16 Free Things To Do in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

In the breathtaking state of Tennessee you’ll find the picturesque Smoky Mountains. Both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are great places to visit for fantastic indoor and outdoor fun! A vacation to the Smoky Mountains is perfect too, because there are so many things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Even better, there are plenty of FREE things to do in the Smoky Mountains!

The natural outdoor allure of the Smoky Mountain destinations of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is easy to understand. With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as their backyard, these two vacation destinations allow guests to discover what they’ve been missing…refreshing, all natural fun!

1. Cades Cove: This is a great area for a scenic drive! There is an 11 mile one way loop that winds around the valley, complete with wildlife, campgrounds, bike rentals, spectacular foliage in autumn, facilities for horseback riding and historic buildings.

2. Sugarlands Visitor Center: A free 20-minute orientation motion picture provides an in-depth look at the Smokies and the enormous diversity of plant and animal life in the Park. Natural history exhibits include mounted specimens of park animals in recreations of their habitats and reproductions of journals kept by the first park naturalists are also on display. Ranger talks and slide shows are presented daily from spring through fall. You’ll also want to visit Laurel Falls, a beautiful waterfall located off Little River Road near the Sugarlands Center.

3. Patriot Park: Located in Pigeon Forge, this park is home to a big "liberty" bell, all 50 state flags, a historic patriot missile and a picnic pavilion amongst the open fields & a veteran's memorial park. Relax with the family while enjoying the beauty of Pigeon Forge.

4. Clingman’s Dome: Clingman's Dome is a short drive from Gatlinburg through the national park. There is a steep 1/2 mile hike to the top lookout, but anyone can enjoy the views from the level parking lot area. However, the views at the top of the dome are well worth the hike.

5. Free Child Admission at Pigeon Forge Shows: Many Pigeon Forge shows offer free admission for children (with a paying adult ticket). A few of the shows that participate in free kids admission are The Comedy Barn, Smith Family Dinner Show, Country Tonite, Hoot N Holler Dinner Show, Magic Beyond Belief and The Miracle.

6. Tennessee Heritage Trails: Our Heritage Trails link attractions in three categories - History, Arts & Crafts and Music - to showcase the distinctive character and talents of Tennessee trails and to connect both well-known and obscure attractions under a common theme.

7. The Old Mill: Visit the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge to tour the shops, including the candy kitchen, where you’ll get a free sample of fudge or taffy. Guests will also want to tour the Old Mill to see how they make corn meal and other products. The tour is about 30 minutes and there is a small admission fee of $3.

8. Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Craft Community: This is the largest group of independent artisans in North America. This historic 8-mile loop has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Established in 1937, these artisans create unique and treasured pieces. It doesn’t cost a dime to explore the shops and craftsmen at work.

9. Newfound Gap Road: The 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee North Carolina along Newfound Gap Road is the only route that completely traverses the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive offers a unique opportunity to enjoy an abbreviated experience of everything the Park has to offer, without necessarily trekking far from your automobile.

10. Hiking: Enjoy a hike on any of the more than 800 miles of trails through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. With over fifty trails available to hike, you’ll discover a new treasure each time you explore.

11. Douglas Lake: Beautiful Douglas Lake extends its 33,000 lake acres and 513 miles of shoreline to the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year. Favorite activities at Douglas Lake include fishing, boating, rafting, swimming, camping, and bird watching.

12. Little River Railroad & Lumber Company Museum: This free museum teaches visitors about the history of steam logging in the Smokies. It is both an indoor and outdoor museum, with outdoor exhibits featuring a vintage caboose and portable Frick steam engine.

13. Gatlinburg Space Needle: Towering over downtown Gatlinburg, the Space Needle rises 407 feet, offering fantastic scenic views to visitors. This is a small admission fee of $7.25 for adults & $3 for children.

14. Shopping in the Smokies: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a shopper’s dream and it doesn’t cost a thing to look! There are several Outlet malls, such as Belz Factory Outlet Mall, as well as hundreds of unique shops to explore.

15. Festivals: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a haven for festivals. Many of these, such as the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, have free admission and concerts!

16. Plus, at Dollywood, you can get your next day FREE if you arrive at the park after 3 pm!

With so many things to see and do in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, you and your family are sure to experience the vacation of a lifetime!

Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival Starts Spinning Yarns June 4

The Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival promises three days of tall tales, scheduled for June 4-6 in Pigeon Forge. This event is in its 18th year and is promising some of the best storytelling yet. Some of the speakers include a genuine possumologist, a keeper of Cherokee creation stories, a storytelling school principal and an Oklahoman poet who does a unique retelling of “Ben Hur.”

In addition to the festival's professional storytellers will be the tale-telling talent of the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. None of the youths are more than 17 years of age, and are from all over the country.

Many of the stories told during this year’s festival will honor Appalachia and the Great Smoky Mountains. Accordingly, this year’s event is on the official event list of the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains. The festival is also on the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast.”

Featured storytellers:

+ Lloyd Arneach—A Cherokee storyteller who learned his first legends from two storytelling uncles on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina.

+ Donald Davis—A native Appalachian storyteller who performs nationally and teaches workshop that focus on family-based storytelling.

+ Doug Elliott—A storyteller, herbalist and naturalist who sings about catfish, pontificates about possums and plays a mean harmonica.

+ Todd Elliott—Doug’s son and a two-time participant in the National Youth Storytelling Showcase who now is following in his father’s footsteps.

+ Andy Offutt Irwin—A Georgia public radio show host who says he used to have real jobs before becoming a professional storyteller.

+ Kent Rollins—A genuine cowboy from Oklahoma, who also is a poet, chuckwagon cook and humorist (he’s the one with the watermelon and bra).

+ Elizabeth Rose—Principal of Cherokee Middle School in Roane County, Tenn., who blends southern folklore with fairy tales, ghost stories and international legends.

Three late-night programs (9:30-11 p.m.) augment the regular sessions. A Haunts and Haints ghost story session is Thursday, a tribute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Friday and a memorial to legendary mountain storyteller Ray Hicks is Saturday.

All Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival events are held at the Belz Outlet Mall in Pigeon Forge. Three Day admission is $25, while one day admission is $10. The event is FREE for youths 17 years and younger. The late-night sessions are $5.

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg: #1 On Southern Living's "Best Weekend Getaway" List

Readers of Southern Living Magazine voted Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg #1 on their list of "Best Weekend Getaways" and #5 on their list of "Best Family Destinations" in the magazines annual "Readers' Choice Awards" poll. Results in 14 categories are in the January issue.

The area's family-friendly attractions, particularly the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, earned praise from the magazine's readers and editors, along with the scenic beauty of East Tennessee.

Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga topped the "Best Scenic View" list, which also featured two favorite destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Cades Cove (#6) and Clingman's Dome (#7), which is the highest point in Tennessee.

"The appeal of our attractions, lodging and dining, plus the spectacular beauty of the mountains resonates with our guests. That will be especially true as people visit this year during the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park," said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Pigeon Forge, which has only 5,800 residents but approximately 11 million visitors a year, offers guests a year-long calendar of special events, approximately 10,000 accommodations (hotel, motel, cabin, chalet), more than a dozen entertainment theaters, six outlet malls, craft shops, art galleries and attractions such as Dollywood, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and WonderWorks.

A major new attraction, Belle Island Village, is projected to open this spring. Its major components include the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum and the Darrell Waltrip Racing Experience.

"Southern Living's 'Readers' Choice Awards' mean a lot. The magazine's circulation is 2.8 million, and its readers really know the South," Mr. Downey said.

Southern Living is the eighth largest monthly magazine in the U.S., and its readership is more than 16 million. Its "Readers' Choice Awards" are acknowledged as one of the largest reader-response programs in the publishing industry.

Other Tennessee favorites in the 2008 voting included Franklin at #5 on the "Best Small Town" list; Nashville at #5 on the "Best City" list; Nashville's Loveless Café and Pancake Pantry at #5 and #6 on the "Best Breakfast/Brunch" list; and the Memphis in May International Festival at #9 on the "Best Festival/Fair" list.

Balloting already has begun for the 2009 awards at www.southernliving.com/readerschoice. Voting ends on June 30, 2009.

Information courtesy of The Chattanoogan

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Begins This Weekend

Wilderness Wildlife Week, which begins Saturday, is Pigeon Forge's annual tribute to its neighbor, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the 2009 event is the first major program marking the park's 75th anniversary.

