2024 JONESBOROUGH DAYS
Jonesborough Days Fundraiser Dinner: Red, White & Blue BBQ
The event will take place on Friday, July 5th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Jimmy Neil Smith Park behind the International Storytelling Center and will include food and entertainment.
This year’s event will feature a bluegrass theme with a menu to match. We will be having BBQ, slaw, beans, potato salad, and fruit cobblers. Thank you to our sponsor, Food City, for providing dinner.
The Jonesborough Days Festival will take place Thursday, July 4th thru Saturday, July 6th and the Red, White & Blue BBQ Dinner serves as a fundraiser for the festival. To purchase tickets to the dinner and for full details about the festival, call the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423.753.1010 or click the button below to get your tickets!
Volunteer for Jonesborough’s Biggest Party!
Want to Volunteer for an exciting Jonesborough Days? Click the button below and fill out the simple form!
Jonesborough Days Kicks off on July 4th!
Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. The festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4th, 5th, and 6th. The festival begins Thursday, July 4th at 10 a.m. with a parade to kick off the festivities. Activities, music, contests and more will continue throughout the weekend. The fireworks display starts at 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 6th to wrap up the celebration.
Jonesborough Days Parade
The Jonesborough Days Parade will kick off Jonesborough Days on Thursday, July 4th at 10 a.m. It is set to go through Boone and Main Streets in downtown Jonesborough. The Jonesborough Days Festival Committee is seeking floats and entries decked out in red, white and blue.
The cost for registration is $25 for regular entries and $50 for political and commercial entries. Questions can be directed to Rachel Conger at rachelc@jonesboroughtn.org or by calling 423.791.3869. More information can be found at Jonesborough Days on Facebook for up-to-date festival information.
Eagle Award, given to the float judged to be the best overall float entry- David Crockett High School BandMayor’s Award, given to the float judged to be the best representation of the Town of Jonesborough- Nolichuckey Baptist ChurchSchubert Club, given to the float judged to be the best representation of the growth of music in the Town of Jonesborough- Jonesborough Novelty BandJonesborough Kiwanis Award, given to the float that best represents children or children’s issues- Jr. Pioneer Athletics
Jonesborough Days Festivities & Market
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 ad activities take place throughout the historic district Thursday thru Saturday. Doc’s Front Porch will feature a variety of storytellers and musicians on the plaza at the International Storytelling Center during the day. The BrightRidge Main Stage will feature entertainment each evening. There will be 60 local artists and craftsmen showcasing a variety of handmade wares. Of course there will be a variety of great festival foods including everything from cheese steaks to funnel cakes.
Moon Pie Eating Contest
On Friday, July 5 at 2 p.m., join us for the 6th Annual MoonPie Eating Contest in front of the Washington County Courthouse in Downtown Jonesborough. Come test your time on the snack known for being “as big as the moon”. There will be three categories including: 8 and under, 9 to 15 years and adult. Contestants will be challenged to see who can finish their MoonPies the fastest. Registration is free and begins at 1:30 p.m. in front of the courthouse, space is limited. The winners of each category will receive free MoonPies for a year.
Watermelon Social
On Saturday, July 6 at 2 p.m. Ingles Market will host a Watermelon Social in front of the Washington County Courthouse in Downtown Jonesborough. Free watermelon will be provided until it’s all gone.
Children will have many activities to do in Discovery Park on Saturday and Sunday located on the lawn of Central Christian Church. Discovery Park will offer various activities for children and their families including McKinney Center Art activities, mining for gems hosted by The Crystal Raven, sprinklers and more. Heritage Games will also be hosted by the Heritage Alliance in front of the Christopher Taylor Cabin.
Doc's Front Porch
Doc’s Front Porch is a variety of live music and storytelling taking place throughout Jonesborough Days weekend.
