Dollywood's Splash Country Opens May 22, 2010

Dollywood’s Splash Country Opens

May 22 , 2010

One of the sure signs of summer is the opening of Dollywood’s Splash Country. The 2010 season begins Saturday, May 22.

Come see why Dollywood’s Splash Country was named “America’s Must-See Waterpark.” Remember, every Saturday season passholders and their guests (with valid admission) are admitted one-hour early to enjoy a select attraction that is open just for our season passholder family, beginning with the new Slick Rock Racer on May 22!

Plus, surprise giveaways are planned on random days throughout the season for season passholders. You qualify simply by scanning your season pass at the turnstiles.

25th Annual Dolly Parade - May 7th - Pigeon Forge TN

The 25th Annual Dolly Parade is the highlight of Springfest. This year’s parade is scheduled for May 7, 2010 at 6pm.

The Dolly Parton parade runs from River Road to Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge TN. Join the fun as festive floats, marching bands and other local celebrities make their way through parade procession.

More info about Dollywood

Trail Trekkers On The Appalachian Trail

A hiker headed toward

Maine on the Appalachian

Trail appreciates chances

to rest at places such as

this at Woody Gap.

By Dan Cook

April Fool's Day traditionally signals
the start of backpackers heading north
from Springer Mountain in Georgia to
Maine on the Appalachian Trail.

The dream of such "thru hikers" is to go the entire 2,175 miles to Mount Katahdin before winter returns. But many this year left earlier than usual, according to outfitters who have witnessed their arrivals at points along the route.

A hiker headed toward Maine on the Appalachian Trail appreciates chances to rest at places such as this at Woody Gap.


One even hit the trail as early as New Year's Day, according to Pepper Schuette of SunDog Outfitter in Damascus, Va. "That was Tattoo Joe," Schuette said by telephone. "He's the current record speed holder on the Pacific Crest Trail."

Many thru-hikers select alternate names for trail identity; hence the nickname. The unusually cold, wet winter has hindered the backpackers, however -- particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, through which the AT traverses.

"Joe said he had passed between 150 and 200 between here and Springer," Schuette said.

A little more than a decade ago, only a few hundred people a year attempted the full-trail challenge, but now as many as 1,500 annually set out with that goal. Only a few hundred actually make it, but that is considered remarkable in itself.


Last year, according to Laurie Potteiger of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 686 northbound walkers who had started at Springer stopped at the ATC's trail visitor center at Harpers Ferry, W.Va., and gave Maine as their destination.
Amicalola Falls State Park near Dawsonville, Ga., is a popular starting point for the AT, since its offers modern camping, cabins and a lodge. It is several miles south of the AT southern terminus, which is accessible via an approach trail from Amicalola or, usually, by a dirt-road drive.

"But the winter affected the road this year," Amicalola manager Bill Tanner said, noting that 469 had checked in at the park as of Tuesday morning. Tanner reasoned that more had entered through the park this year than normal due to the dirt road's inaccessibility.


"Their minds are in the right spot, though sometimes they carry substantially more than what their bodies are wanting to produce," he said. For many hikers, that evaluation often becomes painful reality in the first 30 miles. A lot of gear is sent home from the Walasi-Yi Center, where the AT crosses a major highway just south of Blairsville, Ga.


Another main resting place is Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel and Outfitters near Erwin, Tenn. Like Walasi-Yi, it offers showers and other amenities. A source at Uncle Johnny's reported that 38 thru-hikers had been counted as of Tuesday. Included was "Trek," making an AT trip for the eighth consecutive year.


Some gear leaving post offices along the route is merely a result of preparation for the journey. Hikers use the mail to exchange heavier clothes for lighter attire, or vice versa, depending upon anticipated weather conditions. The five or six months needed for the full trip requires much logistical planning.


Trail Days in Damascus is an annual highlight the week after Mother's Day for those who have made it that far. SunDog's Schuette noted that while the town has only about 900 permanent residents, it is full of tents and 20,000 or more people the week of festivities. The events include a parade and good-natured water fights among current and previous hikers.


For serious hikers, the state of the economy generally is no big concern. Bad times may even be good for hiking, the Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky source said, because it's a "low-rent vacation."


