pretzel rolls, sauerkraut singing with clove and juniper, and potato pancakes crisp at the edges. You sip a brewery hot punch or spiced cocoa while holiday brass warms the air.
Wander toward World’s Fair Park pop ups for pierogi, smoked turkey legs, and creative vegan plates like jackfruit barbecue sliders. Bakeries stack tables with stollen, pecan tassies, and sugar cookies dusted like fresh snow. If you crave German coziness, the Schulz Bräu scene delivers glühwein aromas, gingerbread hearts, and hearty soups served in bread bowls.
Between bites, browse pottery and woodcrafts made within an hour’s drive, then circle back for funnel cake crowned with cranberry compote. The market encourages lingering, so take your time chatting with cheesemakers and roasters. You will leave with a paper bag of cinnamon nuts and a plan to return next weekend. Knoxville feels like a hometown kitchen with extra twinkle.
Franklin — Dickens of a Christmas & Holiday markets
Franklin’s Dickens of a Christmas layers Victorian charm over seriously craveable bites. Imagine meat pies with buttery crusts, gravy sneaking down your wrist, and bangers nestled beside mustardy mash. You warm up with mulled cider, orange peel and clove curling through the steam while carolers sway past brick storefronts.
Vendors get playful with tradition, serving hot chicken pasties, chestnut mushroom hand pies, and sticky toffee pudding married to Tennessee bourbon caramel. Shortbread stars crumble perfectly, and fig jam gleams like stained glass beneath soft cheese. For a savory left turn, try smoked turkey tea sandwiches with cranberry chutney and black pepper watercress.
The streets fill with top hats, shawls, and laughter, creating a time slip where modern cravings meet old soul flavor. Grab a paper cone of roasted chestnuts, then chase it with lemon posset kissed with sorghum. You will collect stories from bakers and butchers as easily as crumbs on a scarf. Franklin serves nostalgia with a satisfying forkful.
Memphis — Holiday Market and Christmas Village shows
Memphis brings the holiday flavor with swagger, starting with barbecue smoke that threads through every aisle. You will nibble pulled pork sliders with tangy slaw, then chase them with crispy catfish bites and comeback sauce. Cups of sweet potato casserole arrive with marshmallow peaks, and pecan pie slices wink under glossy syrup.
The Christmas Village shows gather bakers, pitmasters, and candy makers in one delicious loop. Expect hot links, tamales, and hushpuppies that sing with corn sweetness. Dessert skews decadent: pralines, chess squares, and banana pudding layered in tidy jars for walkaway spoons.
For a left field surprise, hunt down dry rub popcorn or barbecue spiced chocolate bark. Sip soul warming cider or locally roasted coffee while blues licks drift across the floor. Before you leave, stock up on spice rubs and dark molasses for home experiments. Memphis proves holiday spirit tastes best when it drips off your fingers and makes you grin.
Jonesborough — Historic downtown markets & Made Around Here
Jonesborough’s historic streets wrap you in brick, stories, and the scent of butter warming in cast iron. The Made Around Here events spotlight Appalachian foodways: country ham biscuits with red eye gravy jam, beans and greens tucked into cornbread boats, and apple stack cake layered like a family album. You feel like a neighbor within minutes.
Bakers set out molasses cookies that bend before they break, while candy makers swirl maple fudge and peanut brittle. Kettles bubble with soup beans and chow chow, humble and perfect on a cold day. Cider steams in paper cups, tart and fragrant, begging for a cinnamon stick stir.
Look for modern riffs too, like trout po boys with ramp aioli or hot cocoa dusted with sorghum sugar. Between bites, admire quilts and woodwork, each piece carrying a little winter warmth. You will leave with a jar of apple butter and a plan to share it, maybe. Jonesborough feeds the belly and the memory at once.
Nashville — Christmas Village at the Fairgrounds and city holiday markets
Nashville’s Christmas Village turns the Fairgrounds into a glittering pantry of comfort food and creative twists. You wander from Nashville Hot Chicken sliders to vegetarian BBQ jackfruit, grabbing pickles and extra sauce for good measure. Sides star too, with skillet cornbread, whipped pimento cheese, and tangy white slaw.
Desserts write love letters to the South: pecan pie that snaps and oozes, sweet potato casserole in tidy tasting cups, and chess bars dusted with powdered sugar. Coffee carts pour gingerbread lattes while cocoa gets a peppermint crown. Artisans sell spice blends to help you recreate the flavors when guests arrive.
Beyond the Fairgrounds, neighborhood markets add personality, from East Nashville hand pies to Germantown pretzels with beer cheese. Keep an eye out for hot chicken bao and maple brown butter donuts that melt the chill away. You will leave licking icing from your glove and planning a second round. Music City makes merry by feeding you well and often.
Cowan Christmas Parade and Market
Nestled in the charming town of Cowan, the Christmas Parade and Market is a feast for the senses. As you meander through the stalls, the aroma of fresh-baked pies and savory treats entices you to stop and indulge.
Local vendors bring their best, with offerings ranging from grilled sausages to homemade fudge. Each bite tells a story of tradition and community.
Children giggle as they sip hot cocoa, and families gather to sample seasonal delights. Here, the joy of food and festivity blend seamlessly, creating an unforgettable holiday experience.
MADE SOUTH Holiday Market
At the heart of Franklin, MADE SOUTH Holiday Market is a celebration of Southern culture and culinary artistry. Known for its handcrafted goods and gourmet foods, visitors are greeted with aromas that evoke warmth and nostalgia.
From artisan cheeses to homemade pies, the market offers a delightful journey through Southern flavors. Each stall tells a story of tradition and creativity, inviting guests to savor every bite.
Engage with passionate vendors and discover unique holiday gifts while enjoying live music. The market’s vibrant atmosphere and delicious offerings make it an unforgettable holiday experience.