Autumn in the Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains is not to be missed, and the Grains & Grits Festival is making it easy for folks to enjoy it. The festival of “southern spirits and gourmet grub” is back for its fifth year, this time with more whiskey connoisseurs and distillers than before.
Kim Mitchell, the Blount Partnership Director of Tourism, wanted to develop programs and events to bring more people to Blount County, and with so many distilleries in the area, it seemed like the right fit.
“The Tennessee Whiskey Trail hadn’t been developed yet, so we thought we could do a Tennessee Spirit Festival. We have people making incredible gin, rums, and vodkas. They make everything but Scotch and Tequila since you can’t make those in the states,” she says. “And what else goes with good drinks but good food. We incorporated some high-end restaurants to show out.”
Every distillery in the State of Tennessee is scheduled to come, along with 12 restaurants so far. New for 2020 is Michael Sullivan’s Ring of Fire.
“He was with Blackberry Farm and is now with American Butcher, and he’ll be roasting a full pig and lamb - cooked on site on an open fire,” says Kim. “People can watch him and other chefs do open-air cooking.”
The list of treats continues. Jeff Arnett from Jack Daniels will be on the grounds to talk to festival-goers, which is an opportunity most people don’t get. Plus, each distiller will be paired with a chef, who’ll incorporate the distiller’s spirits into their dish. Visitors will be able to purchase full-size spirits from favorite vendors as well.
Though there will be plenty of parking ticket holders, Kim hopes folks will make a weekend out of it.
“We’re encouraging people to come and stay in Townsend. The leaves will be turning, and that way, you can take the shuttle to and from several hotels and campgrounds,” she says. “Jack Daniels sponsors those shuttles, so you can come and enjoy the mountains, the beauty, have some good libations and some incredible food. Everywhere we turn is doom and gloom, so it’s exciting to have something to look forward to.”
Grains & Grits enjoyed about 300 visitors the first year, but it’s grown leaps and bounds since, counting more than 1,000 festival-goers last year. With pandemic precautions in place, Kim says they are capping the festival at 500 this year.
“We want people to have interactions with the distillers, to get into conversation. They love that. They love to talk about their craft,” she says. “It’s always going to be small intimate.”
Limiting the number to 500 does add to the intimacy, but it also means giving people plenty of space to distance responsibly. With ample space available at the Townsend Visitor Center, folks can meander the grounds, sip, and taste.
“We normally butt up the tents together, but we have enough space to spread out. We’ll have markings to separate people while in line, and we’ll have plenty of hand sanitizer,” says Kim. “We have branded masks for people who want to wear them. I don’t think we can require masks since we’ll be outside drinking and eating, but our staff and volunteers will wear them.”
The Grains & Grits festival is organized and hosted by the Tennessee Distillers Guild and the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority. The festival happens rain or shine; however, if it has to be cancelled for reasons related to COVID-19, all tickets will be refunded. Read more at GrainsAndGritsFest.com.
Fast Facts:
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Buy tickets online and save ten bucks. TIckets are $65 online or $75 the day of the event (for age 21 and older)
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Make it a weekend! Jack Daniels is supplying shuttles to and from the festival from various hotels and campgrounds in Townsend.
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Snatch up your favorite spirits. When you're done taste-testing, you're welcome to buy full-size bottles of your favorite drinks. You'll receive tickets for your purchases to exchange for your spirits as you exit the tent.
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It's a worry-free Festival. Grains & Grits is following Tennessee Pledge guidelines for appropriate physical distancing with plenty of hand sanitizer and masks on hand.
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Raise a glass, rain or shine. Watch the weather and dress accordingly. Tickets will only be refunded if the festival is cancelled for reasons related to COVID-19.
https://grainsandgritsfest.com/