Said Jeff Patrick, owner of Mount Rogers Outfitters in Damascus: "I don't know about the economy. I've never had a watch or a cell phone. I think it might be that a lot of people have figured out that costly vacations aren't what they used to be and that getting into the woods may offer something different





Info from Chattanooga Times Free Press

Cades Cove Loop Road To Open Early - April 24th 2010

Cades Cove Loop Road is to reopen on April 24th, which is a month earlier than expected. The road was projected to be closed three months, beginning March 1, for major work, including a repaving of the loop.

The $6.7 million redo of the popular 11-mile loop inside the Great Smoky Mountains National park was slated to be completed no later than May 21. Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson credited contractor APAC-Atlantic Inc. Harrison Division and the Federal Highway Administration for the quick completion of the large project.

To commemorate the reopening on Sunday morning, April 25, the park and the Friends of the Smokies are planning a one-time-only “Cades Cove Loop Lope,” which will offer pre-registered runners a choice of the full 11-mile loop or a 3.5 mile loop course. for more info check out this link. Cades Cove Loop Lope

The loop is usually limited to bicycles and pedestrians until 10 a.m. Saturday and Wednesday from May through September. The one-time closure on April 24 will be extended to noon.

Smoky Mountain Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage-April 21 - 25, 2010

Attend the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you just might see a dazzling display of redbuds in bloom. Attendees also will be able to enjoy a presentation on Theodore Roosevelt by Joe Wiegand.

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held from April 21 to 25.

Now in its 60th year, it's the largest Wildflower Pilgrimage in the country. More than 1,000 attendees, called pilgrims, will descend on Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for wildflower and bird walks, lectures on composting and on attracting insect-eating birds and strenuous hikes.

This five-day program attracts visitors from the Midwestern and Southern states and as far away as Colorado and Alaska. Started by the Gatlinburg Garden Club, the University of Tennessee, and the City of Gatlinburg, it is now managed by the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

Ken McFarland, a biology professor at the University of Tennessee, chooses the trails and leaders for the outdoor programs.
"We have lots of wildflower walks on both sides of the park (North Carolina and Tennessee). People come for at least two days and most do a wildflower and bird walk," he said.

Mr. McFarland personally will lead a hike on mosses and liverworts; he's been with the program since 1976. Other subjects include salamanders, insects, bears, and hogs

The highlight for Mr. McFarland is "talking to visitors and getting them engaged. They ask interesting questions. I like to have public understand and be more aware of the environment they live in."

Mr. McFarland explains that his challenge is finding people who are willing to come and are qualified to lead. The outdoor leaders volunteer and pay their own travel expenses. The program provides them with housing and meals.

"Leaders give pilgrims a different perspective and encourage them to take a scientific look at the environment in more depth," explained Mr. McFarland. "Walks are casual and slow-paced. We have two or three leaders per event, so they can engage with the public. We go rain or shine, so people should come prepared."

Indoor programs are also popular. This year, the headliner is A Theodore Roosevelt Salute to the Great Smoky Mountains. Joe Wiegand, who calls himself a 'reprisor' and not an impersonator, is "TR", known as our best conservation president. He'll tell stories of the early conservation movement and the growth of our national parks. Mr. Wiegand has even performed at the White House.

"I portray TR because his life and his stories speak to Americans today in a worthwhile way," said Mr. Wiegand. "TR’s dedication to family and country, his values and ideals, and his policies for conservation, a 'Square Deal' and a 'Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick' foreign policy are very relevant to our current circumstances.

"I enjoy traveling this beautiful country and entertaining in the persona of TR, of whom his daughter Alice famously said: 'Father wanted to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral and the baby at every christening.'"

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created in 1934, long after TR died in 1919. During his tenure in the White House from 1901 to 1909, he designated 150 national forests, the first 51 federal bird reservations, five national parks, the first 18 national monuments, the first four national game preserves, and the first 21 reclamation projects. Altogether, in the seven-and-one-half years he was in office, he provided federal protection for almost 230 million acres, a land area equivalent to that of all the East Coast states from Maine to Florida.

Closer to Smokies history, Robin Goddard will give a performance on Ann Davis, considered the mother of the Smokies. Ms. Davis was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1925 where she introduced a bill authorizing the state to purchase the first large piece of land for the park. But let's not forget, it is the Wildflower Pilgrimage, after all. So what will the bloom be like on April 21?

