Sevierville’s Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass is celebrating its 6th year with exciting new events and a great entertainment line-up. Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass is an award-winning International Festival & Events Association event.
The event will be held May 14 & 15, 2010, and will feature delicious barbeque, talented bluegrass legends, free concerts, kid’s activities and tons of family fun.
The fun begins Friday, May 14, and the entertainment line-up includes Brand New Strings (5pm), Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier (6:30pm) and Blue Highway (8pm). There will also be a mascot parade and dance competition Friday evening, as well as Knoxville TVA Credit Union Kids’ Que.
On Saturday, May 15, the entertainment line-up includes Mountain Ruckus (1pm), Audie Blaylock (2pm, 4pm), Darrell Webb (3pm, 5pm), Tony Rice Unit (6:30pm) and The Dan Tyminski Band (8pm). The Dan Tyminski Band is best known for the song “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” The 6th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals will be held on Saturday. Competitors from around the nation will sing their best to win prize money, a recording session in Nashville, and guitar autographed by Dolly Parton. This compETITION honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton and all competitors must perform and song written by Dolly Parton in whatever style they choose.
Other activities that will be available throughout the event include The Bluegrass Music Tent where kids and kids at heard can touch and play bluegrass instruments like the banjo and fiddle with instructor’s on-hand. This attraction will be open until 9pm each day of the event.
The barbeque portion of this event brings barbeque cook teams from across the nation to compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes. The hours of operation are 5pm-10pm May 14 & 10am-10pm May 15. A few of the competitors include Late Night Whiskey Smokers, Rocky Top Rib Runners, Bubba’s Backyard BBQ, The Rolling Bones and Pharm boys BBQ.
The Smoky Mountains are gearing up for another season of great car shows, starting with the Grand Spring Rod Run April 15-18. The streets of Pigeon Forge will fill with beautiful cars, bikes and antique automobiles. Visitors flock to view the custom designs and beautiful restoration jobs done on these pristine vehicles.
The full line-up of Pigeon Forge Car Shows in 2010 is as follows:
Spring Grand Rod Run April 15-18 Grand Resort Hotel Convention Center
Rumble in the Hills Motorcycle Rally April 30-May 2 Grand Resort Hotel Convention Center
Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament Lures Anglers to Pigeon Forge
Rocky Top Outfitters is hosting the 11th Annual Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament Saturday, April 3 & Sunday, April 4, 2010 in Pigeon Forge. Over 10,000 trout will be stocked in over 20 miles of streams prior to this 2-day event, creating a tournament that’s fun for adults, children, visitors and locals.
The time for Saturdays event is sunrise – 4pm and the time for Sundays event is sunrise – 2pm.
The tournament features over $10,000 in cash & prizes. There will be a $500 giveaway for the largest trout, $500 for the smallest trout and plenty of gift certificates, trophies, fishing equipment, amusement passes, hotel stays and more will be given away!
Tennessee Shindig Hosts 5th Annual Western Jamboree
Official Press Release from Tennessee Shingdig:
Tennessee Shindig is proud to present “Tennessee Saddle Up Shindig!” on February 26th and 27th in Pigeon Forge. It’s the theater’s 5th Annual western jamboree they hold every year in conjunction with the city’s “Saddle-Up! Celebration,” of which they are a proud sponsor.
The jamboree will be held each night at 7pm and will feature two acts for two nights. Tennessee residents will enjoy $10 off the regular admission price. Tennessee Shindig is also teaming up with the Wood Grill Buffet to offer a combo dinner option. Guests may enjoy $10 off the show admission AND get $5 off the regular dinner buffet price for the Wood Grill. Valid ID is required.
The Tennessee Shindig band will be performing Western music and humor along with the jamboree’s 2010 headliner Riders in the Sky. Easily the most recognizable Western music act, Riders in the Sky are modern-day icons for branding Western music with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit. They are two-time Grammy award winners for “Woody’s Round Up” in Pixar’s Toy Story 2 and for Pixar’s album “Monster’s Inc. – Scream Factory Favorites.”
The Riders have made over 5,400 concert appearances in all 50 states and 10 countries, appearing in venues everywhere from Carnegie Hall to TNN, as well as a Saturday morning series on CBS. Their animated likenesses have shared the screen with Daffy Duck on the Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channel’s Stanley.
