Enjoy local traditions at the Blooms, Bluegrass, and BBQ Festival
Each May, downtown Sweetwater hosts a two-day festival celebrating two major parts of local Appalachian culture: bluegrass and barbecue. This happens as the Spring flowers are in bloom and Main Street is decorated with topiaries. The Blooms, Bluegrass, and BBQ Festival features several local pitmasters cooking and serving their barbecue and concludes with awards from the people's choice. While you try the different barbecues, listen to the bluegrass bands that perform at the gazebo and the Duck Park. Another highlight of the festival are the local artisans selling their crafts. Kids will enjoy the carnival games (and let's hope they'll enjoy the barbecue and music too). If you need to walk off all the barbecue, take a stroll on the walking trail at the Duck Park. We can't guarantee that desserts will be sold at the festival, so if you need something sweet, check out Sweetwater Creamery for some ice cream.
Become pals with our fowl friends at the Duck Park
As urbanized as Sweetwater is, there are still several green spaces conveniently located just steps away from the historic downtown. One of the most popular (especially with families) is the Duck Park. This is a great place to see the flowers blooming and enjoy the warm Spring weather, but this is not why the Duck Park is popular. Obviously, everyone comes to see the ducks that swim along the creek going through the park. Please remember that these are wild animals so please respect their space. Also, do not feed them bread. It is bad for ducks. Instead, bring corn. This quaint park includes a walking trail which takes you to the much larger Sweetwater City Recreation Park. A visit to the Duck Park is a staple of childhood in Monroe County.
Stroll Main Street with the Flower and Mural Walk
Downtown Sweetwater features several large murals which are great to visit year round, but when the flowers start blooming in Spring, the natural beauty of the flowers and the artistic beauty of the murals complement each other perfectly. The Duck Park has plenty of greenery and even has a mural near the start of the trail. From there, you'll want to head northwest to the giant orange and white Sweetwater mural at The Lazy Beagle at 144 Monroe Street. Look up to see the second-floor mural of a beagle. From there, you'll want to go up Main Street to the Hurrah! Vote mural by Jenny Ustick which celebrates Sweetwater's role in the history of women's suffrage. Across the street is the historic gazebo and Train Car which features a small park. Next you'll head northwest to 120 Morris Street to see the mural This Girl Can by Kim Radford. The trail is very short at less than half a mile and is mostly on flat sidewalks so this is very accessible though there is no sidewalk connecting the Duck Park and Main Street. Visitors with disabilities may want to skip the Duck Park and start the trail at 144 Monroe Street. Use the map below to navigate. Click "More Options" in the top-left corner to open the full map.
Slow down for a meal at The Lazy Beagle
Spring is a great time to go out with the people you love to enjoy a day in Downtown Sweetwater. After all the shopping and strolling, it is time to slow down with a meal. One place we recommend is The Lazy Beagle. The restaurant is a recent addition but the building itself is historic. This pub shows off the rustic history of the building with walls decorated in old photos and other memorabilia showcasing days gone by in Tennessee history. The menu has a good variety to satisfy everyone with dishes like an all-American hamburger, a salmon BLT, or a French dip. The Lazy Beagle is also the only restaurant in the county with roof-top dining! This is a great choice for couples wanting high quality familiar dishes in a rustic setting. A word of warning. Some of the dishes (like the shrimp and grits) can be heavy so we recommend saving this for after you've finished walking up and down Main Street.
Sleep in the treetops at the Woodberry's Treehouse
There are so many places to stay in Monroe County, that as fantastic as they are, only one lets you stay in a treehouse. Woodberry's Treehouse is adult-sized and fit for two with one bedroom, a small kitchen, a full bathroom with shower, a living room, as well as an outdoor deck. Below the treehouse is a hammock and a firepit. You can enjoy all the amenities you'd expect in a modern cozy space while relaxing in the treetops. The treehouse is in a small forest on a working farm and also includes a private pond which is a short walk away from the treehouse. Guests are welcome to bring fishing gear and a canoe. This is a great private place to relax with the person you love during a warm Spring day.