"The last two years, we had spectacular wildflowers. In general, flowers are coming out a week earlier than they did 50 years ago," said Mr. McFarland, who studies the phenology of plants in the Smokies, the science dealing with the influence of climate on the recurrence of annual cycles such as flower blooms and bird migrations. "But this year, the cold winter will delay the bloom so they should be on schedule."
The details:
The Wildlife Pilgrimage runs from April 21 to April 25 (Wed to Sunday). Online registration is on now until April 11 at this site. Since each session has a limit, you should register as soon as you can.

"The Titanic" Opens In Pigeon Forge - April 8, 2010

The World’s Largest Permanent Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN, is launching its Grand Opening April 8, 2010. Guest Appearance by Regis Philbin. The christening of the ship outside the bow will be at 10:00am - Thursday April 8th, 2010.


Join us as we take you on an incredible historical journey. Get ready to play a part in one of the greatest human dramas of all time. You will navigate through twenty rooms holding 400+ valuable museum artifacts and personal items, an exclusive photo collection and hands-on-activities, which include:
Walk an actual size replica of the Grand Staircase

View pictures that literally come to life


Touch the frozen surface of an “iceberg”

Send an SOS signal from the ship’s wireless communications room and receive communication from the coast guard


Listen to survivors’ stories as they sit in actual lifeboats

Feel the chill of that fateful "Starry Night"

Stand on the mighty ship's bridge and hear the Captain's commands


View life onboard, see a First Class Stateroom and a Third Class cabin


Explore world-class gallery rooms with rare historical artifacts


Control a simulated underwater Titanic exploration of your own


See more info at http://www.titanicpigeonforge.com/

Check Out Dollywood's New "Adventure Mountain" Opening March 27,2010

Set the course for adventure at Dollywood’s new "Adventure Mountain". Explore and uncover an endless combination of high-energy

feats to engage and entice the

entire family!

This multi-level area covers approximately two acres and requires varying levels of skill and ability. Four courses invite adventurers to navigate more than 100 challenging obstacles, including swinging beams, suspension bridges, flying islands, a tire traverse and more including the base-level Camp Teachittoomee.

The excitement of the great outdoors is just waiting to be discovered by those who accept the challenge of Dollywood’s new Adventure Mountain.

Visit the

Adventure Mountain website for more information.

Photo & Info from http://www.dollywood.com/

Dollywood's Opening Day-Saturday March 27,2010

Dollywood's Opening Day

Dollywood’s opening day is Saturday, March 27, 2010. Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary season with us! Be one of the first to explore America’s largest challenge course—Dollywood's new Adventure Mountain:

Explore 100+ elements on 4 unique adventures. Navigate a rock cliff, swinging rope bridges, geysers, and much more
Choose your adventure trail, from easy to difficult, from a few inches to as high as 90 feet above the main walkway!

Plus, weather permitting, Dolly plans to make a few surprise appearances throughout the Park that day. So come and enjoy the rides, shows—and maybe even see Dolly—next Saturday, on opening day!

http://www.dollywood.com/

Cades Cove Closed 3/1 To 5/21/10 But Still Lots More To See In The Smoky Moutains!

Cades Cove is closed, but there are still plenty of adventures to experience on the Peaceful Side of the TN Smokies.

Cades Cove Road Closure – Alternative Adventures
The road in Cades Cove is scheduled to be closed March 1 - May 21, 2010 for major improvements. Weather may affect these dates.

The road will be closed to all public use, including hiking, bicycling, and auto touring during the closure period. Trailheads along the road will be closed, including Cooper Road Trail, Abrams Falls Trail, and Rabbit Creek Trail. Although trailhead access from along the Loop Road will be closed, these trails will remain open and hikers can access them via connecting trails in the area. Download a park trail map to view area trails.

Rich Mountain Road, Forge Creek Road and Parson Branch Road will not be accessible during the closure. This will affect trailhead access/parking for Indian Grave Gap Trail, Gregory Ridge Trail, Gregory Bald Trail, and Hannah Mountain Trail.