The Pigeon Forge event, in its 19th year, includes seminars, workshops, photography classes, hikes and excursions that relate to the park and other outdoors topics.

Historic re-enactors portraying President Theodore Roosevelt, naturalist John Muir and others important to the creation of America's national parks will be part of the celebration.

Admission is free. Seminar topics include bears in the Smokies, the elk reintroduction project, the Smokies' logging history, fire towers in the Smokies, close-up photography, trout fishing and birding by ear. Several programs are designed especially for children. Daily hikes and excursions into the national park complement the indoor seminars, lectures and photography shows.

Information courtesy of Lexington Herald-Leader

Wilderness Wildlife Week Kicks Off January 10th

Wilderness Wildlife Week began 19 years ago as a half-day program held in a conference room at a Pigeon Forge motel.

The event has since mushroomed into a full week's worth of activities ranging from wildlife seminars and photography exhibits to daily field trips to neighboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

More than 25,000 people attended last year's Wilderness Wildlife Week. They included 1,000 hikers from 19 states and four foreign countries who logged 3,920 cumulative miles in the Smokies.

This year's event Jan. 10-17 promises to be even bigger, largely because it will be the first major program of 2009 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Music Road Convention Center is headquarters for the event.

"Wilderness Wildlife Week is totally centered around the Smokies," said Deanna Sorge of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "It keeps getting bigger and bigger, but the park is always the center stage."

The park's 75th anniversary will be commemorated throughout 2009 with events hosted by the park and neighboring communities.

This year's Wilderness Wildlife Week will feature more than 150 experts in fields such as photography, biology, raptor rehabilitation and park history. There are more than 220 programs and activities on the agenda, and consistent with past years, the week is extremely flexible.

Each day, participants can choose whether to attend a lecture, take a hike or perhaps do both.

Wilderness Wildlife Week won the International Festival and Events Association's Pinnacle Award for Best Environmental Program and Educational Program in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The event has been recognized 10 times, including for 2009, by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast.

Despite its exponential growth over the last 19 years, Wilderness Wildlife Week has stuck close to its original mission of using guest naturalists and historians to educate people about the Smokies.

Also in keeping with tradition, all activities are free to the public.

Ken Jenkins, a professional photographer and naturalist who started the event in 1989, said none of this would have been possible if not for unwavering support from the town of Pigeon Forge, and the fact that the event's guest speakers and outdoor experts donate their services free of charge.

"My philosophy has always been, the more people that understand this park, the more likely they'll be to return and be sensitive to its needs," Jenkins said. "The core idea is to develop education around people who are at the top of their field."

This year's topics include bears of the Smokies, the elk reintroduction project, the Smokies' logging history, close-up photography, trout fishing and birding by ear.

Several programs are designed especially for children.

Organizers of this year's Wilderness Wildlife Week have added several new events in recognition of the park's 75th anniversary.

Three historical figures central to the development of the park and the National Park Service will be on hand for the event. Bill Landry will portray William Bartram, America's first native-born naturalist and artist; Lee Stetson will portray John Muir, the father of America's national parks; and Mark Klemestrud will portray Theodore Roosevelt, who pioneered conservation during his presidency.

A special exhibit titled "Textiles of the Smokies" will feature the clothing, quilts and items used by the Walker sisters, longtime park residents. Many of these items, such as the sisters' sewing machine, have been in park storage and have never been on display.

A Jan. 17 fundraiser for Friends of the Smokies will feature an exhibit of black and white photos of the park in its early years paired with color photos of the park today. Photography will be courtesy of Thompson Photography of Knoxville and Ken Jenkins Photography of Gatlinburg.

In a special effort to connect with young people, this year's Wilderness Wildlife Week will offer more than 20 classes pertaining to wildlife and the environment for students of all ages. For more information, call Leigh Ellington at 865-429-7396.

A few of the Wilderness Wildlife Week classes have a participation capacity. An information table in the lobby of the Music Road Convention Center will be open 1-5 p.m. Jan. 9 and at 7 a.m. all other days, for attendees to register for classes with limited space.

