NAADA 2026 National Annual Conference
June 15-18, 2026 | Knoxville, Tennessee
Tour Information

Pre Conference Tour
Monday, June 15, 2026
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
(open to both Conference Attendees & Guests)

Bush's Beans Visitor Center & Dollywood
Fee: $75 (includes transportation, Bush’s Tour and entrance to Dollywood; food and beverage are on your own)
Max: 50 participants

Bush's Beans

See where the Beautiful Bean Company was born! The Bush’s Visitor Center nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, is where you can learn all about the history of the Bush’s Bean Company, beans, and the growth of a family-owned food company over 110 years in a museum with incredibly tasteful exhibits.

Dollywood

Calling all Dolly lovers! The next stop will take us to Dollywood, the #1 theme park in the United States. Come for the rides, stay for the education and craftsmanship on display, plus learn about Dolly’s life growing up in the “foothills of the Smokies.”

Wednesday Educational Tours
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
1:45 pm - 4:45 pm
(open to both Conference Attendees & Guests)

Zoo Knoxville
Fee: $25 (includes entrance fee and transportation; food and beverage are on your own)
Max: 40 participants

Step away from the conference rooms and into the wild with a group outing to Zoo Knoxville! Mingle with fellow attendees as you explore world-class exhibits and enjoy a lighthearted afternoon of discovery.

FIFA Research (Turf Grass) & Neyland Stadium
Fee: $0

Join us for an in-depth, behind-the-scene discussion and tour of the multi-billion-dollar FIFA research partnership at the University of Tennessee! You will have the opportunity to see our facilities, hear from our experts, and visit a world class research facility. From our FIFA research site, we will be touring UT’s own Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. One of the largest capacity stadiums in the country, you will have behind the scenes access to locker rooms, press rooms, and more!

UT Creamery
Fee: $0
Max: 30 participants

Go behind the scenes to see how Food Science Department at UT creates the delicious UT Creamery ice cream. You’ll get to tour the production facility to learn how students transform milk into ice cream then you’ll get to tour the sensory lab where the science behind taste and flavor come alive.

UT Hopyards & Yee-Haw Brewing Tour
Fee: $0 (includes transportation)

Enjoy a laid back and fun-filled afternoon as you dive into the craft of beer making from start to finish! You’ll first visit the UT Hopyards at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center (ETREC) and discover how hops are grown here in East Tennessee, while also getting hands-on experience.

Yeehaw

After, we’ll travel to Yee-haw Brewing company, where those very hops are made into delicious craft beer! You’ll then get a behind the scenes tour of Yee-Haw and taste some of their signature beers. This is a great tour for anyone interested in seeing UT’s connection with local businesses, and for anyone that is a brewing enthusiast!

Outdoor Recreation and Park Management and Tennessee RiverLine Tour
Fee: $0 (includes transportation)
Max: 14 participants

Experience Knoxville’s great outdoors through a tree climbing exposition led by the School of Natural Resource’s Outdoor Recreation and Park Management team. Then, join the Tennessee RiverLine for a kayaking trip where you will paddle the urban waterfront of Downtown Knoxville.

*(Closed toed shoes and outdoor activity comfortable clothing are required for the tree climbing and paddling. Time will also be allotted to allow for clothing change to arrive at Spirit Night promptly)