33rd Annual 2026
Grainger County Tennessee
Tomato Festival July 17-18, 2026
Friday July 17th:
Festival 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Grainger County Opry:
6:30-9:00 pm
The Opry will be all local talent including music and comedy.
Saturday July 18th:
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Festival 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Grainger County Opry:
6:30-9:00 pm
The Opry will be all local talent including music and comedy.
Saturday July 18th:
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Grainger County Tomato Festival
7480 Rutledge Pike Rutledge, TN 37861
7480 Rutledge Pike Rutledge, TN 37861
Painting by Wendy Leedy
The Grainger County Tomato Festival was organized in 1992 to promote our world famous Grainger County Tomatoes. Our mission is to promote all Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato, and to promote the many local artists, authors, talent, and craftsmen we have in our area. Over the years we have added a number of special events making the festival one of the largest free festivals in East Tennessee and has been named by Parade magazine as one of the top ten festivals in the USA.
The festival is always in the month of July in Rutledge, Tennessee. Be sure to mark your calendars! You don't want to miss it.
The Tomato Festival is a family event, and we ask all our vendors and visitors to please be considerate and not smoke (cigarettes, vapes, cigars, pipes, etc...) nor have alcohol on the festival grounds. Good Southern manners that will make your mamaw proud is all we ask for. Thank you.
The festival is always in the month of July in Rutledge, Tennessee. Be sure to mark your calendars! You don't want to miss it.
The Tomato Festival is a family event, and we ask all our vendors and visitors to please be considerate and not smoke (cigarettes, vapes, cigars, pipes, etc...) nor have alcohol on the festival grounds. Good Southern manners that will make your mamaw proud is all we ask for. Thank you.
A BIG Thank You to our Sponsors!!
2026 Tomato Festival Sponsors
Platinum
Grainger Co Government
Diamond
Citizen's Bank & Trust
New South Credit Union
Kyle Grainger
Gold
Silver
Rick Eldridge
Knox Rail Savage
Grainger Co Farm Bureau
AEC
Morristown Iron & Metals
Bronze
Trilight
Single Tree Realty
River Valley Health
Watson's Fireworks
Buford's Spuds & Burgers
Grainger Self Storage
Phifers Auto Repairs
Petty's Wrecker Services
Grainger Co Sheriff Harville
Grainger Co Co-Op
East TN Rooter
National Kennel Club
Wynn Farms
BK Graphics
At this time we are not taking more sponsors due to advertisement limits.
Tomato Festival Hats & Shirts this Year!!!
We would like to welcome Grainger County Ridge Runners Car Club to this years festival. We believe these folks will have a variety of amazing vehicles for all ages to enjoy. Saturday Only |
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Pets are welcome and we have several water stations on the festival grounds. We also have misting tents for cooling off that the critters and their people love.
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Grainger County Opry
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Friday July 17 6:30pm-9pm
Rutledge Middle School Gym
We're back with lots of laughs and great music
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Rita and Susan Key will be back this year with their delectable and creative chocolates. They will be located in the elementary school.
We would like to congratulate The Chocolate Ladies on their wins at Chocolate Fest 
Art & Authors
In the elementary school We have several accomplished authors at the festival this year. They are all inside with air conditioning where you can meet them, buy their books, and get them personalized.
Featuring: Grace & Thistle Boutique Sweet Little Things Bakery Sherapy Sugar Therapy Rogersville Review Happy Hollow Mtn Hill Press Lora Sinard The Chocolate Ladies Moment in Time Dreams of Glass Mossy Creek Designs Piney Knobb Creations United Daughters of the Confederacy Betty Martin Grainger County Historical Society David Boyce Sylver Michaela Ark Books Piney Knobb Carol McClain 4-H/FSC Canning Ken Coffey Authors Guild of TN Air Mobile Ministries Kyle Grainger Shannon Renea |
Tomato Wars
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Historic Calendars are Back
The Grainger County Historic Society will have the calendars featuring drawings by Wendy Leedy for sale at the Tomato Festival inside the elementary school.
The Grainger County Historic Society will have the calendars featuring drawings by Wendy Leedy for sale at the Tomato Festival inside the elementary school.
Elmo
As always we are proud to have the Kerbela Engineers of Morristown Shriners Elmo Train back. Bring the kids for a ride on this cute and colorful train and help the Shrines raise money to help children in need.
As always we are proud to have the Kerbela Engineers of Morristown Shriners Elmo Train back. Bring the kids for a ride on this cute and colorful train and help the Shrines raise money to help children in need.
Wind & Wings
Veggie Vendors
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Food
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Thank you AJC Media for this amazing birds eye view of the festival.
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