Smokies anniversary: The News Sentinel is marking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 75th birthday in an ongoing series that will publish through September 2009. So far we've examined the land's ancient beginnings, Native American heritage and settlement by Europeans. The series continues in January with a look at the painful and triumphant effort to establish the park in the 1920s and 1930s. Other topics in 2009 will include arts and crafts traditions tied to the Smokies, a view of the park from the North Carolina side, and perhaps some tales and legends about the park you may never have heard.

Information courtesy of Knoxville News Sentinel

Special Events Help Mark Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary

Six Pigeon Forge special events, including Wilderness Wildlife Week in January and Dolly’s Homecoming Parade with Smokies-born entertainer Dolly Parton as grand marshal in May, are on the official calendar of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 75th anniversary.

The sanctioned events include a quilt festival, a storytelling festival and two events dedicated to traditional music. Each event puts a special focus on the national park that is Pigeon Forge’s next-door neighbor.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created in 1934 as the largest piece of wilderness in the eastern U.S. (800,000 acres after all land acquisitions). Today, it attracts more than nine million people a year and is the most visited of all of America’s national parks.

The 75th anniversary calendar includes festivals, events, programs and commemorations both inside the park and in gateway communities such as Pigeon Forge.

The first sanctioned Pigeon Forge event is the Jan. 10-17, 2009, Wilderness Wildlife, an annual salute to the national park that began in 1991. More than 100 volunteer experts offer nature photography shows and classes, lectures and demonstrations relating to the park’s flora, fauna and social history. Hikes in the national park are another major component, and participants in the last Wilderness Wildlife Week tallied almost 5,000 trail miles.

The other sanctioned Pigeon Forge events:

Jan. 13, 2009—3rd Annual AppalachiaFest, a tribute to traditional music featuring Riley Baugus, Tim O’Brien, Dirk Powell and Boogertown Gap.

March 11-15, 2009—15th A Mountain Quiltfest™, featuring quilt shows, quilting classes and related events. Pigeon Forge is sponsoring a $2,500 prize for best presentation of a special Great Smoky Mountains quilt pattern it commissioned. The winning quilt will be donated to the national park.

May 8, 2009—Dolly’s 2009 Homecoming Parade, featuring hometown favorite Dolly Parton as grand marshal along with marching bands, floats, twirlers and other parade units from several states. Dolly, born just outside the national park boundary, is a devoted promoter of the region’s mountain culture and history.

June 4-6, 2009—18th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival™, featuring performances by professional storytellers, seminars and the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. This year’s lineup will feature tellers of Appalachian tales.

August 14-15, 2009—5th Annual StringTime in the Smokies™, a celebration of bluegrass and traditional music featuring the SteelDrivers and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

“Pigeon Forge’s special events provide great reasons to visit. Each of the six selected offers special connections to the national park we treasure so much,” said Leon Downey, the city’s executive director of tourism.

Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

October Festivals in the Smokies

According to the National Park Service, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the country. The Smokies are filled with wildlife, waterfalls, and historic buildings. While all of these are definitely sights worth seeing, one of the main attractions comes during fall when the Smoky Mountains show off their artwork in the form of beautiful scenery, inspirational music and traditional crafts.

During the month of October, the leaves begin to change and Mother Nature puts on her annual art show with exhibits of amazing color. Enjoy the performance art of music as numerous entertainers fill the air with toe-tappin', hand-clappin' gospel music during this month as well. Artisans from all over the south will also gather in the Smokies to display the art of craft making that has been handed down for generations. Just take a peek at the opportunities that await you in October.

Your Own Private Viewing

October starts a pilgrimage to the Smoky Mountains for those who love the turning of the leaves. Once green and brown, the trees make an unforgettable transformation into brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange. The mountains suddenly become a canvas that could have been painted by Monet himself. This great show of color is a must see, but with so many visitors the roads through the mountains can quickly become crowded. Don´t let that discourage you. Here are some tips for taking in the beauty without becoming part of the multitude.

If you plan an overnight trip to the Smoky Mountains, make arrangements to rent a nearby Pigeon Forge cabin. By staying in a cabin you'll find yourself nestled in the middle of the breathtaking scenery where you can enjoy the peace and quiet. Perhaps your trip is only for a day. In that case, take a hike on one of the many trails that wind through the park. Trails range from those for novice hikers to ones for the tried and true experts. Hiking gives you an up close and tranquil view of the gorgeous fall foliage instead of seeing it through the window of your car.

