Dolly Homecoming Parade 2014

Pigeon Forge likely would not be what it is today without Dolly Parton and Dollywood adding much to the progress of our area, and this Friday we celebrate what it means to act and live in Pigeon Forge with the city's favorite daughter herself, at the annual Dolly Homecoming Parade.

From Stoplight #6 to Stoplight #3, dozens and dozens of locals and business owners will march down the main road with brilliant floats and lots of entertainment. The grand marshall, Miss Dolly Parton herself, will be following close behind. It's a wonderful bit of local love and affection that everyone is invited to attend. You can find more information on that at www.mypigeonforge.com/events/dolly-parade/.

Check back with us in a little while for special events coming up next month as the Summer season starts. www.allthesmokies.com.

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A Mountain Quiltfest and Festival of the Nations 2014

Got a lot going on starting this week, you can consider this the official start of the special events season in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies in general (fitting as it's close to the official start of Spring anyway!)

Today is the start of A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN at the LeConte Conference Center downtown. This is a surprisingly popular and enriching special event for fans of the Appalachian culture here in the Smokies with many amazing quilts on display, workshops for and taught by professional quilters, and a $20,000 contest prize as well. Quiltfest goes on from today to 3/22 for 2014. You can find more on that at www.mypigeonforge.com/events/quiltfest/.

And then, also on 3/22, is an event a LOT of people look forward to - Dollywood's "Festival of Nations" and grand re-opening for the 2014 season. This year the headlining act is "Mother Africa", at the main theater on park, while many newer performers play at venues throughout alongside returning favorites like Zambia Vocal Group and Atahualpa coming back again.

And many more special events in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will be following suit as Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales, Gatlinburg Winefest, the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run and more. As always, check back with us next month and get a good amount of Smoky Mountain information at www.allthesmokies.com.

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Press Release: Just Get Outdoors With Liz & GSM Outfitters!

WEARS VALLEY, TN – A brand new program opens up in the heart of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains allowing locals and visitors to better understand and appreciate the nature of the Appalachians in our region. This program is a collaboration between the owners of GSM Outfitters in Wears Valley, and wildlife biologist Liz Domingue.

“Just Get Outdoors!” will feature lectures, workshops, interactive activities for kids, photography and much more. Day and evening classes will be available. The following is a list of the classes and activities scheduled:

* Wildflowers, Wildflowers, Wildflowers!
April 10, 2014

* Wildflower Walk With a Naturalist
April 11, 2014

* Nature Photography Workshop
May 24, 2014

* Salamander Capital of the World!
July 25, 2014

* Salamander Foray
July 26, 2014

Group size will be small and space is limited. Participants will be asked to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time, to bring their own lunch and drinks and rainwear. Hiking boots also recommended.

To sign up for the outings and evening programs, contact Michael or Heather at 865-366-2608 or at Michael@gsmoutfitters.comcastbiz.net

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Don't Worry About The Snow, Here Are Some Romantic Ideas All The Same

Well, we were hoping to talk about some great Valentine's Day things to do in the Smokies, but the snowfall you've probably been hearing about and watching really has been racking up, and we may have it until Friday (Valentine's Day itself) or even Saturday this week.

No worries though, anytime is a good time for a romantic getaway in the Smokies. Whether you make it strictly for the 14th or the 17th or the 22nd, or any time this month, you will find it just as romantic as it is on Valentine's Day. The ambiance that makes this area so apt for romance continues for the entire month!

So don't let the snow dash any dreams of an awesome Smoky Mountain romance trip. Just make new reservations with any of these excellent vacation providers:

* Smoky Creek Cabin Rentals
* Summit Cabin Rentals
* Green Valley Motel
* Cove Mountain Resorts
* Mountain Air Cabin Rentals
* Pigeon Forge Comfort Suites
* Country Manor Acres

And there's more places where that came from on www.allthesmokies.com. See you next month when the temperatures will be warmer and we'll be seeing some color return to the Smokies!

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Wilderness Wildlife Week 2014

It's been a very quiet start to the new year here in the Smokies. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way we like it! While we love the thrills and excitement the area brings during the holidays and vacation seasons, we love to get a break too, and this month gives us a chance to break away from some of that for quieter reflections of the mountains, and one particularly noteworthy event that allows us to celebrate it as truthfully as we can.

This event is, of course, the one and only Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge. A couple new changes are brought to this year's event - the first being that Wilderness Wildlife Week will be held at the new LeConte Conference Center in downtown Pigeon Forge between the main parkway and Teaster Lane, and the second being that the Wilderness Wildlife Week is sort of a misnomer this year, as www.mypigeonforge.com reports it will go on for 8 days this year, between 1/25/14 and 2/1/14 (though this may be a typo on their end).

Other than that, the 24th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week will largely be everything you've enjoyed about it in the past - lectures, guest speakers, exhibitions, guided hikes and walks, and more than we could reasonably fit in this post here. And it's all still free!

This is the ultimate special event for nature lovers. See more on this at http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/wilderness-wildlife-week/.

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Christmas and New Years in the Smokies 2013

We're posting early this month to cover several Christmas related events going on in the early part of December. Others have already started, but if you've come to this article for ideas to build your itinerary for a Christmas trip to the Smokies, it'd be criminal not to mention them!

First things first, a couple Christmas events have already started, but they are extended well beyond December 25th. Dollywood is, naturally, having their Smoky Mountain Christmas festival from now until January 4th, and all your favorite shows, parades, and lighting structures will be back and on great display. Definitely a must-see for anyone coming to the Smokies. www.dollywood.com

Another new event we have this year, also going on right now, is the new Christmas in Wears Valley in, you guessed it, Wears Valley, Tennessee. At the Wears Valley Ranch each weekend from here to December 31st there will be hayrides, carol singing, storytelling, and all kinds of old school Appalachian culture holiday fun to join in on. www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

After that, we have the annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade in downtown Gatlinburg on the night of December 6th. This is the best Christmas Parade in East Tennessee with more floats than you can count, all your favorite Christmas characters, and some amazing designs, lights, and treats for everyone to see. www.gatlinburg.com.

The next day, we have a special guest appearing at Cove Creek RV in Wears Valley as part of Christmas in Wears Valley - Bill Landry, the host of "The Heartlander Series" and one of the best storytellers in the area. He will be appearing and signing books at Cove Creek RV on Saturday, December 7th, at 4:00PM. www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

Finally, there is New Years Eve. Gatlinburg will celebrate it as it traditionally does with music and entertainment downtown and a huge fireworks display on the Space Needle the moment it turns 2014. It's nearly 15 minutes of insane pyrotechnics exploding into the night sky and it's more incredible to see in action than you can imagine. www.gatlinburg.com.

We're keep you informed on new special events starting the new year out next month. As always, keep checking back with Allthesmokies.com for new things to see in the Smokies!

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Special 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 Cove Creek RV on the main road through 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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