Gatlinburg New Years Eve 2014

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 2014 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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Thanksgiving Week For 2014

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 11/25/14 to 11/30/14. Gatlinburg Festival of Trees (11/25/14 - 11/29/14), The Great Smoky Mountains Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show (11/25/14 - 11/30/14) and return performances of The Nutcracker "Sweet" on 11/28/14 and 11/29/14. If you come to visit W.L. Mills Auditorium on 11/28/14 and 11/29/14, 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 Christmas In Wears Valley starting up again this year! The community of Wears Valley, between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, had their own Christmas festival last year and it was a big enough hit to warrant a return for this year! Christmas in Wears Valley is on between November 25th, 2014 and January 3rd, 2015. There will be a Community Dinner, a return audience with Bill Landry, a new community tree and much more that you can find at www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.

And, of course, we have plenty to celebrate here in Pigeon Forge. Just Dollywood, The Old Mill, The Island and The Christmas Place alone will have much to bring the holiday festivities in with!

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

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Harvest Festival Special Events For 2014

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!

The following are a list of events and dates that correspond to the Harvest Festival season in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Mark your calendars and build your itineraries because it's going to be an awesome Autumn for the Smoky Mountains!

* Patriot Park Rotary Craft Show in Pigeon Forge *
9/27/14 - 10/25/14

http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/pigeon-forge-rotary-club-craft-fair/

* Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration *
9/20/14 - 11/1/14

http://www.dollywood.com

* Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg *
9/26/14 - 11/2/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=80

* Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair *
10/9/14 - 10/26/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=10

* Ralph Stanley II Concert *
10/18/14

http://www.wearsvalleymusicbarn.com

* Gatlinburg Taste of Autumn *
10/28/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=118

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 2014

This coming weekend is Labor Day weekend. We've noticed it seems to be sneaking up on some, but don't let that be a reason to not come out to the Smokies for 3 awesome days and nights of attractions and potential luxury!

In this post, we'll highlight some recommended attractions that are a bit off the beaten path. Everyone knows about Dollywood, The Island and Ripley's Aquarium by now - these are some additional fun places you can do to supplement those visits, or even substitute and still have an incredible time in Pigeon Forge.

ZORB
Wonderworks
MagiQuest
Castle of Chaos
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving
Hollywood Wax Museum
LazerPort
Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf
Xtreme Racing Center

And here are some recommendations of where to stay that, as of writing, is not yet filled up with reservations.

Green Valley Pigeon Forge
Summit Cabin Rentals
Kimble Cabin Rentals
Red Roof Inn
Country Cascades
All Seasons Suites
The Creek Stone Inn
Mountain Skys Lodge

We hope you all enjoy your weekend here in the Smokies! www.allthesmokies.com.

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Cosby Creek Cabins Vacation Packages

Between the end of Summer and the start of the Harvest Festival season is a rare, sort of "lull" period for the Smokies. There is still plenty to see and do and everything's open, but with the kids going back to school and the next big thing to look forward to is the Autumn color change in October, this time period is just quieter in general.

To help add some incentive to visit these wonderful mountains of ours, Cosby Creek Cabins is offering Dollywood vacation packages for some of our cabins, good now until September 30th (excluding Labor Day Weekend). These packages include a two-night stay in the cabins listed and two "2-day" tickets for Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The participating cabins and prices are:

Country View
3 Bedrooms - $441.00

Moosetrax
3 Bedrooms - $441.00

Wandering Creek
2 Bedrooms - $418.00

Whispering Creek
2 Bedrooms - $418.00

Bear Pause
2 Bedrooms - $425.00

And that includes the cleaning fee!

Reserve these cabins at www.cosbycreekcabins.com.

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Press Release - Old Timer's Day At Starkeytown Cove

For Immediate Release

Contact: Regina Starkey

Wears Valley, TN - During the Autumn months, much of the Smoky Mountains and their communities hold celebrations to reflect on and rejoice in the history and culture of Appalachia. One of those celebrations will be Old Timer's Day at Starkeytown Cove in Wears Valley, where the past and the present merge for a fun-filled day with the whole family!

Old Timer's Day is September 27th, 2014, from 10:00AM to 5:00PM and our festivities will include many different types of crafts and craftspeople. Our talent lineup for this year is:

Bill Cogdill - Woodworking.
Tina Bowling - Jewelry.
Ami Johns - Old timey paper flowers.
Bobbie Lovell - Artist.
Rhonda Cogdill - Crafts.
Sharon Adams - Crafts.
Bill Spurling - Barnwood frames.
Gail Wright: Yummies like candy apples, barbecue, hot chocolate and cider.

We will be giving away apple butter, making old timey paper flowers, offering mule rides, music by the "Knoxvegas DJs" and much more!

For any further information, please contact Regina Starkey at Honeysuckle Hills. http://www.honeysucklehills.com/contact_us.html.

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Celebrate Freedom And More Special Events For August 2014

Today is the first day of what is socially and traditionally considered one of the least-liked months on calendar. August means the vacation season is largely over, school starts, people go back to work, hot weather lingers oppressively in the air, and all the celebrations and special events are over for a while.

Well, The Smoky Mountains have an answer for this stigma, and it includes packing August with more special events than it has probably ever seen. Today is already the start of the fabled Sales Tax-Free weekend throughout the entire state, but it's also start of Celebrate Freedom, in which the city of Pigeon Forge will be, well, celebrating freedom as well as our military history and veterans. Many businesses throughout the month of August will be offering discounts for current serving or veteran military officers.

There's so much going on this month, it would just be easier to list it out as follows:

8/2/14
Stringtime in the Smokies

8/2/14
Pigeon Forge Midnight 8K Road Race

8/11/14-8/15/14
Kidabra! The International Association of Family & Kid Show Performers Annual Convention

8/21/14-8/24/14
Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival

8/23/14-8/24/14
Smoky Mountain Military and Relic Show

8/23/14
Welcome Home Vietnam Parade

Stay tuned with us for September when we have the rod runs and the Autumn season starting. www.allthesmokies.com.

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4th of July 2014

In Pigeon Forge, Patriot Park is having Patriot Fest starting at 12:00PM. The whole park becomes a center of activity with a huge sound stage, lots of activity, food tents, cooling off station, music by The Tim Kellar Band, Adkins and Loudermilk, Lonestar, and much more until the fireworks start between 9:45PM to 10:00PM.

See more at www.mypigeonforge.com.

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Wears Valley Adventures

Last year about this time, it was The Island in Pigeon Forge that was really the hot new item in East Tennessee. This year, it's Wears Valley, just 15 minutes from Pigeon Forge and on the way to Townsend, the other Tennessee gateway to the Smokies.

Why Wears Valley? Because there has been much growth to the area in just the last year alone, with working beginning well before that. Wears Valley Road before one even ventures into the community has three new attractions on it alone - the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Goats On The Roof, and the Wear Farm City Park closer to Pigeon Forge. Then there have been exciting new businesses gaining traction that allow visitors to check out:

* Smoky Mountain Jeep Rentals (www.smokymountainjeeprentals.com)
* Groovy Tours (www.smokymountainmotorcycletours.com)
* Friendly Falls (www.friendlyfalls.com)
* GSM Outfitters (www.gsmoutfitters.com)

And more that you can find at www.wearsvalleyadventures.com!

There is, of course, much more to see and do as the Summer season starts, and we'll tell you more about that here in June. See you in just a little while! www.allthesmokies.com.

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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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