That Good Ole Gospel Music

During the month of October you can enjoy the art of music at Dollywood's National Gospel & Harvest Celebration. Over 30 popular gospel groups will perform more than 250 free concerts that are sure to lift your spirits. Jeff and Sheri Easter, Kingdom Heirs, Paid In Full and The Kingsmen are just a few of the groups that will be there to entertain you at the biggest southern gospel festival in the Smokies.

If you find yourself hungry at the end of the show, visit one of the many booths offering dishes prepared from local ingredients. Traditional favorites such as fried green tomatoes are just one of the many treats available to purchase.

Generation after Generation

Voted one of the top 20 events by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Craftsmen's Fair in Gatlinburg is truly amazing. You´ll find this collection of more than 200 artisans at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Not only can you buy their works of art, but you can also watch as they create these treasures using techniques that have been passed down for generations. Looking for a birthday or Christmas gift? What about a treat for yourself? You´ll find countless unique works of art at the October Craftsmen´s Fair.

With magnificent exhibits of all types, the sights and sounds of the Smoky Mountains are quite impressive. There's plenty to do in October, so make your plans now. You don't want to miss a minute of the fun.

Information courtesy of Volunteer Cabin Rentals

Pigeon Forge Offers Visitors Best of Both Worlds

The wooden door of the Old Mill creaks open to reveal the gloomy interior of a 177-year-old building. The air is filled with flour dust as the huge water-powered French granite stones grind grain into flour and meal.

Time seems to have stood still and the same can almost be said for a shopping mall nearby. Here a bakery, creamery, pottery and craft shop offer handicrafts and tasty gifts such as homemade cake and marmalade made to recipes handed down over the generations.

The give-away is the trendy T-shirt worn by 24-year-old miller Ryan Matthews, which shows that this old mill in Pigeon Forge on the edge of the Smoky Mountains, has entered the 21st century. Matthews has seen his home village turn into a magnet for visitors.

'When I was small, this was nothing but cornfields,' he said, pointing into the distance where the Smoky Mountains touch the sky. They are part of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which boasts 9 million visitors a year or more than any other such park in the United States.
The highest summit is Clingman's Dome, which stands at 2,025 metres. Pigeon Forge is the gateway to this natural habitat, an elongated community strung out along a six-lane highway route called the Parkway. All the attractions are here, ranging from restaurants to shopping centers and amusement arcades.

The valley used to rely on agriculture for its income and the surrounding mountains were relentlessly exploited for their reserves of coal and lumber.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the peaks were almost completely devoid of trees. Erosion triggered landslides and it was not until 1920 that the battle began to save these idyllic surroundings from disaster.

When there was nothing left to chop down, the lumberjacks moved on and the state began buying up the land owned by the mountain crofters. In 1934, the area along the border with North Carolina was proclaimed a US National Park and Pigeon Forge began its ascendancy.
Neighbouring Knoxville hosted the Expo or World Fair in 1982 and triggered a big influx of tourists in the process. It was a blessing for this impoverished region and attracted many investors.

An estimated 11 million visitors pour along the Parkway every year, says Leon Downey who is in charge of tourism. The hotels are affordable and the unspoilt landscape of the Smokies is just around the corner.

'People love the contrast,' says Downey who points out that many who come here end up seeing most of the National Park from behind a car windshield since they try to take in all the other attractions during a short vacation.

There are big dippers on every corner in Pigeon Forge and the chain of restaurants along highway 441 stretches for five kilometres. Drivers only need to pull off the road to enjoy all the fun of the fair and all they can eat to go with it.

'The program has been specifically designed for families and to appeal to the various generations,' said Deborah Fee Newsom whose company maintains a number of stages in Pigeon Forge where shows are regularly hosted.

Her latest innovation is a magician. Terry Evanswood saws his assistant in two before pronouncing: 'God made his dream come true.' By doing so, he shows that this area belongs firmly to the so-called 'Bible Belt' where citizens are devout Christians and proud of it.
Country singer Dolly Parton appears on stage here with the star- spangled banner at her side. Parton grew up in difficult circumstances in the little town of Locust Ridge as one of a family of 14. Today the 62-year-old is a superstar and has tried hard to give her former homeland a helping hand.

