Valentine's Day 2013

Looking for some good ideas to help supplement your Valentine's Day trip to the Smokies? Here are five excellent suggestions for getting your romantic getaway started on the right foot:

# 1 Surprise
The element of surprise is a very powerful tool. It shows foresight and planning, and it says "I care enough about you to go to lengths to, well, surprise you." Women especially seem to relate surprise with romance. It doesn't need to be an elaborate scheme, just show forethought.

# 2 Creativity
Creativity in your dating life and dating in your married life keeps things fresh and fun. When was the last time you did something silly on a date? Had a pillow fight or water war?  Finger painted?  Read poetry out loud? If you've never done one of these things, try it on your next date. Better yet, combine two or more of these activities!

# 3 Interest
Okay, this seems like a no-brainer, but for a successful romantic event, one or both of you need to be interested in the activity. 

# 4 Planning
Planning is what separates a truly impressive and memorable romantic getaway from a mediocre one. Call ahead, make reservations, do a little research.

# 5 A Sense of Humor
Along with your most romantic plan, have a Plan B in mind and a sense of humor to get you through it. Even with the other four elements -- surprise, creativity, interest, and planning--dates can still be affected by circumstances beyond your control. The ability to laugh together is the mark of a great romance. Horribly ruined dates can become private jokes and fond memories if you keep your sense of humor intact.

And some suggestions of where to stay for your romantic getaway?
www.mtnlaurelchalets.com
www.deerridge.com
www.sidneyjames.com
www.laurelinncondos.com
www.oldegatlinburgplace.com
www.covemountain.com

Hope to see you in the Smokies this February!

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Gatlinburg New Years Eve Party!

In the Smoky Mountains, as anyone who has ever visited us would know, we take our special events seriously. Our Harvest Festivals are saturated with colors, our Springs are brisk with bloom to spare, our Summers are wall-to-wall attractions and special events and our Winterfests are full of holiday cheer.

And during New Years Eve, we both end AND begin the years with a bang!

Come to Gatlinburg for the big New Years Eve party where there will be many restaurants and local places celebrating the event. There will be entertainment leading up to final countdown, and then the epic ball drop at the final seconds of 2012 that ends with an EXPLOSION of fireworks on the Space Needle in the center of downtown Gatlinburg. More than 15 minutes of colorful sparks and flames will fire from the tower.

It's the biggest party in the Smokies and everyone is invited! See more information at http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=117

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Upcoming Events for November 2013

Lots going on this month towards Thanksgiving (naturally) and as December starts entering in.

First and foremost, Gatlinburg's trio of events at W.L. Mills Auditorium is back on this year between 11/26/13 to 12/1/13. Gatlinburg Festival of Trees (11/26/13 - 11/30/13), The Great Smoky Mountains Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show (11/26/13 - 12/1/13) and return performances of The Nutcracker "Sweet" on 11/29/13 and 11/30/13. If you come to visit W.L. Mills Auditorium on 11/29/13 and 11/30/13, you and your family can check all three one the same day under one roof! Visit www.gatlinburg.com for more information on those events.

Then, we have a new event to tell you about in the area. The community of Wears Valley, between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, is starting up a Christmas festival of their own that you simply must see! Christmas in Wears Valley is on between November 29th and December 31st for 2013. It is a weekend event going on each weekend between those dates at Wears Valley Ranch just off the main road in the community. There will be wagon rides, hayrides, storytelling, Christmas Carols in addition to the wonderful things you can find in the area year-round.

There is also going to be a special promotion similar to a scavenger hunt where people who find 10 specially decorated Christmas trees at businesses in Wears Valley will receive a free Christmas In Wears Valley Christmas card, and those who find all 20+ will receive a free Christmas In Wears Valley T-shirt. You can find more information on this event at www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

Stay tuned with us at www.allthesmokies.com as we get ready for December and the Christmas events going on.

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Pigeon Forge Motel Discounts

The Green Valley Motel in Pigeon Forge has asked us to release their newest seasonal discounts and coupons for October and November.

*October #1 Weekday Special*
Stay 2 Nights and Get the 3rd Night Free!
Offer applies to all room types, Sunday through Thursday Nights. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.
Expires October 31st, 2012.

*October #2 Weekday Special*
Stay 3 Nights & Get the 4th Night Free!
Offer applies to all room types, Sunday through Thursday Nights. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.
Expires October 31st, 2012.

*November Special*
3rd Night Free Special!
Offer applies to all room types, any time of the week. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers.
Expires November 30th, 2012.
Offer not valid between November 21st to November 24th.

You can find more information and even a weeklong, year-round special at www.greenvalleypigeonforge.com.

