Bluegrass Christmas in the Smokies 2015

Going on right now is another Christmastime festival favorite at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center until December the 12th.

For those who enjoy the rich wealth of quality Southern music (as if there was any other kind!) Pigeon Forge plays throughout the year at some of our other festivals like the southern Harvest and Bluegrass Festival at Dollywood or the National Quartet Convention, this event is an awesome bridge between that excellent pastime and the holiday season. The location is set directly in downtown Pigeon Forge, excellently convenient from pretty much anywhere you stay in the Smokies, and offers copious parking space along with trolley access.

Artists for this year include:
* Eddy Raven
* Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
* Marty Raybon & Full Circle
* Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
* James King Band
* Goldwing Express
and many more.

See more information on this event at http://bluegrasschristmasinsmokies.com/.

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Thanksgiving Events For 2015

 Thanksgiving weekend is the biggest chance to build up holiday cheer for the upcoming Christmas season, and the opportunity to make memories that last forever for your family are widespread across the Smokies. Gatlinburg used to be the main show in town for the Thanksgiving weekend, but this year Pigeon Forge has enough to rival Gatlinburg for special events.

Naturally, the first that comes to mind for recommendations is Dollywood for the Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration they traditionally hold from early November to early January. The entire park turns into a Winter Wonderland with decorations from end to end. Millions and millions of lights, parades, Christmas shows and a Santa's workshop is just the starting point of what Dollywood offers families. See more info at www.dollywood.com.

Also, those who might be interested in seeing fireworks on Thanksgiving day should go visit the Titanic Museum on the parkway. On the 28th, Titanic will be holding a Holiday Snow Wonderland where they will make it snow right on the bow of the ship. You can see more info on this at http://www.titanicpigeonforge.com/.

Then at the Island, they will be having some holiday cheer appearing over the weekend with The Island Carolers, Live Music at Ole Smoky Moonshine, Randy King as Jack Frost and more. Paula Deen's Kitchen will be serving Thanksgiving dinner. More Christmas cheer can be found throughout at Dixie Stampede, Wears Valley, The Old Mill and beyond.

Stay tuned for more Christmas events coming up soon!

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What To Look Forward To For Winterfest Kickoff 2015

After Halloween, the mood and focus in this great county immediately shifts to Winterfest, a special event that encompasses the Smoky Mountains from one end to the other. In this article, we'll detail the kickoff events going on in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.

Sevierville doesn't have as many city events as Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg does, but their Winterfest Celebration comes first. They hold their kickoff at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce/Community center and provide free entertainment (inflatable bounce houses, slide and obstacle course, local performers, kid's carnival), free food and soda, mascot dance off (!), coffee and hot chocolate, Santa Claus and... fireworks? Wow! The hold their Kickoff on November 9th from 3:00PM to 8:00PM.

And then on November 10th, Pigeon Forge will be kicking off the festivities in Patriot Park at the center of Pigeon Forge. This is a free event that all are invited to intend, starting at 4:00PM. There will be live music entertainment featuring the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus, Boogertown Gap, Hills-N-Hollows and Lost Mill String Band, a children's games area, and then once the sun goes down and the million-dollar lighting displays go on, Pigeon Forge will also offer complimentary Trolley Tour of Lights for visitors who attend! See more on this event at www.mypigeonforge.com/events/winterfest/.


For more Winterfest activities coming up soon, stay tuned to this blog. We'll have more articles ready soon.

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Special Events For Fall Color/Halloween Family Entertainment

After much wait and debate, the colors are FINALLY coming in! And if that isn't enough of a reason to come visit the Smoky Mountain, there are half a dozen events going on in town too.

Make your itineraries and plan to include the following in them:

* Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair *
Now - 10/25/15
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=10

* Halloween Trick or Treat
10/29/15
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/halloween-trick-or-treat/

* Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration *
Now - 10/31/15
http://www.dollywood.com

Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival
10/31/15
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=54

* Halloween in the Hills
10/30/15 - 11/1/15
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/halloween-in-the-hills/

* Shocktober
Now - 11/1/15
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=191

* Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg *
Now - 11/1/15
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=80

You can get more information on these events at the links posted above, and more information on the Smoky Mountains at www.allthesmokies.com.

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Upcoming Autumn Events For 2015

We don't want cry wolf, but it's been confirmed that the color change has already started in Pigeon Forge and we could see the full Autumn Bloom as early as 1-2 weeks ahead of schedule. Those of you looking to get a bright and colorful Autumn getaway in the Smokies might want to start planning now and make your trip sooner.

And what is there to look forward to in the coming weeks? In Pigeon Forge, we have the 12th Annual Heritage Day at the Old Mill on September 26th, 2015, which will include music performances and crafts in a festival setting plus the opening of this year's Rotary Club Craft Tent in Patriot Park. From the 27th of September to October 6th we will be the headquarters of the National Quartet Convention. Then, for a full month starting October 2nd to the 31st is Dollywood's world-famous National Gospel and Harvest Celebration - where the music will play non-stop, booths will set up for more Appalachian artists to congregate and show off their talents, and the rides will be even sweeter!

You can get more information on these events at www.mypigeonforge.com. Get more information on the Smoky Mountains at www.allthesmokies.com.

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Celebrate Freedom and More August Events For 2015

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. This is a common misconception of how the month works in the Smoky Mountains, usually because that's how it works most other places in the US, but Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, at least, have an answer for this stigma, and it includes packing August with more special events than any other month of the season.