They wrote the musical score for Pixar Animation’s 2002 Academy Award-winning short “For the Birds.” They also composed the theme song for the internet cartoon show “Thomas Timberwolf” by renowned Bugs Bunny creator Chuck Jones.
The Riders are members of the Grand Ole Opry, Western Music Association’s Hall of Fame, the Country Music Foundation’s Walkway of Stars and the Walk of Western Stars, and they have won Western Music Association’s “Entertainer’s Of the Year” six times, and won “Traditional Group of the Year” and “Traditional Album of the Year” multiple times.
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.
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.
Outdoor Enthusiasts Gear Up for Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge
Official Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism Press Release:
More than 230 programs, almost 60 hikes, more than 150 expert presenters and dozens of volunteers are ready for outdoor enthusiasts to arrive for the 20th presentation of Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 9-16, in Pigeon Forge.
Wilderness Wildlife Week is an eight-day extravaganza of talks, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on classes about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other outdoor topics. Some people attend just for the opportunity to hoot like an owl on an “owl prowl.”
The City of Pigeon Forge stages the event, and all activities are free.
Indoor programs are at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center. Transportation to and from all hikes and excursions is from the convention center, too.
The first day’s schedule of 27 programs includes a four-hour nature photography workshop, a talk about the history of LeConte Lodge, a session about fishing in the Smokies and a special children’s program about comparing human senses and abilities to those of wild animals. Almost 20 programs designed for children are spread through the week.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson is scheduled to give opening remarks, and the first day will end with a photography show from Ken Jenkins, the originator of the idea for Wilderness Wildlife Week.
A new program for 2010 is the Listening Post, a project of the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association. Wilderness Wildlife Week guests are invited to share a story with a storyteller and receive a free recording of that tale. The Listening Post will be open from 2-4 p.m. daily.
Children Programs Added to Wilderness Wildlife Week Pigeon Forge
Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge appeals to outdoorsmen and nature lovers, but its also a great event for children. The eight day event, scheduled for January 9-16, 2010, pays homage to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is the events 20th year and the activities are all absolutely free.
The Pigeon Forge Wilderness Wildlife Week offers lectures, classes, photography shows, musical performances and demonstrations, all given by about 150 experts who donate their time.
This year, about 20 of the 230 programs offered are specifically for children.
A few of the children-centric programs include:
- Animal Olympics: An interactive program that compares human senses and abilities to those of wild animals. - Oh! Possum: A chance to meet a marsupial. - Those Ain’t Teddy Bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A session about the icons of the Smokies. - Kiddin’ Around: A hands-on introduction to mountain music and instruments for kids. - Wings of America: A live bird show from the American Eagle Foundation.
Wilderness Wildlife Week is part of Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest, a four-month long event that runs from November through February.
20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week set for January in Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge will host its 20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week event January 9-16, 2010. Wilderness Wildlife Week provides visitors with the ultimate Smoky Mountain experience as it is a series of activities that connect Pigeon Forge visitors with the great outdoors and the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
During this event more than 100 experts will be on-hand to share their knowledge of the great outdoors. More than 175 seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops will be available. Also, more than 50 guided hikes and walks will provide visitors will an up-close Smoky Mountain experience with nature. Authentic Smoky Mountain music will also be performed at Appalachiafest, an event that coincides with Wilderness Wildlife Week.
Activities for all ages attract thousands to this event. It has been recognized by the International Festivals & Events Association for its environmental and educational efforts.
More information regarding Wilderness Wildlife Week will be available as the event develops.
Christmas Wonderland Lights Up Sevierville, Tennessee
Shadrack Watersports & RV have brought Christmas Wonderland to the Smokies Stadium in Sevierville, Tennessee located just minutes from Pigeon Forge. The lighting spectacular , which began November 6th, is one of America’s largest drive-through, fully computerized LED light shows.
Hundreds of thousands of lights are included in this perfectly synchronized show filled with holiday tunes. The entire drive-through spectacular is nearly one mile in length and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium presented by Shadrack will continue through January 2, 2010. Hours of operation are 6pm-10pm daily. Admission is $10 per car Monday-Thursday, $15 per car Friday-Sunday, $20 per Activity Van, $30 per Limo and $65 per bus. Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve are weekend rates.
