Pigeon Forge Celebrates the Cowboy Way during Saddle Up! Festival

Saddle Up!, a Pigeon Forge celebration of the American West, returns for the eighth year, February 21-24, 2008. The event brings some of America’s finest western musicians and cowboy poets on a rare visit east of the Mississippi River.

Wylie & the Wild West have performed on stages around the world, fronted by yodeler, rancher and world-famous “Yahoo-er” Wylie Gustafson. Sons of the San Joaquin are a trio of singers who share their love of western history and sweet harmony.

Yvonne Hollenbeck is one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West, while Jean Prescott has been honored by the State of Texas for contributing to the preservation of Texas music and history.

In addition to singing cowboy music, Jeff Gore is a rancher and the founder of Jeff Gore Ministries. Sourdough Slim combines singing, yodeling and comedy with accompaniment on accordion, ukulele and more!

Chris Isaacs and Kent Rollins will lend their storytelling talents and be the head wranglers of a Dutch Oven Cooking Competition.

A Cowboy Symphony returns for a second year on Thursday, Feb. 21, and will feature the Sons of the San Joaquin at Country Tonite Theatre.

Additional Saddle Up! activities include a Saturday night Western Swing Dance to the music of Wylie & the Wild West; and Sunday morning Cowboy Church followed by an authentic chuckwagon lunch.

Concert venues are Country Tonite Theatre and American Jukebox Theater. The dance will be at Pigeon Forge Middle School, and Cowboy Church will take place at Stages West.

Weekend passes, excluding the Cowboy Symphony, are $50 plus tax. Day passes are $30 plus tax. Tickets for Cowboy Symphony are $20 plus tax. Ages 17 and younger are admitted free.
Weekend passes and Cowboy Symphony tickets will be available in advance at Country Tonite Theatre, 1-800-792-4308, or onsite on Thursday, Feb. 21. Day passes for Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be available onsite at American Jukebox Theater.

Admission to the dance is $5 per person age 18 and older (17 and younger are admitted free) with proceeds benefiting the Pigeon Forge Middle School. Cowboy Church is free and will be followed by the chuckwagon lunch where a $5 minimum donation will benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.

During Saddle Up!, on Feb. 21-23, visitors also can enjoy the Chuckwagon Jamboree at Fiddlers’ Feast in Pigeon Forge, with dinner show performances by the Colorado Wranglers, Roy Rogers Jr. and the High Riders. Information and tickets are available at 888-908-3327.
Saddle Up! has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Information provided by Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism