Events
When Kreis and Sandy Beall opened Blackberry Farm to the public in 1990, Kreis would go to trade shows and call travel agencies, trying to put their little place in Walland, Tennessee, on the map. But trying to get people to come to Tennessee, much less Walland, proved a challenge.
Kreis, a food enthusiast and ever the gracious host, sat down and penned a letter to chef, author and television personality Julia Child, inviting her to Blackberry Farm to host a cooking class. Julia wrote back, saying she was unable to come, but she would send her protégé, Jacques Pépin, in her place. As the story goes, Kreis managed to fill the class, and they spent the weekend cooking and dancing the night away.
This would mark the beginning of Blackberry Farm’s vision to create events and enrichment programs that nurture the minds, hearts and bodies of its guests.
In 2004, Blackberry Farm hosted its first Taste of the South event, a weekend gathering that honors the farmers, artisans, chefs and scholars who influence and shape the foodways of the South, raising money for the Southern Foodways Alliance. For 19 years, the weekend was an annual event celebrating food, wine and Southern culture.
Blackberry Farm has also hosted Hospice du Rhône annually since 2010, presenting a multi-day event focused on a selection of international Rhône winemakers, wine critics and chefs at the forefront of their respective fields.
Blackberry Farm’s music program has given guests the opportunity to see some of the most talented musicians in the industry in a small and intimate setting. The Farm has hosted up-and-coming artists and legendary musicians alike — including performances by John Prine, Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Keb’ Mo’, Nickel Creek, Luke Bryan and Valerie June — as well as a range of artists in partnership with the Americana Music Association, with events celebrating artists and the Americana music scene.
Over the years, Blackberry Farm has curated a robust event program that also features wellness retreats, author talks, panel discussions, interior design summits and cycling. The cycling event programming began with creating the Tour de Smokies, which is still hosted at the Farm each year, bringing together avid cyclists and top professional athletes to enjoy rides in the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee.
From 2003 to present day, Sam’s eagerness to bring in the best talent in wine and food is most evident in the list of critically acclaimed legends in the industry who have visited Blackberry Farm for an event, including some of the world’s greatest chefs and winemakers.
After Sam’s untimely passing in 2016, the Passing the Torch event was born to honor his legacy, celebrate his love for the culinary arts and hospitality and to support the mission of the Sam Beall Fellows Program, whose goal is to support people early in their careers in hospitality and the culinary arts with opportunities to grow. It is a celebration that highlights Sam's enduring commitment to nurturing the next generation of hospitality and culinary professionals.
In 2016, Blackberry Farm opened Bramble Hall as a dedicated special event venue to further elevate and innovate the event programming. Beloved annual events continue their traditions at the Farm while the team welcomes new events and a diverse group of guest personalities to the calendar each year, showcasing the best of what chefs, vintners and artisans have to offer.
Blackberry Farm's events are not just gatherings — they are reflections of a profound dedication to creating transformative experiences that nourish the mind, body and soul of the guests. As Blackberry continues to evolve and innovate, special events will remain a beacon of hospitality, culinary excellence and cultural enrichment for years to come.