AdventureCon comes to Pigeon Forge October 24 & 25, 2009. This event is best known for the dozens of celebrity and comic guests it hosts every year. It gives fans the ultimate opportunity to meet and greet their favorite stars. Celebrities in attendance participate in autograph sessions and discussion panels. AdventureCon 2009 will be held at the Grand Resort Hotel Convention Center. Doors open Saturday at 10am and remain open until 7pm. Sunday hours are 10am-5pm. Tickets are $20 per day, or $30 for both days.
There are a variety of celebrity guests scheduled to appear. John Schneider, who is best known for his role as Bo Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard, will be on hand, as will the General Lee, one of the most famous cars in television history. Micky Dolenz, a famous member of The Monkees, is also scheduled to appear, along with Kevin Nash, the wrestling superstar from WWE & WCW, as are TNA wrestling stars SoCal Val & Traci Brooks. Jason Mewes, who is best known as Jay from the Jay & Silent Bob duo from movies like Clerks, Dogma and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back will also be making an appearance.
Other celebrity guests include Brian Steele (Hellboy), Doug Jones (Silver Surfer from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), Ola Ray (Thriller Music Video), Camden Toy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), David Barclay (Star Wars), Maria De Aragon (Star Wars), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Derek Mears (Friday the 13th), William Forsythe (The Devils Rejects) and Daeg Faerch (Rob Zombies’ Halloween). Motormaster, one of the brutal does in the first generation of Transformers, will also be at AdventureCon.
Comic guests include Scott Blair, Tom Feister, Kevin Leen, Richard Green, Tom Nguyen, Brett Pinson, Steve Scott and Joe Staton.
A costume contest is also planned at 3pm, October 24th. Guests are encouraged to transform themselves into their favorite hero or villain. Registration must be complete by 1:30pm that day. DTK will perform a tribute to Kiss on the Grand Stage at 5pm on Saturday, and that night a VIP After Party is planned for 9:30pm. Guests will enjoy karaoke, mingling with their favorite stars, music, drinks and a Guitar Hero Showdown. Terry Evanswood, star of Magic Beyond Belief in Pigeon Forge, will perform at 12:30pm on Saturday.
The Duggar Family Illuminates Pigeon Forge's Winterfest
Official Press Release from Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism:
Twenty special guests will help Pigeon Forge kick off the 20th celebration of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. Collectively, they are the Duggar family from TLC’s “18 Kids and Counting” reality show.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 18 natural-born children—plus one on the way—will flip the switch to illuminate millions of lights and start the four-month winter event that runs through Feb. 28, 2010.
The grand illumination will conclude an opening event at the city’s Patriot Park on Nov. 5 (Thursday) at 5:30 p.m.
Pigeon Forge Winterfest, which transformed winter from a quiet season to one of the city’s busiest, is a Top 100 Event in North America, according to the American Bus Association.
Expansive and elaborate Winterfest light displays are located throughout the city. More than five million lights are used, and several displays—including the celebration’s signature snowflakes along the Parkway—have been fitted with energy-saving LED bulbs.
Dollywood enhances the first two months of Pigeon Forge Winterfest with Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, a two-time winner of the Golden Ticket Award for the nation’s best theme park Christmas event. Dates are Nov. 7-Jan. 2, 2010.
Dollywood adds to Winterfest’s light displays with more than four million lights of its own and the nightly Lighted Christmas Parade. Its musical entertainment lineup includes “Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland,” “Christmas in the Smokies” and “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” plus the Polar Express 4-D Experience, a multi-sensory cinematic experience based on the beloved Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.
Pigeon Forge has more than a dozen theaters, and most of them offer special Christmas show segments during November and December. While some do take a post-New Year’s break, several offer their signature shows in January and February.
After the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s, the city continues Pigeon Forge Winterfest with two festivals in January and February:
Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 9-16, 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. Almost 150 experts on nature and outdoor life present programs on many topics, and there are daily hikes and excursions into the national park.
Saddle Up!, a celebration of the American West, returns for its tenth year, Feb. 25-28. It brings some of the best western musicians and cowboy poets to the Smokies for a rare visit east of the Mississippi River. Events include concerts, a chuckwagon cookoff and Cowboy Church.
Pigeon Forge’s popular Trolley Tour of Lights, offered throughout Winterfest, provides a narrated tour of this Smoky Mountains resort town and a chance to see the major displays. 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.
The Pigeon Forge Winterfest Kickoff at Patriot Park is scheduled for November 5 at 4pm. This event officially begins the Christmas season in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and also kicks off the Winterfest events in Pigeon Forge that run through February.
