Jonesborough Days 2026

Doc’s Front Porch

Patriot Park

Heritage Park

Discovery Park

Main Stage

Fireworks

The beloved Jonesborough Days Kick-off Dinner is set to return on Wednesday, July 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., featuring the crowd-favorite Low Country Shrimp Boil. The event will be held in the Courtyard of the International Storytelling Center, located next to Jimmy Neil Smith Park, and is proudly sponsored by Food City of Jonesborough.

Guests will enjoy a traditional Low Country Boil, including shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and crawfish, followed by a selection of fruit cobblers for dessert. 

Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased in advance. Early ticket purchase is strongly recommended, as this event consistently sells out.

This event serves as a fundraiser for the 56th annual Jonesborough Days Festival, helping support one of the region’s most cherished Independence Day celebrations.

The Jonesborough Days Parade will kick off Jonesborough Days on Friday, July 3rd 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 commercial entries and $75 for political entries. More information can be found at Jonesborough Days on Facebook for up-to-date festival information.

Jonesborough is adding a new patriotic attraction to Jonesborough Days with the debut of the Jonesborough Days 2026 American-Made Classic Car Show on Friday, July 3, 2026, in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The classic car show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Washington County Library parking lot located at 200 Sabin Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659.

Created as a new addition to Jonesborough Days, the American-Made Classic Car Show will celebrate both the nation’s automotive heritage and the spirit of America250 by showcasing classic and vintage American-made and American-branded vehicles manufactured in or before 1989.

The show will feature a wide variety of classic and vintage American-made vehicles manufactured in or before 1989, including restored classics, original survivor vehicles, and award-winning entries from across the region. Participants registering for the event will have the opportunity to showcase the history and craftsmanship behind their vehicles, including restoration details, original features, modifications, and notable awards or achievements.

Vehicle registration is open to American-manufactured classic vehicles produced in 1989 or earlier. The registration fee is $15 per vehicle plus processing fees. The event will take place rain or shine unless otherwise communicated by organizers.

The Jonesborough Days Classic Car Show is designed to honor America’s rich automotive tradition while creating a family-friendly experience that complements the community’s celebration of Independence Day and the nation’s historic 250th anniversary.

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.  Doc’s Front Porch at the Jackson Theatre will feature a variety of storytellers and musicians 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.

On Friday, July 3rd at 2 p.m., join us for the 8th 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.

On Saturday, July 4th 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.

The festival then wraps up with the annual fireworks display on Saturday July 4th at 10 p.m. Fireworks will be shot from the Washington County Library.

The Jonesborough Police Department will implement multiple road closures Thursday, July 2nd through Saturday, July 4th 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 2nd through July 4th

• Main Street will be closed starting Thursday July 2nd 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 3rd 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 4th 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.