Springfest in Pigeon Forge Features Dolly Parton Parade

Springfest in Pigeon Forge is a three month long celebration that features Spring events and the beauty of the Pigeon Forge area in bloom. Vibrant flowers and foliage-filled trees dot the landscape of this Smoky Mountain town, creating a beautiful place to visit. It’s a great time to venture out to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for some hiking, sightseeing or auto-touring. It’s also a great time to take in new seasons of Pigeon Forge shows like the Dixie Stampede and Black Bear Jamboree.

A few of the special events planned for Springfest include the Spring Grand Rod Run, scheduled for April 15-18, 2010, as well as the Festival of Nations at Dollywood.

The 25th Annual Dolly Parade is the highlight of Springfest. This year’s parade is scheduled for May 7, at 6pm. The Dolly Parton parade runs from River Road to Wears Valley Road. Join the fun as festive floats, marching bands and other local celebrities make their way through parade procession.

Pigeon Forge Hotels are available now for reservations.

A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge Celebrates Quilters & Crafters

The 16th Annual Mountain Quiltfest returns to Pigeon Forge March 10-14, 2010. This event celebrates quilting and crafting as attendees from across the United States gather for more than 70 classes and seminars, a quilt show featuring more than 300 items and the largest vendor exhibition yet. A Mountain Quiltfest is sponsored by the City of Pigeon Forge, Piecemakers and Sevier Valley Quilters Guilds.

This year’s event features Charlotte Angotti, Kim Diehl, Klaudeen Hansen, Marti Michell, Nancy Odom, Annette Ornelas, Nancy Prince and Louise Smith as instructors.

There are many Mountain Quiltfest Activities planned, including:

A Student Sneak Peak, located at the Music Road Hotel, is a pre-event that will have instructors, vendors and sponsors on hand for questions and a special showing of quilts.

Antique Quilt Bed Turning, an event held at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center that highlights quilts made before 1960.

Quilt Appraising by Sandra Palmer, held at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center. This event does require pre-registration and there is a fee for appraisal.

Show & Tell, located at the Grand Majestic Theater, is an event that provides attendees the chance to gather with their quilted items, cameras and friends and tell the special stories behind the pieces.

If you plan to attend A Mountain Quiltfest, choose from our selection of Pigeon Forge Hotels for the guaranteed lowest rates.

American West Featured at Pigeon Forge Saddle Up! Event

A celebration of the American West will soon descend on Pigeon Forge, bringing with it a variety of entertainment, including concerts, poetry readings, a chuckwagon cook-off, western swing dances and a Cowboy Church event. This festival, known as Saddle Up!, is scheduled for February 25-28, 2010.

This event, now in its 10th year, is the last major event of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. It will feature entertainers like Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Dave Stamey, Sisters of the Silver Stage, Ray Doyle and many more talented performers.

A reunion of The Virginian cast will also take place and will include James Drury, Roberta Shore and other special guests. A meet & greet reception, Q&A, autograph sessions and a special film viewing is planned.

The full schedule of events for Saddle Up! In Pigeon Forge is as follows:

February 25, 2010:
There will be a concert at The Smith Family Theater at 1pm featuring Ray Doyle, Jeff Gore & Silver Valley, Dave Stamey & RW Hampton. At 6pm, The Bard & the Balladeer Dinner Show starring Don Edwards & Waddie Mitchell will be performed at the Smith Family Dinner Theater. A chuckwagon dinner will also be served.

February 26, 2010:
A 1pm concert is scheduled at the Grand Majestic Theater and will feature Tim Jobe, Sisters of the Silver Stage, Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards. At 7pm, a second concert with Ray Doyle, Jeff Gore & Silver Valley, RW Hampton, Sisters of the Silver Stage, and Dave Stamey will take place. A 9pm Swing Dance featuring Kata Hay & The Blaze is also planned, but this event will require a separate admission ticket. The location of the dance is yet to be determined.

