Spectacular Springs In The Ocoee Region!

Spring is spectacular in Cleveland, Bradley County and the Ocoee Region! It’s a great time of year to enjoy the weather and beautiful scenery. Take a stroll along the Greenway, take a tour of Lee University or enjoy a picnic in one of our parks. It’s also a wonderful time to take a self-guided walking tour of our historical downtown. The walking tour guides are available at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and at the Museum Center at 5ive Points.

One of the most beautiful views in Bradley County can be found at Morris Vineyard & Winery and spring is an excellent time to pay them a visit. Bring your family and spend the day picking your own raspberries and blueberries.

Our calendar is full of family friendly events like the MainStreet Cruise-In, Lee Day, Downtown Dine Around and the famous Hot Slaw and Art Y’all Festival. Visit our Event Calendar to find more information about all the fun things that are happening!

When spring is in the air, so is the music! The Lee University School of Music offers concerts to fit everyone’s taste, several restaurants offer outdoor dining with live music and enjoy Friday Festivals in First Street Square every Friday in June.

Plan an outdoor adventure this spring! The leaves are green, the flowers are blooming and the rivers are rushing. It’s time to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer. What better way to explore the outdoors than to hit the trails. Cleveland, Bradley County and the Ocoee Region are full of places to take your bike…whether you’re a casual cyclist, a serious mountain biker or a weekend BMX amateur. There are also many beautiful hiking trails that will transport you…allowing you and your family to get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily lives and experience nature at its best. Horseback riding is also a popular spring adventure at Ocoee Horseride. 

If a river adventure is what you’re craving, shoot the rapids on America’s only Olympic River, the Ocoee! The 1996 Olympics put the Ocoee River on the map, but whitewater rafting is what makes the Ocoee famous. Located just 20 miles east of Cleveland, Tennessee, the Ocoee River with its class III and IV whitewater rapids is one of America’s most popular whitewater rivers. Our whitewater outfitters make a trip on the Ocoee easy by providing everything you need, you just show up and dig in. Once you get a taste of these waves, you’ll be back for seconds! Visit our Outfitter Directory and get started planning your whitewater adventure!

Are you planning a spring wedding or a family reunion? The temperate weather, lush green trees and colorful blooms make spring a perfect time to plan an outdoor event. We have many wonderful venues to choose from that will make your special occasion a day to remember. Be sure to visit our ‘Where to Gather‘ page and get started planning your event today!

When you visit Cleveland, Bradley County and the Ocoee Region you can be sure there is always something going on for you and your family to enjoy. Experience spring at its best!

Hot Slaw and Art Y’all ~ Cleveland, Tennessee, hosts a fun, unique and totally unexpected food and art festival, Hot Slaw and Art Y’all! Hot Slaw is now the first official State Food of Tennessee and Cleveland is now the Hot Slaw Capital of Tennessee! The dish was invented at the Star Vue Theatre in Cleveland, TN and is now a staple in the community, where it is served in more than two dozen local restaurants. Hot slaw is a unique side dish or topping not familiar to many menus… UNLESS you are in Cleveland, Tennessee. The mustard, mayo, secret sauce concoction is famous and common around these parts, but that is apparently not the case elsewhere. Help us celebrate the community’s Hot Slaw heritage at the Annual Hot Slaw Festival, dubbed Hot Slaw and Art Y’all! The event takes place in April each year in Downtown Cleveland, Noon – 7 p.m. and stretches from Central along Ocoee to Parker along First with the Courthouse in the center. Enjoy live music, artist exhibitors, pop-up street performances, family fun, professional hot slaw-off, amateur hot slaw off, hot slaw dog eating contest, food vendors, hot slaw row, photo ops with Sammy the Hot Slaw Dog and yes, lots of HOT SLAW! 

Alhambra Shrine Rodeo ~ Named among the Top 5 indoor rodeos in the country. Held at Tri-State Exhibition Center, this exciting event is a fundraiser for Alhambra Shrine. 423-892-0223

East Tennessee Saddlebred Association Horse Show ~ ETSA Spring Classic held at Tri-State Exhibition Center. 423-476-9310

Lee Day ~ This annual event on the Lee University campus is designed to highlight “Life at Lee” for prospective students and their parents. 

Cohutta 100-Mile and Big Frog 65 Mile Mountain Bike Races ~ These mountain bike races on the Tanasi Trail System originate at the Ocoee Whitewater Center and draw hundreds of riders from across the country.

Check out our calendar of events to see what is happening in Cleveland, Charleston and surrounding areas.