In 1986, she transformed what used to be known as 'Silver Dollar City' into a theme park called 'Dollywood.' She also brought the horse stunt revue 'Dixie Stampede' to Pigeon Forge. This indoor extravaganza of beating hooves complete with four-course meal sees mounted riders re-enact scenes from the US civil war three times a day in front of an audience of 1,400 people.

Visitors who long to get away from the crowds can seek sanctuary in the wilderness of the park. A network of paths for backpackers stretches for more than 1,300 kilometres through an area which has been extensively reforested.

Signs warn visitors to be on guard against bears roaming the region. 'There are about two bears to the mile,' said John LaFevre, a local hiker. 'But the black bears tend to be shy and keep away from people just as long as they pick up their garbage behind them.'

The only visitors' lodge in the park is to be found on the peak of Mount Leconte. The accommodation is highly sought-after and those who want to stay here have to book months, if not years, in advance to secure a bed.

The ascent takes three hours via narrow paths, across small bridges and through a rock-hewn tunnel. From halfway up, the view stretches for miles across the valleys of the Smokies and suddenly Pigeon Forge seems a very long way off.

Information courtesy of Monsters & Critics

Lee Greenwood Announces Concerts in Pigeon Forge

Lee Greenwood, winner of three Country Music Association Awards and writer of America’s unofficial patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA,” will perform 36 dates at the Smith Family Theater in Pigeon Forge this year.

Greenwood, who had his own theater in the Smokies for five years, starts his Pigeon Forge concert series on April 18. The final shows will be Dec. 29. Greenwood will have two shows on each appearance date for a total of 72 shows.

“We are extremely honored to host Lee Greenwood’s return to the Great Smoky Mountains. Lee has great fans, and his concerts at the Smith Family Theater are scheduled so guests can combine one of his shows with Pigeon Forge’s many other entertainment opportunities,” said Charlie Bob Smith, partner and performer at the Smith Family Theater.

The 600-seat Smith Family Theater opened in 2004 and was custom built for the act that features Charlie, Jim and Charlie Bob Smith (Charlie and Jim are brothers, and Charlie Bob is Charlie’s son). The family act has been popular in the region since the 1980s, including a long run at the Dollywood theme park.

A combo ticket for a Lee Greenwood concert and the Smith Family Show is $44.90 plus tax. Children age 12 and younger are free.

“After living and working in the Smoky Mountains for almost eight years, I discovered, just like the millions of visitors who visit the area each year, that the beauty and romance of the Smoky Mountains are unmatched,” Greenwood said.

The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism said Greenwood’s concerts will expand the city’s entertainment mix.

“Many people visit Pigeon Forge especially for the theaters. We think Lee Greenwood will encourage new visitors to try us and entice others to stay an extra day,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the department of tourism.

In addition to “God Bless the USA,” Greenwood’s hit list includes “Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Dixie Road” and “I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose).”

Greenwood concerts dates:

April 18 and 25

May 9, 18 and 23

June 20

July 10, 11, 18 and 24

August 1,8, 15, 22, 30 and 31

September 5, 11, 12, 21 and 27

October 3, 9, 10, 19, 24, 30 and 31

November 5, 14, 16, 21 and 28

December 3, 12 and 29.

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge

The Great Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg provide the perfect path to explore the great outdoors. Perhaps that’s why many people flock each year to these beautiful mountains during January’s Wilderness Wildlife Week, where experts are on hand to guide you through the various ways people can play in the Smokies. It’s a great way for both children and adults to reconnect with nature and there are guided hikes, photography contests and nature classes to take advantage of. And, best of all, it’s all free!

Wilderness Week in Pigeon Forge begins its 18th annual festival on January 12-19, 2008, with a series of outdoor themed activities designed to connect visitors with the outdoor world of the Great Smoky Mountains.

During Pigeon Forge Wilderness Week, nearly 100 experts on nature and the great outdoors will host walks, hikes, seminars and lectures on a wide variety of topics, including Smoky Mountain history and plant and animal life. A number of Wilderness Wildlife Week programs are designed for children.

Guided Wilderness Week hikes through the Smokies range from easy, relaxed walks to more strenuous, multi-mile treks. Topics vary with individual hikes. To properly prepare for daylong outings, hikers are encouraged to bring gloves, head cover, rain gear, lunch or trail snacks, a flashlight and an extra pair of socks.

Wilderness Wildlife Week offers activities for all ages and attracts thousands of nature lovers to Pigeon Forge. The International Festivals & Events Association has recognized Pigeon Forge Wilderness Week for its environmental and educational efforts.

Wilderness Week activities are offered free of charge. Music Road Hotel & Convention Center is the headquarters for the event.

Information courtesy of My Pigeon Forge

Winterfest in Pigeon Forge celebrates Christmas, Smoky Mountain Heritage

Winter, formerly the quietest time of year in the Smoky Mountains resort town of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., now is one of the most vibrant because of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. The 18th edition of the four-month celebration runs from Nov. 8-Feb. 29, 2008.

More than five million Winterfest lights that are spread throughout the city are most conspicuous element of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. Elaborate displays depicting everything from Mother Goose rhymes to patriotic themes attract visitors who view them from their own vehicles or get guided tours on the city's Fun Time Trolleys.

One of the more elaborate displays depicts the city's most significant historic site, the Old Mill. The actual mill was built in 1830 and still is in operation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.During the first two months of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, another 3.5 million lights add a special glow to the Dollywood theme park and its special holiday season.Also during November and December, Pigeon Forge's theaters—there are more than a dozen—add special holiday segments to their productions. All theaters operate through the end of the year, and many offer shows year-round.

After the excitement of Christmas and New Year's, the city continues Pigeon Forge Winterfest with three festivals in January and February:

- Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 12-19, is the first. It began the same year as Winterfest as a Saturday afternoon activity and now offers eight days of programs and activities to spotlight Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More than 100 experts on nature and outdoor life present programs on many topics, and there are daily hikes and excursions into the national park. AppalachiaFest, a musical component of Wilderness Wildlife Week on Jan. 15, is hosted by Grammy-Award winner David Holt and features bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.

- The 17th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival is on tap Feb. 7-9 with some of America's top storytellers, who offer both performances and workshops. The 2008 schedule includes cowboy poet and storyteller Waddie Mitchell and Bil Lepp, five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest.

- Saddle Up!, a celebration of the American West, returns for the eighth year, Feb. 21-24. It brings some of the best western musicians and cowboy poets to the Smokies for a rare visit east of the Mississippi River. Featured this year are Wylie & the Wild West, Sons of the San Joaquin, Jean and Gary Prescott, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Sourdough Slim, Chris Isaacs, Kent Rollins and Jeff Gore & Silver Valley.

Info courtesy of TravelVideo.TV

Fall Foliage in Tennessee a patchwork of Color

Tennessee in the fall is a brilliant patchwork of red, yellow, rust and orange. More than 400 species of deciduous trees paint the fall scenes of Tennessee’s landscape from the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Cooler night temperatures, flocks of migrating birds, and natural bouquets of lavender and yellow wildflowers along the roadsides are sure signs that fall in Tennessee is right on schedule. Tennessee’s peak colors typically appear the last two weeks of October. The leaves change first in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. The fall colors then sweep westward across the state peaking around Memphis by late November.

Autumn is becoming visible in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with some areas above 5,000 feet in full color, such as Clingmans Dome Road, which leads to the highest elevation in the Park.

The majority of the deciduous forest, at 4,000 feet elevation and below, is still predominantly green. Trees in the high country that are now showing bright color are the yellows of American beech and yellow birch, and different shades of reds on mountain ash, pin cherry and mountain maple. In the lower elevations, a few early color changing species, such as sourwood and sumac, are showing bright reds. Some dogwoods and maples are beginning to turn different colors in some areas as well. Fall wildflowers, such as goldenrod and asters, are colorful throughout the park, and some blueberry and blackberry shrubs are changing color, as well as the Virginia creeper plant.

Because the Great Smoky Mountains provide a range of elevations between 875 and 6,643 feet in the Park with differing moisture conditions and habitats, many trees will still produce significant color as the Park moves into its peak autumn season.

