When spring rolls around, everyone in Tennessee is ready to leave their cozy homes for the beauty and fresh air of the new season. Are you like that too? We are raising our hands to that one too. Let us help you this season and check out our suggestions for the best spring festivals in Tennessee. Speaking about spring festivals, in Wartburg, the locals not only leave their homes, but they throw a day-long celebration that heralds the beauty of the famed mountain laurel flower. From a hiking marathon to a 5K race, all make for one incredible festival culminating around the Courthouse Square, there's a little something for everyone at the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival.

Every spring the town of Wartburg, Tennessee puts on a local festival that appeals to locals and tourists alike. The Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival is held in mid to late May each year, and the entire town shows up to help folks enjoy the season and spectacle of the mountain laurel flower. We couldn't think of a better flower to honor for this time of the year. Mountain Laurel is a welcoming sight while hiking in the forest as you marvel at the splashes of color these pink and white flowers bring.

The mountain laurel flower is also known as "spoonwood" or a "calico-bush," and the flowering plant is native to the eastern edge of the United States. You can find the flower everywhere from Maine to Louisiana, but it’s here in Wartburg, Tennessee that the beautiful plant is honored with a solid Southern party. It is in our blood and what we do well, when we like something we celebrate!

You can tell the spring flower apart by its dark pink and deep maroon colors. The mountain laurel is commonly planted in groups, to intensify the cluster of color for a beautiful effect. The contrast of the green leaves and the brightly colored petals make this one of the best springtime flowers.

Every year visitors are treated to a myriad of thoughtful and talented vendors, live music, and a jaunty downtown atmosphere that welcomes the brand-new season with true Tennessee joy. There are photo contests and food vendors, and you don’t want to skip out on any of these awesome events during the festival.

Make sure you bring cash to invest in locally made goods. There is bound to be something beautiful for your walls at home! There is a 5K Ridge Run that's perfect for athletic folks, plenty of tasty food, and even a dog training demonstration. Interested in the arts? Make sure you check out one of the art demonstrations that will be happening at the festival as well.

A car show takes place during the festival, and you can expect spades of live music. There will be a petting zoo for the kids (And the kids at heart), children's activities, and a silent auction.

Will you be adding the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival to your bucket list? The springtime fest is open to visitors and vendors at the end of May every year, and annual schedules and vendor offerings are published on the event's official website. (Link below)

This is one of those events that you've just got to attend to understand how fun it is! Let us know if you plan on going this year, or if you have been in the past. Let others know your experience and maybe help pass along some tips and tricks. To learn more about this festival head on over to the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival website and you can also visit them on the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival Facebook page. Looking for a place to stay so you can make the most of this springtime festival? Book the weekend at The Rock, an A-frame house. Newly renovated with a beautiful stone fireplace indoors and a cozy hot tub for those cool springtime nights. What's not to love?

Looking for more seasonal adventures? Check out our list of the best things to do in Tennessee in the spring.