February 27, 2010:
From 9am-5pm, a Buckaroo Roundup at Clabough’s Campground will entertain those of all ages. This fun-filled day will include cowboy poetry, Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, the care of Dutch ovens, the opportunity to the learn the basics of calf roping and much more. At noon, the Chuckwagon Cookoff will take place at Clabough’s Campground. Attendees will be able to taste the delicious concoctions with the purchase of a $5 meal ticket. The Virginian cast reunion is scheduled from 6:30pm-9pm. At 9pm, a second Swing Dance featuring Kata Hay & The Blaze will have everyone lacing up their dancing shoes.

February 28, 2010:
A Chuckwagon Breakfast will be held at 8:30am at Stages West. A Cowboy Church session will follow at 10am and will include special performances by Saddle Up featured entertainers.

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.

If you plan on attending Saddle Up, choose from our variety of Pigeon Forge Hotels now for the best discount rates.

Shades of the Past Car Show Cruises into Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is famous for its plethora of car shows, and during the month of September, they are hosting not one, but two car shows. The first car show to occur, Shades of the Past, is scheduled for September 5-6, with headquarters for the event located at Smoky River Ranch in Pigeon Forge. During this weekend of cars, the Parkway in Pigeon Forge will be lined with classic cars, supped up rods and custom automobiles. It is a car lovers heaven, and thousands flock to the area to witness the spectacular event. Cars start rolling into the area around September 1st, and the parade of classics continues until the event ends on September 7.

For those of you attending Shades of the Past Car Show this year, you can get the official map & entry forms below:

If you are in need of directions to Shades of the Past, follow this map:

Participant entry form, click here.

Vendor entry form, click here.

The other car show occurring during the month of September is the Fall Grand Rod Run. It is scheduled for September 10-14, and will feature hot rods of all sorts with the penultimate event happening on September 13, with the parade of hot rods on the Parkway. For official Grand Rod Run entry forms for participants and vendors, click here.

Both events are very popular and are sure to be packed with crowds. In order to ensure your travel plans, be sure to make Pigeon Forge Hotel reservations now.

Lee Greenwood is Back in The Smokies

The intimate Smith Family Theater is set to host Lee Greenwood.

Greenwood is back in Pigeon Forge for about 30 shows this summer. Greenwood is happy to be back to see family and sing his hits to fans.

Always a crowd-pleaser in this area, the Lee Greenwood Theater closed down, but Greenwood decided to come back on his off-time to stay and play.

He loves going down to Cades Cove with his family. He says the hiking and biking trails in the Smokies are the "perfect place."

Greenwood, who lives in West Tennessee with his family, is not touring right now, although he just returned from a USO tour a few weeks ago. Greenwood has many hits but one he is known for, "God Bless The U.S.A" has become a bit of an unofficial Anthem in this country.

Here are his tour dates for The Smith Family Theater:

May 9, 2008
May 18, 2008
May 23, 2008
June 20, 2008
July 10-11, 2008
July 18, 2008
July 24, 2008
August 1, 2008
August 8, 2008
August 15, 2008
August 22, 2008
August 30-31, 2008
September 5, 2008
September 11-12, 2008
September 21, 2008
September 27, 2008
October 3, 2008
October 9-10, 2008
October 19, 2008
October 24, 2008
October 30-31, 2008
November 5, 2008
November 14 and 16, 2008
November 21, 2008
November 28, 2008
December 3, 2008
December 12, 2008
December 29, 2008

While visiting Pigeon Forge and enjoying the Lee Greenwood Show, you'll need a place to rest and relax. Thankfully, there is discount Pigeon Forge hotels available making every piece of your visit easy and budget friendly. Make your reservations early!

Information courtesy of WBIR-TV

Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass Event Serves Up Family Fun

Sevierville’s fourth annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass will take place May 16-17,
2008. This family-friendly event will once again bring barbeque cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville as they compete for $20,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion.

Rounding out the event is toe-tapping bluegrass music, incredible arts and crafts, kids’ games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton. With so many exciting things to see and do, this event is one you’ll want to attend!

Friday night (May 16), take a little time to visit with the barbeque cook teams you’ve seen on cable channels like the Food Network as you stroll through the “Que Zone.” Championship barbeque tastes best when eaten in a comfortable place with great music, so have a seat in the Eating Tent, which will feature a variety of shows throughout the event. Then make sure you bring a lawn chair or blanket for the free bluegrass concerts with rising stars like Cadillac Sky and Bradley Walker and well known legends Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and Marty Stuart.