In lower East Tennessee (Cleveland and Ocoee Region), the weather has been very pleasant, but the leaf color remains unchanged. The beginning of the 2007 fall color season is predicted to be about a week away. The weather prediction this week is for lows in the40s and highs in the 60s starting on Wednesday. The lower temperatures this week should bring some color change very soon.

Farther south, many of our trees in the Chattanooga Valley are starting to turn slightly at their tops. The Poplars are showing a touch of yellow, with a bit of bronze on our Elms. It is too early for red or orange on the great Oaks or Sweet Gums.

Scenic Highway 27, Lookout Mountain and Interstate I-24 west toward Nashville are still green. This area is still a few weeks from any major color change. However, the weather is beautiful and a great time to take in the area’s outdoor festivals. The wildflowers are beautiful and still abundant along roadsides. Now is a great time to hike the beautiful mountain trails or paddle the Blue Trail along the Tennessee River.

Recommendations: High elevation trails such as Sugarland Mountain Trail and Appalachian Trail, accessed at Clingmans Dome or Newfound Gap, would be the perfect hiking area for this time of year. Roads leading into the high country, including Newfound Gap Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Foothills Parkway West and East, and Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove, are the best options for leaf seekers. The weather is beautiful in middle and west Tennessee, with fall still a few weeks away

Information courtesy of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

12 Free Things to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (A Still have a Blast!)

In the breathtaking state of Tennessee you’ll find the picturesque Smoky Mountains. Both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are great places to visit for fantastic indoor and outdoor fun! A vacation to the Smoky Mountains is perfect too, because there are so many things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Even better, there are plenty of FREE things to do in the Smoky Mountains!
The natural outdoor allure of the Smoky Mountain destinations of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is easy to understand. With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as their backyard, these two vacation destinations allow guests to discover what they’ve been missing…refreshing, all natural fun!

1) Cades Cove: This is a great area for a scenic drive! There is an 11 mile one way loop that winds around the valley, complete with wildlife, campgrounds, bike rentals, spectacular foliage in autumn, and facilities for horseback riding.

2) Sugarlands Visitor Center: A free 20-minute orientation motion picture provides an in-depth look at the Smokies and the enormous diversity of plant and animal life in the Park. Natural history exhibits include mounted specimens of park animals in recreations of their habitats and reproductions of journals kept by the first park naturalists are also on display. Ranger talks and slide shows are presented daily from spring through fall. You’ll also want to visit Laurel Falls, a beautiful waterfall located off Little Rover Road near the Sugarlands Center.

3) Mills Park: Located in Gatlinburg, this park’s facilities include a softball field, horseshoe pits, playground, tennis courts, football field and basketball court. It’s a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors!

4) Mynatt Park: A beautiful park complete with picnic area by the river, bbq grills, and recreation opportunities such as baseball and basketball.

5) Tennessee Heritage Trails: Our Heritage Trails link attractions in three categories - History, Arts & Crafts and Music - to showcase the distinctive character and talents of Tennessee trails and to connect both well-known and obscure attractions under a common theme.

6) Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Craft Community: The largest group of independent artisans in North America. This historic 8-mile loop has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Established in 1937, these artisans create unique and treasured pieces.

7) Newfound Gap Road: The 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee North Carolina along Newfound Gap Road is the only route that completely traverses the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive offers a unique opportunity to enjoy an abbreviated experience of everything the Park has to offer, without necessarily trekking far from your automobile.

8) Hiking: Enjoy a hike on any of the more than 800 miles of trails through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. With over fifty trails available to hike, you’ll discover a new treasure each time you explore.

9) Douglas Lake: Beautiful Douglas Lake extends its 33,000 lake acres and 513 miles of shoreline to the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year. Favorite activities at Douglas Lake include fishing, boating, rafting, swimming, camping, and bird watching.

10) Shopping in the Smokies: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a shopper’s dream and it doesn’t cost a thing to look! There are several Outlet malls, such as Belz Factory Outlet Mall, as well as hundreds of unique shops to explore.

11) Festivals: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a haven for festivals. Many of these, such as the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, have free admission and concerts!

12) Plus, at Dollywood, you can get your next day FREE if you arrive at the park after 3 pm!
With so many things to see and do in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, you and your family are sure to experience the vacation of a lifetime!