The Cades Cove Campground, picnic area, horseback riding stable and campground store will be operating as normal. Bicycle rentals will not be available from the campground store during the period when the Loop Road is closed.

While Cades Cove is temporarily closed, there are many alternative adventures to enjoy such as a self-guided tour of Tremont, Little Greenbrier School, The Walker Sister’s Cabin, Elkmont Summer Community, the Heritage Museum in Townsend, the Little River Railroad Museum and the scenic Foothills Parkway.

For a complete list of all adventures, visit “The Do” section of http://www.smokymountains.org/
Tammi Ford EVP Communications Blount Partnership

Please bookmark other informative websites: http://www.blountchamber.com/ http://www.smokymountains.org/, http://www.smcvb.info/,
Community Calendar, Blount Chamber Calendar

"Saddle Up" Cowboy Festival-Pigeon Forge Feb 25-28, 2010

Pigeon Forge ‘Sets Up Camp’ for Festival of Cowboy Poetry, Western Music, Chuckwagon Cooking

10th ‘Saddle Up!’ includes autograph session with James Drury of ‘The Virginian’

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (February 2010) – Cowboy poets, western singers and chuckwagon cooks are just over the horizon from Pigeon Forge, Tenn., preparing for the 10th celebration of Saddle Up!, a perhaps unexpected celebration of cowboy ways east of the Mississippi River.

Saddle Up!, Feb. 25-28, 2010, is the last major component of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, a four-month season of activities that started in November. The entire Winterfest celebration is on the American Bus Association’s list of the Top 100 Events in North America, and Saddle Up! is an American Cowboy Magazine “Best of the West” event, one of 101 recognized annually.

Like stars over a clear prairie sky, the entertainment lineup sparkles with Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, R.W. Hampton, Dave Stamey, Ray Doyle and Jeff Gore. Two western swing dances will get guests showing off their best two-stepping techniques.

The pop culture side of the cowboy life will be featured through appearances by James Drury and other stars of “The Virginian,” the 1962-1971 hit TV Western. “The Virginian,” the first 90-minute Western, told the story of the fictional Shiloh Ranch near Medicine Bow, Wyo.

Autograph sessions and question-and-answer opportunities are planned with Drury, Roberta Shore, Gary Clarke and Randy Boone. Drury appeared throughout the series.

A competitive chuckwagon cookoff is another Saddle Up! highlight. Teams of chuckwagon cooks will prepare an authentic trail hand lunch for guests’ enjoyment—and the critical evaluation of judges.

The closing event is Cowboy Church, a non-denominational service preceded by strong coffee and a chuckwagon breakfast.

Admission information: Concert day passes are $20 per day and $50 for the weekend (free through age 17). The chuckwagon cookoff lunch, chuckwagon breakfast and western swing dance are $5. Admission to “The Virginian” event is free.

The complete festival schedule is online at http://www.MyPigeonForge.com href="http://www.mypigeonforge.com/saddleup">http://www.MyPigeonForge.com/saddleup Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is at http://www.mypigeonforge.com/ or by calling toll-free 1-800-251-9100.

Saddle Up! event locations:
Thursday afternoon and evening concerts at the Smith Family Dinner Theater

Friday afternoon and evening concerts at the Grand Majestic Theater

Friday and Saturday Western swing dances at the Grand Resort Hotel

Saturday “Virginian” reunion at the Grand Resort Hotel

Saturday Chuckwagon cookoff at Clabough’s Campground

Sunday Cowboy Church at Stages West

Winter Heritage Festival Townsend TN Feb 4-7,2010

Winter Heritage Festival February 4-7, 2010 - Townsend TN - The Great Smoky Mountains

A celebration of the history, people, and traditions of Townsend TN, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Don't miss the Kick-Off on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 7--9pm, with Sparky and Rhonda Rucker at Tremont! Call 865-448-6709 for reservations.

The Winter Heritage Festival has received an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History, and has been designated a "Top Twenty Event" by the Southeast Tourism Society.

See below for schedules of events for 2010! Most events are free, but there are charges for the Kick Off, the Barn Dance, Miss Lily's Banquet Hall lunch programs, and the Cades Cove Heritage Tours.

