A Smoky Mountain Wedding Via Facebook !

A Smoky Mountain Wedding Via Facebook !

You certainly hear lots of stories about Facebook these days... but this was a first for us. A wedding at our Glimpse of Heaven cabin..... all started with a mother finding our "Heavenly Cabins Near Pigeon Forge" page on Facebook.

Laurie, the mother of the groom had been searching online when she found us.. Here's an excerpt from one of her emails to us....

"Cheryl, I've already told you that God set me up with you. I know that for a fact. He saw this mother's desire to see her son married in a Christian wedding even though I couldn't be right there. I searched and searched for the right spot for them and when I saw your cabin and bio, I knew that was the right place.

After I booked a Glimpse of Heaven, I had such perfect peace. It has been so incredible. God is so faithful. Sam and Jaimi don't realize it yet, but God had tremendous plans for them."

The next email from Laurie described the blessed union of Sam & Jaimi~~~

Everything went so well. Sam and Jaimi loved the cabin. It was a gift from God. Sam talked on and on about how beautiful it was there. The weather report was for T-storms that day, but God was good and showed them His favor by giving them a nice sunny day.

They went for long rides through the mountains and sat with their feet in a mountain river. Thank you for the nice coorespondences we had and for letting your light so shine before men that the Father is Glorified (though you).Many Blessings, Laurie

We are so very grateful that the Lord allowed us to have a tiny part in this special day. May God continue to bless Sam, Jaimi and their families.. Thank you !!

Midnight Independence Day Parade-Gatlinburg July 3rd-4th, 2010

Midnight Independence Day Parade-Gatlinburg July 3rd-4th, 2010

Billed as the first parade to take place on July 4th - Independence Day, Gatlinburg TN starts the parade at 12 midnight, Saturday 7/3/10 into Sunday 7/4/10..

For the 35th consecutive year, Gatlinburg kicks off America’s Independence Day celebration with the nation’s first parade, which leads off in the opening moment of the holiday at 12 a.m. on Sunday, July 4, to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators and features a special tribute to our military personnel among the many highlights of this one-of-a-kind patriotic event.

Stretching more than a mile in length, over 100 units will make their way through Gatlinburg, showcasing many elaborately decorated floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and a large contingent of our armed services men & women.

Among the military personnel being honored as Grand Marshall for the parade will be the 129th Army Band from Nashville, Tennessee, which will march in the event. Vintage military vehicles will also be part of the parade.
As soon as the street is closed late on July 3, the parade route comes alive with pre-parade entertainers that begin the excitement of what is to follow.

Marching bands, colorful floats and helium balloons will navigate the streets. Also appearing in the line-up will be a parade-scale replica of the famous starship U.S.S. Enterprise from Riverside, Iowa and the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit from Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

Bands schedule to participate in the Midnight Parade include the 129th Army Marching Band, Boyertown (Penn.) Alumni Marching Unit, the Nashville Suzuki Strings and Knoxville Pipe & Drum.

“This will be one of the most patriotic and colorful midnight parades that the City of Gatlinburg has ever produced,” according to Special Events Manager George Hawkins, who organized the first Gatlinburg 4th of July parade in 1976 in celebration of America’s Bicentennial. "We are very excited about the entire weekend of events, which will include a four-day festival highlighting our armed services!”

Additional weekend activities in downtown will include free admission concerts by the 129th Army Band, the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit, Nashville Suzuki Strings, Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta unmanned floatable race, and a spectacular fireworks display.

For more information about the 35th Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade, please call 800-56-VISIT (568-4748).

July 3 Activities
1 p.m. – Nite Fire of the 129th Army Band (Rock Group) at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza.
12 midnight – 35th annual Fourth of July Midnight Parade.

July 4 Schedule
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – River Raft Regatta
1 p.m. – Direct Hit of the 129th Army Band (R&B/Jazz Group) at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
4 p.m. – Nashville Suzuki Strings at the Gatlinburg Inn
4 p.m. – Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
8 p.m. – Nashville Suzuki Strings at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
8:30 p.m. – 129th Army Concert Band at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
10 p.m. – Fireworks Finale in Downtown
Admission: Free

Fireworks! Patriot Festival July 3rd, 2010 - Pigeon Forge TN

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 at Patriot Park - Come Froggin’ in the Forge
with WIVK radio 107.7 fm and the City of Pigeon Forge this holiday weekend.

Enjoy an outstanding lineup of entertainment, our free Kids’ Karnival area with inflatables and games, and taste many of the wonderful foods from our non-profit vending organizations.

The City of Pigeon Forge proudly presents the evening fireworks show as a thank you to our guests and citizens for supporting Pigeon Forge!

This event is free and open to the public. Bring blankets or chairs and join us at Patriot Park (please no umbrellas). Event parking is available in the city parking lot on Teaster Lane with a trolley shuttle available to Patriot Park.

Fireworks !!Fireworks will be broadcast live on WIVK 107.7Festivities will begin at 2:00 pm July 3rd. Please continue to return to this site for updated information.

For more information on this FREE event, visit www.mypigeonforge.com or call the Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events at (865) 429-7350