Thursday, July 4
12:00-12:45: Scott Wild
1:00-1:30: Emily Katt
1:30-2:00: Jim Piesmeyer
3:00-3:30: Guerry McConnell
3:45-4:30: Chloe Suraez
5:00-6:00: Trivia with Budds
Friday, July 5
12:00-12:45: The Flying J’s
1:00-1:30: Delanna Reed
1:30-2:00: Judy “Butterfly” Farlow
3:00-3:45: Jenny & the Weazles
4:00-4:30: Betty Polaha
5:00-6:00: Trivia with Budds
Saturday, July 6
12:00-12:30: Catherine Shealy
12:30-1:00: Wallace Shealy
1:15-2:00: Roxanne McDaniel
3:00-4:45: Grapmy & Friends
5:00-6:00: Trivia with Budds
Patriot Park
Where: Storytelling Park
When: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 11 am – 6 pm
Come visit our newest edition to Jonesborough Days, Patriot Park, located behind the International Storytelling Center in Jimmy Neil Smith Park. We will have children’s activities, that include carnival games, bouncy houses, a dunking machine, inflatables and much more. Come have a chance at dunking your favorite coach, teacher, or police officer in the dunking machine for a small donation!
Proceeds will benefit the Jonesborough Athletic Boosters
Heritage Park
Heritage Park on the Christopher Taylor House lawn sponsored by the Heritage Alliance with activities for everyone during Jonesborough Days!
Discovery Park
Children will be able to participate in multiple activities and craft stations in Discovery Park, Thursday thru Saturday located on the lawn of Central Christian Church.
Jonesborough Days Main Stage
The Jonesborough Days Main Stage will feature the sounds of regional favorites during the annual patriotic summer event July 4 to July 6.
Thursday, July 4th
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Bailey George & Jukebox Jess
7:00 – 7:30 pm: Storyteller Pipp Gillette
7:30 – 9:30 pm: The Brother Boys
Friday, July 5th
6:00 – 8:00 pm: Addie Levy and the Avalanche
8:00 – 10:00 pm: Yee Haw String Band
Saturday, July 6th
6:00 – 8:00 pm: Trey Hensley
8:00 – 10:00 pm: Dan Tyminski Band
Jonesborough Days Firework Finale
The festival then wraps up with the annual fireworks display on Saturday July 6th at 10 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from the Washington County Library.
Fireworks Exit Plan
The Jonesborough Police Department will implement multiple road closures Wednesday, July 3rd through Saturday, July 6th for the Jonesborough Days festival, with special emphasis on pedestrian and motorist congestion after the fireworks display Saturday night. These closures will be implemented to ensure the safe movement of motorists and pedestrians in the area of viewing points held in celebration of Independence Day in Jonesborough.
The following road closures will be implemented.
July 3rd through July 6th
- Main Street will be closed starting Wednesday July 3rd at 5:30 p.m. for Jonesborough Days set up.
- The Main Street closure will continue until Saturday after the fireworks celebration, approximately at 10:15 p.m.
- The closure on Main Street is from Fox Street to Second Avenue.
July 4th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Traffic patterns will be altered because of the Jonesborough Days Parade.
- Boone Street and a section of Main Street will be closed for the parade.
- Motorist traveling to Jonesborough via Boones Creek Road will be directed to either turn towards Johnson City or Greeneville at the Boones Creek Road/east Jackson Boulevard intersection.
- Motorists in the area of West Jackson Boulevard near Washington Drive should expect an altered traffic pattern for traffic traveling eastbound towards Johnson City.
- Police officers and Jonesborough Street Department employees will be at or near the intersections to assist with traffic flow.
July 6 from 8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Traffic patterns will be altered before, during and after the fireworks.
- Immediately after the fireworks have ended a hold on vehicle traffic will take place on Boone Street until the pedestrian traffic has cleared the area.
- Motorist should expect approximately 1 hour of being held in a parking area for the safety of the pedestrians.
- Traffic patterns will be altered along East and West Jackson Boulevard with crossovers being unavailable and no U-Turns permitted.
- Traffic entering East and West Jackson Boulevard will be turned right at all intersections.
The Town of Jonesborough expects to have a high volume of attendees at the Jonesborough Days events. The Jonesborough Police Department would like to inform the public that they should expect traffic delays, heavy pedestrian foot traffic crossing roadways, limited public parking and altered traffic routes.
Jonesborough Public Safety asks that attendees to be patient and use the utmost caution for pedestrians and other motorists.