Advance Registration Required! Download the schedule and form:Winter Fest Schedule 2010 Winter Fest 2010 Registration And the full program booklet:Winter Heritage Booklet 2010Call for more information or if you'd like to be sent the schedule and registration form by mail or email: 865-448-6134. Complete the registration and send to Townsend Visitors Center 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend, TN 37886.

jhilten@smokymountains.org Highlights of Programs at the Townsend

Visitors Center:

A "Mountain Craft Showcase" on Saturday morning in the Exhibit Room with artisans demonstrating their skills.

"The Prehistory of Tuckaleechee Cove" with Dr. Boyce Driskell, University of Tennessee Archeologist.

Mountain Music and Mountain People program by Bob Fulcher, Cumberland Trail State Park and Tennessee folklorist.
Discover Life in America's biodiversity project in the Smokies, with Director Todd Witcher.

A presentation about the Park's natural history collections, by Curator Adriean Mayor.

Programs about key people in the formation of the Park: Horace Kephart, by Butch McDade and Ann Davis, by Robin Goddard.

A performance by TNT Dulcimer Trio.

Naturalist-led hikes to Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse and Walker Sisters Homestead with Butch McDade, Elkmont with Herb Handly, and other historic and scenic places.

Friday evening Volunteer Appreciation Open House with refreshments and music by the Woodpickers

Highlights of Programs at Other Locations:
Thursday, February 4: Kick Off evening program at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont: "Mountain Voices" with Sparky and Rhonda Rucker. Charge: $10 per person. Call Tremont for reservations, 865-448-6709.

Cades Cove Preservation Association presentations and exhibits at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

Blount County Historical Museum open house in Maryville, TN.
Cades Cove Thompson-Brown House Museum exhibits.

Friday and Saturday lunch programs at Miss Lily's Banquet Hall with guest speakers Mary Fanslow (Friday) and Ila Hatter (Saturday). Charge: $12 per person. Call 865-448-1924.

Cades Cove Heritage Tours: guided trips around the Cove in a 19 passenger van with an expert leader. Call 865-448-8838.

Myers Lane Book-signing at Mary Tippitt Library.
Saturday, Februrary 6: BBQ Supper and Square Dance with "The Lost Hounds of Pumpkin Hollow" old time string band, at The Barn Event Center, Townsend, TN. Charge: $25 per person. Call The Barn for reservations, 865-448-3812.

Little River Railroad Museum talks and tours, Townsend, TN.
Ranger-led interpretive programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Salamander foray and history walk at Tremont.

All programs require pre-registration. Most are free; events with food will have a charge, so call the host businesses to make reservations.

For more information, call the Townsend Visitors Center (865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834). Schedule is subject to change. Please call and check back on our website for updates.In addition to our sponsors, the Winter Heritage Festival is supported by these host businesses and organizations: Cades Cove Preservation Association, Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Little River Railroad Museum, Cades Cove Heritage Tours, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, The Barn Event Center, Valley View Lodge, Townsend IGA

Click here to view our Smoky Mountain Festivals website!

2007 Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau
7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pwy., Townsend, TN 37882
Photo from
http://www.blounttoday.com/

Great Smoky Mountain Quilters Road Show - Townsend TN Jan 9, 2010

Quilters Road Show - Townsend TN Jan 9, 2010

Townsend, TN – Smoky Mountain Quilters is once again teaming with sponsor Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to present the fourth annual Quilters Road Show at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center In Townsend TN on Saturday, January 9, 2009, from 10 AM – 5 PM.

The event provides quilters and quilt lovers the opportunity to see quilts in the making, to have quilts evaluated by quilt history professionals, to learn quilting techniques, to have their quilts photographed and to exchange stories and ideas with other quilters.

Returning for their fourth year are Merikay Waldvogel and Becky Harriss who will informally evaluate quilts on the Center’s auditorium stage. They will offer preservation tips and discuss quilt age and patterns.

New in 2010 is a scheduled bed turning at 3:00 PM in one of the Heritage Center’s historic cabins. A bed turning is a process where multiple quilts are put on a single bed, just as a single quilt would be placed on one’s bed at home. Beginning with the top quilt, Merikay Waldvogel will explain its design and its probable history. She will then “turn” the first quilt down, revealing a second quilt which she will comment on just as she did the first. Each quilt is then pulled back, or “turned,” one at a time until each quilt has been shown and described.

Waldvogel is a nationally known quilt authority, an author, curator and lecturer on quilts and the lives of women who make quilts. Her books include Quilts of Tennessee: Images of Domestic Life Prior to1930 with Bets Ramsey, based on their statewide quilt search; Soft Covers for Hard Times: Quiltmaking and the Great Depression; Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair; and Southern Quilts: Surviving Relics of the Civil War.

Quilters of all levels are invited to participate in helping make quilts during the day for Quilts of Valor which will be presented to veterans and current armed services personnel. Kate Meyers, Sevier County, is area coordinator for the national Quilts of Valor program.

Quilting demonstrations, introduced at the 2009 event, will feature: “Hand Applique,” Jane Dunham; “Hand Piecing,” Cindy Blackberg; “Machine Quilting,” Debbie McMurray; “Penny Rug Making,” Nancy Jones; “Needle Punch Embroidery,” Darlene Bakos; and “Trapunto,” Linda Roy.

Visitors are also invited to view display quilts provided by the Foothills Quilters Guild of Blount County.

New in 2010: Knoxville resident Allan Glazer will take photographs of participants’ and visitors’ quilts during the day. A limited number of times are available, and appointments are encouraged. Call Glazer at 671-5775 to schedule a time on January 9. Walk-ins are also welcome as long as times remain available.

Knoxville MEDIC Blood Center’s mobile unit will be on-site all day to conduct a blood drive.

The Quilters Road Show is free, though regular admission rates will apply to the museum experience. For information, call 865-448-0044.

Info from Seymour Herald

Wow Wilderness Wildlife Week - Pigeon Forge Jan 9-16,2010

ESCAPE WINTER’S DOLDRUMS WITH WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK

Pigeon Forge event highlights Great Smoky Mountains National Park

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – After the excitement of December’s holidays, you need an antidote to the inevitable winter blahs, and Pigeon Forge has the answer. It is Wilderness Wildlife Week, Pigeon Forge’s annual tribute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Dates are Jan. 9-16, 2010, for the eight-day extravaganza of seminars, workshops, photography classes, hikes and excursions that relate to the park and other outdoor topics. This is Wilderness Wildlife Week’s 20th year.

More than 150 experts—nature photographers, biologists, raptor rehabilitators, social historians and just plain folks who grew up in the Smokies—donate their time to present daily programs and a range of outdoor activities.

There are more than 230 programs and activities. Program topics vary daily, and admission is free to all activities. Topics include bears in the Smokies, the elk reintroduction project, the Smokies’ logging history, fire towers in the Smokies, close-up photography, trout fishing, fly-casting and birding by ear. Several programs are designed especially for children.

Almost 60 hikes and excursions into the national park complement the indoor programs. In 2009, more than 1,000 hikers from 18 states logged a cumulative 4,656 miles.

“The week is extremely flexible. You can attend one lecture or take one hike, or you can participate day after day,” said Leon Downey of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “It’s a great way to introduce people to the outdoors.”

Wilderness Wildlife Week began 19 years ago as a half-day program on a January Saturday. January hasn’t been the same since then in Pigeon Forge. The Southeast Tourism Society has chosen it 10 times as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast.

Wilderness Wildlife Week information, including a full list of programs and hikes, is available online at MyPigeonForge.com/wildlife or by calling toll-free to 1-800-WINTERFEST. #

Celebrate the New Year In Gatlinburg Or Pigeon Forge TN

New Year's Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks In Gatlinburg TN
Date: December 31, 2009

Gatlinburg welcomes the arrival of 2010 with a street party that begins around 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. An estimated crowd of 40,000 revelers gather in the streets of downtown Gatlinburg. At the stroke of midnight, the sky will light up with a fireworks and music show. The event is free to the public and features music and party favors.

Other New Years Eve Celebrations will be at various venues throughout Pigeon Forge, call 865.453.8574 for more details..