Saturday morning (May 17), start the day early with the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union Kids' Que where children ages 6-16 cook chicken to win cash and trophies. Then stay to watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats and then stay for the announcement of winners at 4pm. During the competition the teams will cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, 5 pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams will receive recognition in Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket as well as specialty categories like “Anything Bush Beans”, “Anything Wampler’s Farm Sausage”, Sauce and Dessert.

An expanded Kids’ Zone and the Bluegrass Music Tent, sponsored in part by The Music Outlet, add fun and enrichment for the kids and families who attend Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass. The Kids’ Zone includes attractions like climbing walls, bounce houses and old-time toys while the Bluegrass Music Tent gives kids (and kids at heart) the chance to touch and play bluegrass instruments such as banjos, fiddles and more (don’t worry, instructors will be on site to help). Both of these attractions will be open until 9pm each day of the event.

A highlight of Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is the 4th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals held on May 17. Finalists from around the nation will sing their hearts out for a chance to win prize money, a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee and a guitar autographed by Dolly Parton. This competition, the only one of its kind that festival organizers know of, honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton. Competitors, male and female, must sing a song written by Dolly Parton (there are over 3,000) and do so in their own style (rock, rap, country, bluegrass, swing, soul, etc.).

Admission and concerts are free.

After feasting on delicious barbeque and enjoying great entertainment, swing by Pigeon Forge for even more fun. Pigeon Forge Hotels also offer the best in lodging, and are a easy option for visitors to the Bloomin' Barbeque and Bluegrass.

Travel to Pigeon Forge for a Smoky Mountain Christmas

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg celebrate the holiday season with the starts of Smoky Mountain Winterfest. Over five million lights are aglow on the Parkway, from Sevierville to Gatlinburg. Plenty of magical Christmas scenes and seasonal spirit fill the atmosphere, creating a unique and truly memorable Smoky Mountain Christmas.

This is a great time of year to enjoy southern hospitality with spectacular holiday shows & entertainment steeped with tradition. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas turns into a winter wonderland, complete with Christmas shows, holidays foods and thrilling rides. Back by popular demand is the Babes in Toyland production, a fascinating and beautiful show featuring acrobatics and seasonal music. They offer several musical and theatrical productions as well as their famous "Carol of the Trees." This show is a pyrotechnic and light show synchronized to holiday music. The Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival at Dollywood is a celebration treasures tradition and invites your family to create a treasure of your own.

Spectacular holiday shows and entertainment can also be found in Pigeon Forge Theaters. The Smith’s Christmas Show, Country Tonite Christmas Show, and Rock and Roll Christmas Show provide an atmosphere of song and dance that is sure to get every member of the family in the Christmas spirit. Whether country tunes, gospel hymns or old time rockin’ songs are your favorite, these show will have something to please you!

The attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a great way to relax, explore and have fun. They’re also a great way to see the dazzling lights displays. A Holiday Tour of the Lights can be had at Scenic Helicopter Tours in Pigeon Forge, while guests in Gatlinburg can get an aerial view of the lights on an Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway. Gatlinburg attractions include a variety of Ripley’s Believe It or Not attractions, including a museum, haunted house, mini-golf and movie rider. They make a great escape for families in need of some quick fun!

There is a Trolley of Lights that can also be takes advantage of. The trolley will take you on a magic tour of the twinkling lights and festive displays. Also be sure to check out the incredible deals at the Pigeon Forge Shopping Malls. The outlet stores are a great place to stock up on gifts and the quaint, boutique shops will allow you to purchase that something special for that special someone.

Lodging in the Smoky Mountains is also a favorite part of the Smoky Mountain experience. A cabin in the forest can create the perfect environment for memories that will last forever. Between the scenic views and luxurious amenities, you and your family will feel right at home. There are plenty of Pigeon Forge hotels and Gatlinburg lodging properties to choose from too, so everyone can find something to fit their budget.

A holiday getaway to the Smoky Mountains is a treasured trip that will create memories that last a lifetime. Begin your holiday planning today!