Patriot Festival In Pigeon Forge - July 4-6

Pigeon Forge, TN – June 2008 – Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will celebrate Independence Day with the three-day Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival July 4-6. It’s the festival’s 18th year, and the 2008 theme is “A Family Affair – Then and Now.” The festival is set against the backdrop of an American treasure, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Activity begins at 1 p.m. July 4 (Friday) in Patriot Park with the Kids Karnival that includes a rock-climbing wall, a mechanical bull, a moonwalk, a bungee run and other games and activities.
StarJam 2008, a concert produced by Knoxville radio station Star 102.1, will provide music. Featured artists are “American Idol” contestant Ace Young, Metro Station, Joel and Benji from Good Charlotte, Menudo and Boys Like Girls. Fireworks will cap off the day at approximately 9:30 p.m. All activities on July 4 are free.

Patriot Festival takes a step back in time on July 5 (Saturday) at the Old Mill and Old Mill Square from 9 a.m-9 p.m. Tours of the Old Mill—built in 1830 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and pottery demonstrations at Pigeon River Pottery will highlight the traditions, crafts and heritage of East Tennessee. Old-time activities for children include ring toss, seesaws, jump rope and more, and the Carolina Bluegrass Boys will perform at 6 p.m. All July 5 activities are free.

“Family Community Christian Day” will be July 6 (Sunday). A free concert at 4 p.m. at the Smoky Mountain Jubilee Theater will feature the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus and the voices of Everett Hills Baptist Church from Maryville, Tenn. Dr. Deborah Hicks will direct both groups. There also will be a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Miracle Theater, featuring the Lee Singers from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. Tickets for “Voices of Lee” are available through the Miracle Theatre at 1-800-768-1170.

Festival attendees on July 4 and 5 are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Food and beverages will be available at Patriot Park. Festival details are online at www.MyPigeonForge.com/Patriot.

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Smoky Mountains To Celebrate 75 Years in 2009 - Share Your Photos & Stories !

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has created an interactive Web site to help commemorate its 75th anniversary in 2009. Visitors get a virtual tour of anniversary activities at the park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border and an opportunity to share photos and stories about their park experiences. How cool is that - YOU can be a part of this Great Smoky Mountain celebration !!

The site also provides a history lesson on the creation of this country's most-visited national park, and efforts to protect it.The website is http://www.greatsmokies75th.org/. The site will be updated through the 75th anniversary weekend on June 13-15, 2009.

Share your photos and stories of your Great Smoky Mountains National Park adventures through the decades! Send your friends and family a cyber invitation to enjoy your approved image. After looking at your adventure, they can upload their photo and story to become a part of the Smokies Family Album, too! Images should contain people and a recognizable feature, overlook, or sign that ties the image to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


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Info Courtesy of Blue Ridge Now


Photo by C. gilliam

Roller Coaster Fun At Dollywood - Pigeon Forge June 6-8 2008

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Story-Courtesy of Business Wire)---Roller coaster fans from across the country will converge on Dollywood in Pigeon Forge this weekend for the theme park’s first-time Thrills in the Hills event set for June 6-8.

“Thrills in the Hills is a much-anticipated opportunity to see some very unique rides from a really up-close perspective that isn’t ordinarily available,” said Matthew Lambert, American Coaster Enthusiast member, “but everyone is really looking forward to enjoying the warm Southern hospitality that Dollywood is known for.”

Approximately 70 attendees will enjoy exclusive ride time and behind-the-scenes tours of the park’s coasters, including Thunderhead, twice named the best wooden coaster in the world by the Golden Tickets Awards, and Mystery Mine, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 best new themed attraction, as well as the Tennessee Tornado and Blazing Fury. Participants also will see two of Dollywood’s award-winning stage shows—the 2006 international Heartbeat Award winner Dreamland Drive-In and the 2007 winner, The Great American Country Show. The weekend’s itinerary also offers opportunities to visit Dollywood’s Splash Country and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner attraction.

“It’s an honor for Dollywood to host Thrills in the Hills and showcase all that our properties have to offer,” said Pete Owens, Dollywood Public Relations Manager. “We hope Thrills in the Hills is the first of many events of this type.”

DollywoodDollywood is a 150-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

Article from

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080605005733&newsLang=en

Roller Coaster photo from http://www.themeparkreview.com/photos/index.htm

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