Stunning Synchronized Christmas Light Display In Sevierville TN

Stunning Synchronized Christmas Light Display - Sevierville, TN I-40 Exit 407 at the Smokies Baseball Stadium. Light Shows -Nightly 6:00 - 10:00pm till January 2, 2010

This holiday season, make sure that a night out at Smokies Park is in your entertainment plans. No, we're not talking about baseball. Rather the very best Christmas light show in all of East Tennessee! Join Shadrack Watersports & RV for their annual Christmas Wonderland light show as they look to help feed the hungry this holiday season!




The Christmas Wonderland is an award-winning drive-through and light show that is the largest of its kind in the country. Featuring hundreds of thousands of LED lights dynamically synchronized and dancing to the music, this experience is sure to be something you and your family won't soon forget! The show will consist of six (6) programmed songs and will be approximately 25 minutes in length. It is drive-through only as there will not be any place within the route to get out of your vehicle. There will be pull-offs though to sit and watch from your vehicle.

The Christmas Wonderland show is now here to experience at Smokies Park. The show will also be opening in Bristol on November 13 and in Knoxville on November 19. The show will be open nightly from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at all three locations through January 2, 2010. The show here at Smokies Park is located right off I-40 at Exit 407.

Admission for the show here at Smokies Park is as follows: $10 per car Monday-Thursday, $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. Activity vans are $20 (daily) and buses are $65 (daily). If you plan on coming on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and/or New Year's Eve, those dates will be weekend (Friday-Saturday) rates.

For additional information, please contact Shadrack at (423) 652-0120 or visit the company's Christmas Wonderland page HERE.

Santa & Performing Groups Join Duggar Family For 20th Anniversary of Pigeon Forge Winterfest

Santa, Reindeer, Performing Groups to Join Duggar Family for Kickoff of 20th Anniversary of Pigeon Forge Winterfest

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (October 27, 2009) – The kickoff event for the 20th anniversary of Pigeon Forge Winterfest on Nov. 5 (Thursday) will feature multiple special guests.

In addition to the expansive Duggar family from TLC’s “18 Kids and Counting” TV show, the kickoff event in Patriot Park will feature Santa Claus—complete with reindeer and a photographer—plus choral, band and dance groups, the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus and bluegrass music from Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier.

“This is the start of a great time of year for Pigeon Forge that is acknowledged far and wide. In fact, the 2009-2010 Pigeon Forge Winterfest is a Top 100 Event in North America, according to travel professionals assembled by the American Bus Association,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Activity begins at 4 p.m. with entertainment from several community groups. Comments from civic leaders and introduction of the Duggar family will precede the ceremonial flipping of the switch to turn on the city’s five million Winterfest lights at about 6 p.m.

The Duggars—Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 18 children, plus one on the way—will be in Pigeon Forge for the second time this year. They visited in May for production of two episodes of “18 Kids and Counting.”

Bob Fowler, the Pigeon Forge Special Events Volunteer of the Year, also will participate.

The evening’s featured entertainment, the Pigeon Forge Community Community Chorus followed by and Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier, will cap off the stage presentation.

Santa Claus and his reindeer will add to the festivities. A professional photographer will take pictures of guests with Santa and deliver complimentary photos on site.

Also complimentary that evening are rides on the Fun Time Trolley system’s Trolley Tour of Lights, which showcase Winterfest light displays throughout the community.

The afternoon groups performing are the Elizabeth Williams Dance Troupe, the Pigeon Forge Middle and High School Dance Teams, the Pigeon Forge High School Choir, the Pigeon Forge Middle School Honor Band and the Pigeon Forge High School Marching Band.

Five food vendors will be on hand with a variety of offerings. They will raise money for the American Legion, Pigeon Forge High School, Relay for Life and the Salvation Army.

Information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, including Wilderness Wildlife Week in January and Saddle Up! in February—is online at MyPigeonForge.com.

The Duggars To Flip Switch - Pigeon Forge's Winterfest Lights Nov 5, 2009

The Duggars To Flip Switch - Pigeon Forge's Winterfest Lights Nov 5, 2009

The Duggar Family from "TLC's 18 Kids and Counting" will once again come to Pigeon Forge.. They visited back in May to take part in the Dollywood Parade, this time will be all about LIGHTS!! Lots and lots of lights, millions of twinkling lights.... They will be flipping the switch in Patriot Park - Pigeon Forge TN to kick off Winterfest festivities on November 5th, 2009..