Touring the Pigeon Forge light displays is a favorite visitor activity, and with over 5 million lights to see, there is no better way to get around town than onboard the city’s Trolley Tour of Lights. The Trolley Tour of Lights runs Monday through Friday starting at 6:30pm. The tour begins at the Pigeon Forge Funtime Trolley Station at Patriot Park and costs $5 per person. The trolley, which is climate-controlled, will offer the tour through January 29.
Several Pigeon Forge Shows get into the Christmas spirit as well. When you visit the Pigeon Forge area in the month's of November and December, enjoy these great Christmas shows:
Official Press Release from Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism:
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.
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.
Progress being Made on New Titanic Attraction in Pigeon Forge
Progress on the new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge is advancing smoothly. The 30,000 square foot replica of the Titanic is being built against a mountain backdrop in Tennessee next to the Black Bear Jamboree. The forward half of the ship is being re-created; it exactly half the size of the famous ocean liner that was sunk by an iceberg on its 1912 maiden voyage.
The design of the ship, when complete, will feature a bow that sits in water, giving the illusion that the ship is in fact in water, rather than dry land.
The Pigeon Forge Titanic Museum Attraction is following the design and concept lead of their sister site, which is located in Branson. Each visitor to the Pigeon Forge museum attraction will receive a boarding pass with the name of a real crew member or passenger. At the end of the self-guided tour, visitors will discover if they survived or perished as they view the memorial wall. There will also be interactive attractions like a 28 degree water testing, walk on a ship bridge, shovel coal, send a wireless SOS, touch a fake iceberg and get into a lifeboat that is an exact replica of those used that fateful night. A full size replica staircase is also planned, as is a wireless room, first-class suite and third-class cabin.
The artifacts, of which about 350 will be displayed, came from survivors’ families or auctions. The estimated opening date for the Pigeon Forge Titanic Attraction is April 2010.
Discover Fall in Pigeon Forge. The beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains is hard to describe with words, but the splendor of the reds, yellows and oranges that paint the mountains of the areas is breathtakingly beautiful, and experiencing them is a great way to welcome the Fall season.
The Autumn colors usually peak during the last three weeks of October. The altitude of the mountains affects the foliage schedule, of course. Above 4,000 feet the colors peak about a week earlier than the colors in the foothills. Great color can be found just about anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains, but the area around the Sugarlands Visitor Center is known for its great reds and yellows on its sugar maples and the roads between Gatlinburg and Cades Cove provides plenty of miles of pleasing color.
Auto tours are a good way to experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains this fall as there are a half-million acres to explore. Some of the top rated auto tours include routes from Gatlinburg to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail (10 miles); the Blue Ridge Parkway of Cherokee, North Carolina to Balsam Mountain( 48 miles); and Townsend, Tennessee to Cades Cove (65 miles). To view the autumnal colors of the Smokies by foot, hikes at the Sutton Ridge Overlook, Oconaluftee River Trail, Look Rock Tower, Appalachian Trail and Inspiration Point on Alum Cave Trail are recommended.
One of the reasons the fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains are so beautiful is because of the diversity of the trees found in the park. Some of the native trees providing color include the sweetgum tree. These trees are usually found in the lower elevations and offer brilliant reds, purples, and yellows. Dogwoods are another favorite offering deep reds. They can be found most places below 3,000 feet. The red maple not only gives us beautiful reds, but also yellows. The park has many large red maple trees and can be found in most areas of the park. The sugar maple produces yellows and oranges in fall colors and can be found at 4,000 feet and below. The scarlet oak offers up a fantastic scarlet color and can be found in the lower elevations of the park. Other trees providing color include American beech, yellow birch, mountain maple and pin cherry.
This spectacular time of year is best shared with friends and family. Plan a trip to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg in order to experience the splendor of autumn in the Smokies.
Great Smoky Mountain Auto Fest Rolls into Pigeon Forge
The Great Smoky Mountain Auto Fest is scheduled for September 24-26 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This event is sponsored by The Diner Rats Car Club, Smokies Stadium and The City of Sevierville. It will be located at the Smokies Stadium, home to the Tennessee Smokies baseball team.
The Great Smoky Mountain Auto Fest is open to classics, originals, antiques, street rods and custom cars, as well as specialty vehicles. Gates will open daily at 8am and close at 7pm, with 24 hour police security. A Vendors Row is planned as is a Swap Meet area and a block party bash featuring live entertainment is scheduled in downtown Sevierville.