August is when we see 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:

8/1/15
Stringtime in the Smokies

8/4/15-8/14/15
Back Porch Concert Series at Sugarlands Cellars

8/7/15-8/9/15
Tax Free Weekend

8/19/15-8/23/15
Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival

8/29/15
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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Fourth of July Events For Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

There is a lot to love about Summer - backyard BBQ, city park picnics (also BBQ), municipal swimming pools, frisbee, baseball, fireflies and so much more - but the moment everyone looks forward to is a single 20 minute segment in early July, and you already know what it is.

But in the Smokies of East Tennessee, the magic of the 4th of July isn't just 20 minutes after sundown, it lasts the whole day starting 5 minutes after 11:55PM on July 3rd with the Midnight Parade in downtown Gatlinburg. This parade has been a tradition in Gatlinburg for years and years and for more than an hour, you and the whole family can watch an amazing patriotic parade - and that just BEGINS the 4th of July celebration!

Then after that, starting at 10 a.m. is the River Raft Regatta at Christ in the Smokies in downtown Gatlinburg where you can race any unmanned, floatable objects toward the goal at Ripley's Aquarium. This event is sponsored by the City of Gatlinburg Special Events Office, the Gatlinburg Recreation Department and the Boys and Girls Club.

In Pigeon Forge, Patriot Park is having Patriot Fest at 1:30 PM. The whole park becomes a center of activity with a huge sound stage, lots of activity, food tents, cooling off station, music by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, and much more until the fireworks start between 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. The fireworks in Gatlinburg start at 10:00 p.m. and if you're already downtown, you won't have to go far. The fireworks in Gatlinburg are designed to be seen from anywhere on the downtown sidewalk.

Come spend your 4th of July here with us in the Smokies! There's lots to do that's awesome for the whole family and we would be glad to have you. www.allthesmokies.com.

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The "Quiet Before The Storm" in May.

The middle of May is the quiet before the storm here in the Smokies, the small slow before the Summer crowds come in and Pigeon Forge has been in preparation for it. Much construction is being done in town to bring new shops, restaurants and even rollercoasters (!) to the city.

To tide over until the new additions come in, visitors to Pigeon Forge can look forward to these special events.

Dollywood Barbeque & Bluegrass
5/23/15 - 6/7/15
www.dollywood.com

Cades Cove Tour With Bill Landry
5/23/15, 5/30/15, 6/7/15
865-448-8838

Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
6/12/15 - 8/1/15
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=146

Dollywood Great Smoky Mountain Summer
6/13/15 - 8/2/15
www.dollywood.com

And of course, you'll want to visit The Island, Ripley's Aquarium, the Old Mill and Wears Valley for the entertainments they'll be offering at the start of Summer. For more area info, visit www.allthesmokies.com.

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Dolly Homecoming Parade and Sevier County Days at Ripley's!

May has a great start coming up, and within a week, visitors to the Smoky Mountains will have ample supply of affordable entertainment to enjoy in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

The first one comes up next Friday, May 1st, with the grand return of Dolly Parton for the Dolly Homecoming Parade in downtown Pigeon Forge between stoplights #3 and #6 at 6:00PM. This is a city-wide effort where dozens of floats, locals and business owners all march down the main street of the city with Miss Dolly herself following close behind. www.mypigeonforge.com/events/dolly-parade/

And starting Sunday, May 3rd, all of the Ripley's attractions in Gatlinburg will be celebrating "Sevier County days" where those who live or work in Sevier (or Cocke or Jefferson county) who show up with identification can get in for only $5 a person. You and the kids can go to the Aquarium, Guinness World of Records museum, Haunted Adventure and more and still have money left over for pizza afterward! And money that goes to Ripleys goes on to the Sevier County Food Ministry as well. www.ripleysgatlinburg.com.

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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Spring Has Sprung 2015

 It seemed like it was going to take forever, but Spring is officially here in the Smokies for all intents and purposes; not to mention the visitors who want to enjoy it now that they can!

All over, we're seeing trees blooming with the pastel and super-bright colors you've come to expect with Springfest. Our Dogwood trees are in full bloom and look like great balls of popcorn atop the aged wooden trunks. Hydrangeas, roses, tulips, rhododendron, frasier magnolia and many more stand out from even a fair distance. You won't see the colors from the mountains like you do in Autumn, but that gives you all the more incentive to go out and explore the Smokies through the hiking trails, motor trails and city parks.

You also know it's Spring in the Smokies when Dollywood reopens for Festival of the Nations! This is the 30th anniversary of the park becoming Dollywood and there will be new things being offered throughout the year (including the huge new DreamMore Dollywood Resort). Ireland is the focus again for Festival of the Nations and there are new performers taking stage throughout as well. "Timber!" and the "Alash Ensemble" will definitely be acts you want to check out. See more on this at www.dollywood.com.

As always, keep checking back with us for new events and items going on in the Smokies. www.allthesmokies.com.

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Valentine's Day 2015

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.summitcabinrentals.com
www.deerridge.com
www.covemountain.com
www.cosbycreekcabinrentals.com
www.mtnrents.com
www.erainthesmokies.com
www.riverhouseatthepark.com
www.condosinthesmokies.com
www.thepointresorttn.com

Hope to see you in the Smokies this February!

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