Secret City Festival

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Cultural & TraditionalOak Ridge
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsFew American festivals sit directly on top
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge

The Secret City Festival is an annual arts, history, and science festival held on the first Friday and Saturday of June in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a city built in secret during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. Organized by the nonprofit Celebrate Oak Ridge with city support, it combines a WWII reenactment, tours of historic Manhattan Project sites, children's science activities from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, live music, and arts and crafts vendors.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee did not exist on any public map until after World War II.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few American festivals sit directly on top of the history they commemorate the way Secret City does: Oak Ridge was constructed hastily and covertly starting in 1942 to enrich uranium for the atomic bomb, and the festival's WWII reenactment, historically the largest multi-battle World War II reenactment in the South, plays out within walking distance of the actual Manhattan Project facilities, including the Graphite Reactor and the Y-12 National Security Complex, some of which are now part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park

02

The mystery stays covered

The event evolved from a small 1982 arts show called the Azalea Festival, through name changes including Mayfest and Party in the Park, before being renamed Secret City Festival in 2003 to foreground Oak Ridge's wartime origin story rather than treat it as incidental trivia

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's defining tradition is its WWII reenactment and living history program

Water and renewal

Living ritual

which for many years staged the largest multi-battle World War II reenactment in the South on festival grounds near the actual wartime facilities the reenactment commemorates

The sacred route

Living ritual

Free science programming from Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The local code

Living ritual

including a traveling science fair for children

Tradition 5

Living ritual

continues the festival's mission of linking Oak Ridge's secret wartime past to its identity today as a center of national laboratory research

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

For Secret City Festival, plan transport around the exact Oak Ridge venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual warm-weather clothing suited to early June in East Tennessee works best: shorts or lightweight pants, a breathable shirt, and closed-toe shoes for walking between festival areas and...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Secret City Festival, stay near the part of Oak Ridge you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map41.89 N, 87.78 WOpen in Google Maps

Oak Ridge, TN

Nearest airportMDW — Chicago Midway
TransportFor Secret City Festival, plan transport around the exact Oak Ridge venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Secret City Festival, stay near the part of Oak Ridge you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Oak Ridge via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Oak Ridge, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual warm-weather clothing suited to early June in East Tennessee works best: shorts or lightweight pants, a breathable shirt, and closed-toe shoes for walking between festival areas and touring nearby historic sites. A hat and sunscreen help for daytime hours outdoors, since much of the festival takes place on open plaza and park grounds with limited shade.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Secret City Festival?

Secret City Festival is listed for June · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Secret City Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Oak Ridge, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Oak Ridge, TN

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsecretcityfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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