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Autumn in the Smokies 2012

Now we enter the prime of the Autumn season - Harvest Festival is beginning in the Smokies and, as we do every year, we will be seeing major color changes and some unique fun that we want to invite you and the whole family to come join!

Pigeon Forge celebrates the season with city decorations, Halloween events at the Community Center, and a major craft tent in the parking lot of Patriot Park. Dollywood begins it's annual Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration on Oct. 3rd and lasts through Nov. 3rd. This festival features a full month of nonstop Gospel performances by the best in the industry along with artists and crafters who come to the park to show off the skills handed down to them by the generations. Well worth the price of admission! Visit http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events.aspx for more information.

Also, Wears Valley, between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, will be hosting an Oktoberfest that celebrates the Appalachian Harvest Festival - with dozens of arts and crafts vendors, several food vendors with a range of Southern treats for you, a guest appearance by Bill Landry of the Heartlander Series, the Stars of the Smokies talent competition, performers from SkyDive East Tennessee and more! You can see more on that at http://wearsvalleychamber.com/

The fall colors are already starting, and if your Smoky Mountain vacation planning hasn't by now, you might get here too late! Start your itinerary today so you can get the full Autumn experience here in the Smokies. www.allthesmokies.com.

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Labor Day Weekend 2012

Labor Day Weekend is coming up this next weekend and we will be expecting a flood of activity coming into the Smokies - so if you're one of the visitors we should be expecting, here's what you can look forward to here in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.


In Gatlinburg, we have the Fine Arts Festival on Labor Day Weekend, going from August 31st to September 2nd, at the Arrowmont complex in downtown Gatlinburg across from Ripley's Aquarium and The Mountain Mall. Similar to the Craftsmen's Fair, The Fine Arts Festival is a collection of some of the best artists and crafters locally and abroad showing off their wares and competing for $10,000 worth of prizes. If you enjoy the finer things in life, this is where you'll find them during Labor Day Weekend!

In Pigeon Forge, there are several sidewalk sales at some of the shopping centers in town - Pigeon Forge Crossing, the Christmas Village and Tanger Outlets will have some great deals on some fantastic and unique items. Labor Day Weekend is a good time for sidewalk entertainment in Pigeon Forge, and if the mall scene isn't your thing, check out the many arcades and fun centers along downtown Pigeon Forge - Fast Tracks, Rockin' Raceway, Star Tracks and the 3 Bears General Store are all in 10 minutes of walking distance along the sidewalk and can make for a great afternoon out with the kids!


Put these items on your itinerary if you're coming to the Smokies this Labor Day. If you need some additional information on the city and some of the attractions around, please visit www.allthesmokies.com for all your needs. Happy Labor Day!

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Wears Valley Oktoberfest

3rd Annual Wears Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Oktoberfest October 19th, 20th and 21st of October, 2012

Come join the vendors in the valley for the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest in the true heart of the Tennessee Smokies - Wears Valley just 12 minutes outside of Pigeon Forge.

This is the first "Stars of the Smokies" Vocal talent competition and who knows we may have the next big star right here in the valley! The competition will have several local celebrities judiciating. This singing talent competition called "Stars of the Smokies" will award the winner $4,000 in prizes! There's nothing like an old fashioned talent contest with some new twists! This proves to be an exciting new addition to the festival this year.

The Oktoberfest has been a remarkable mid-Autumn success for the area, which saw thousands of locals and visitors flock to Wears Valley, an unincorporated community 15 minutes outside the main traffic route of Pigeon Forge, for a mixture of Appalachian atmosphere, Harvest Festival fun and German culture in 2010 and 2011. While many areas of the Tennessee Smokies traditionally celebrate the Harvest Festival, very few incorporate the full Oktoberfest experience with it and this, along with the abundance of mountain views during the peak season of the color change, has made the event a major highlight in the season.

Parking will be a suggested $5 donation, which will go to the Wears Valley fire department and schools, and entry will be a suggested donation of canned goods which will go to the Sevier County Food Ministry. There is no alcohol at this event. Emergency personnel will be onsite to provide security and emergency response.


Sponsors for this event include UPS Store Sevierville, Imagine it Embroidery, Brainstorm Cafe, SoundTrax Recording Studios, Wright Stuff Catering, Bush Builders, CNB, Tennessee State Bank, The Mountain Press, Green Valley Motel and Yesterday's Antiques. Sponsorship opportunites are welcomed and still available. If you are a vendor interested in participating with Oktoberfest, please contact the Wears Valley Chamber of Commerce at (865)-296-4779 or write to wearsvalleychamberofcommerce@gmail.com. Sponsorship forms, Vendor Forms, and more information about the event is available at www.wearsvalleyareachamber.com.

Lisa Lawhead-Mack
Brainstorm Cafe
865-908-0650
www.brainstormcafe.com
ealawhead@aol.com

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