Whether you’re a native to the South or just a fun-loving visitor, you’ve got to make plans to attend the Gatlinburg Beans & Cornbread Festival in 2016! This exciting beans ‘n cornbread competition offers the best of Southern culture and cuisine. Enjoy Smoky Mountain music that will take you all the back to the “good ole days” as well as a unique display of antique engines at this Gatlinburg event. And, of course, come hungry; you’ll have the chance to try a wide selection of delicious beans and cornbread!
Below we’ve answered all your questions about the Beans & Cornbread Festival, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2016. Start making plans to attend today by calling our reservation specialists and booking your favorite Gatlinburg cabin. Your time away can be a unique Mother’s Day gift for that special mom who has always made delicious beans and cornbread for you. Or make it an early Father’s Day present for that dad who can’t get enough of good country cookin’. But even if you’re only coming to celebrate beans and cornbread, that’s still great reason to book your stay in Gatlinburg this May!
All About the Festival
What
Presented by Bush Brothers & Company, the Beans & Cornbread Festival is a Gatlinburg tradition that celebrates Appalachian culture in a variety of ways. You’ll enjoy bluegrass music for entertainment, a rare display of over 15 antique engines, and a Corn Hole tournament from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at this exciting event. Needless to say, the highlight of the festival is the variety of beans and cornbread available for sampling. More than a dozen vendors will be present at the festival in 2016, and they’ll be presenting their own unique recipes to the public in hopes of winning the beans and cornbread competition. Every vote counts, so be sure to try all of the selections and vote for your favorite!
Where
The Beans and Cornbread Festival will be held in downtown Gatlinburg. You can find it by driving the Parkway until you come to the spot between traffic light numbers 6 and 8. If you have trouble finding the festival or if you have questions ahead to time, please call (865) 430-4148 for more information.
When
This festival is a 1-day event, taking place on Thursday, May 12, 2016. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and will last until 8 p.m. You can plan on buying a ticket to sample the beans and cornbread and make that your dinner for the night. That’s a fun and unique way to eat out with the family during your Gatlinburg vacation that only comes around one day of the year!
Cost
The Beans and Cornbread Festival is FREE for all visitors. However, if you want to sample all the delicious renditions of beans and cornbread offered by vendors, you will need to buy a $10 ticket. There are a limited number of sampling tickets, so be sure to buy yours as soon as possible. You can do this easily online by visiting the Gatlinburg Beans and Cornbread Festival page on Gatlinburg.com. Simply scroll to the bottom, and purchase the number of tickets you want. Sales will end Wednesday, May 11, 2016.
More About the Bush Brothers
The hosts of the Gatlinburg Beans & Cornbread Festival are the Bush brothers of Bush Brothers and Company. You’ve seen their commercials before with the dynamic duo of Jay and his secret-keeping dog, Duke. Jay is the great-grandson of the Bush’s Best Beans founder, A.J. Bush. Today, Jay and his family proudly continue the legacy begun more than 100 years ago by selling some of America’s favorite beans in an ever-expanding variety – from black beans to great northern beans to their all-famous original recipe baked beans.
Bush Brothers Visitor Center
You may not realize that when you visit Gatlinburg for the annual Beans and Cornbread Festival, you’ll be relatively close to where it all began for Bush’s Best Beans more than 100 years ago. The Visitors Center associated with Bush Brothers and Company is located in beautiful Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, which is only 25 miles from Gatlinburg. You can watch a short film featuring that “beautiful bean footage,” sample homemade dishes like their Pinto Bean Pie at Bush’s Family Café, or buy a variety of unique products at their general store.
The Visitors Center is open year-round, Monday through Saturday. Check their website for more information on store hours, showtimes at the Bush theater, and café hours. If you are traveling with a group, you can can even schedule group tours of the Bush’s Museum during your Gatlinburg getaway by calling (865) 509-3077. Be sure to call in advance to schedule your tour, but don’t book it on the same day as the Beans & Cornbread Festival!