The holidays are one of the most exciting and beautiful times of the year in the Smoky Mountains... much of that is due to all of the colorful lights throughout the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area.. This year will be the first year that Pigeon Forge will have ground-level fireworks during this celebration.

Plan your trip to the Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.. Check out lots of great cabins here http://www.BestCabinsByOwner.com

Guide to the Best"By-Owner"Vacation Rentals-Smoky Mtns of Tenn & NC

Dollywood & Pigeon Forge TN - Crafts Galore Oct 1-30, 2009

October Draws Craft Lovers to Pigeon Forge, Great Smoky Mountains

Two major crafts events highlight start of autumn leaf season PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (October 2009)

Scores of talented artists and craftsmen seem to take a cue from Mother Nature when the leaves start changing colors in the Great Smoky Mountains and appear in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for two major autumn festivals.

Basket makers, carvers, painters and others are on hand for the Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Craft Festival and Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Celebration.

The Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Crafts Festival (Oct. 1-30) is one of the region’s biggest crafts events, attracting almost 50 craftsmen, artists and exhibitors from more than a dozen states. It takes place under a giant red and white tent at Patriot Park. Rotarians volunteer their time to run the festival, and proceeds benefit numerous charities.

Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Festival (Oct. 2-31) complements the theme park’s regular operation with an array of traditional and contemporary craftsmen and adds scores of free gospel music concerts to the entertainment lineup. Among the featured crafts are spinning, weaving, sorghum making, fiddle making, rug hooking and woodworking.

Both events take place against the backdrop of Pigeon Forge’s Harvestfest season, which continues through Oct. 31.

During Harvestfest, businesses throughout the city erect fanciful fall displays of hay bales, scarecrows, cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, mums and other symbols of the season.

The Pigeon Forge Travel Planner and information about all aspects of the city are available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100. The travel planner includes the Pigeon Forge Value Card, which offers more than $300 worth of discounts.

Tom Adkinson, APR615-341-3640

Help Sevier County Humane Society Win $1 Million Dollars - Vote For Miss Ellie !!

How easy could it be to help the Humane Society in Sevier County TN? Just Vote for Miss Ellie and the Sevier County Humane Society Could Win $1 Million Dollars. They need your help and it doesn't cost you a thing! If Miss Ellie, star of The Comedy Barn Theater in Pigeon Forge, wins the $1 Million Prize, she will donate 100% of her prize to The Sevier County Humane Society.

Go to: Cutest Dog Competition Find Ellie's picture by searching in the Search Box for Miss Ellie and click on "Vote Cute." Vote Once Everyday- Get Your Friends To Vote August 30th through September 5th. Please limit one vote per household or office per day. If Miss Ellie makes the top 12 Finalists The Comedy Barn Theater will donate $1 for every vote placed to the Sevier County Humane Society.

VOTE MISS ELLIE NOW! Send an email to: SevierHumane@AOL.com and say I Voted For Miss Ellie! This signs you up to be notified of contest progress.
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Easiest way to find Miss Ellie is to click on “Cutest Gallery” at top of page, then search for “Miss Ellie”. You have to register before you can vote but they don’t ask for anything except your email address and for you to set up a password. Please vote daily!

Vote Miss Ellie for the Cutest Dog Competition - Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder and just think how much help this will bring to homeless dogs in Sevier County !!

Shades Of The Past & Grand Fall Rod Run In Pigeon Forge - Sept 2009

It's almost that time again! Time to admire hundreds of classic cars, antique trucks and souped up rods. September is the month for Shades of the Past and the Grand Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Just plan to enjoy the crowds and backed up traffic. Check out the scenery - lots of incredible cars and the beautiful Smoky Mountains in the background!


September 11-12 2009 - Shades of The Past Rod Run XXVII - National Parks Resort Lodge & Smoky River Ranch; Fax (865) 995-9097 or Fax (865) 429-0159.




Sept 18-20 2009 - Grand Fall Rod Run- Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center; For more information call 1-800-251-4444. -Pigeon Forge, TN

If you are looking for a cabin rental in the area - check out
http://www.bestcabinsbyowner.com/
Guide to the Best"By-Owner"Vacation Rentals-Smoky Mtns of Tenn & NC


Photos by C. Gilliam