The awards ceremony for the Great Smoky Mountain Auto Fest will be on Saturday, September 26.
6th Annual Old Mill Square Heritage Day in Pigeon Forge
The 6th Annual Old Mill Heritage Day returns to the Old Mill Square in Pigeon Forge September 19th, 2009. The event is designated as a Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary event this year, and will feature music, food, fun, games, demonstrations, crafts and tradition. Craftsmen will be on hand to demonstrate lye soap making, apple butter making and wheel-thrown pottery.
The activities schedule for the 6th Annual Old Mill Event, which is open from 10am – 5pm, is as follows:
The Old Mill General Store: Free guided tours of the Historic Old Mill are available from 10am – 4pm. An old-fashioned farmers market, honey bee demonstration and crafts will also be available.
Pigeon River Pottery Parking Lot: Music and entertainment, a Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary booth, food selections featuring fried green tomatoes, pulled pork BBQ, coleslaw, hot dogs, pinto beans and cornbread.
The Old Mill Square Parking Lot: An exhibit featuring antique cars, engines and tractors will be on display.
Pottery House Café & Grille Parking Lot: Appalachian children’s games, pumpkin painting, face painting, petting zoo, apple butter making and homemade fried apple pies will be available.
Butler Street and Dixie Darlin’s Parking Lot: Mountain craft demonstrations and artists will be highlighted.
Music and storytelling artists include: Phil Campbell Lonesome Mountain Jimbo Whaley & Greenbriar Van Eaton & Friends And More!
13th Annual World Premiere Gospel Concert Scheduled for Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge will be alive with the sound of music Auguest 24-26 as the 13th Annual World Premiere Gospel Concert will once again take the stage at the Grand Resort Hotel for an exciting show featuring the best of today’s gospel music. The line-up for this years show includes old favorites like Time Lovelace, the New Calvary Echoes, The Old Paths and Hissong, as well as some new groups like Crabb Revival, Weston Hinson & by Faith, and Mike & Kelly Bowling.
The full schedule is listed below:
MONDAY
Driven * Gann Brothers Christian Davis Freemans * HisSong Shadrix Trio Ricky Atkinson & Compassion * Roarks Perfect Heart Christian Brothers on Tour Naomi & The Segos
TUESDAY
Crabb Revival * Diplomats Jerry Bennett Nelons * Tim Lovelace Dalton Gang John's Call * Michael & Delilah Dave McVay New Calvary Echoes The Old Paths
WEDNESDAY
Weston Hinson & By Faith * Next Chapter The Shireys Mike & Kelly Bowling * The Maharreys Mitchel Jon The Webb Family * The Supernals Anchormen Heirline New Jerusalem
5th Annual StringTime in the Smokies Scheduled for August
The 5th annual StringTime in the Smokies, an event that celebrates bluegrass music, is scheduled for August 14-15 in Pigeon Forge. The event is being held at The Old Mill Square (at Patriot Park – Traffic Light #7 in Pigeon Forge.) StringTime will include performances by Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, The SteelDrivers and many others. Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper consists of four stand out musicians in the bluegrass and field and were chosen best instrumental band in 2007 and 2008 by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
The concerts begin at 5pm. Jam sessions will start after 7pm on Saturday and Sunday, so bring your instrument if you want to join in on the fun!
Admission to the event is free and beverages and food will be available during the StringTime sessions.
Dukes of Hazzard featured at Smoky Mountain Fan Fest
The first annual Smoky Mountain Fan Fest is scheduled for July 18 & 19, 2009 at the Smokies Stadium in Sevierville, Tennessee, just a couple of minutes north of Pigeon Forge. Fan Fest will feature cast members from Dukes of Hazzard, including: Catherine Bach (Daisy,) Ben Jones (Cooter,) James Best (Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane,) Sonny Shroyer (Enos,) Rick Hurst (Cletus,) Byron Cherry (Coy,) and Don Pedro Colley (Sheriff Little.) Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster on The Munsters will also appear, along with a vintage automobile used in the show.
The 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz is this year, and in honor of that anniversary Margaret Pellegrini, one of the munchkins from the film, will be at Fan Fest. Margaret played two roles in the movie: she was one of the sleepy heads in the birds nest and also one of the girls who wore a flower pot hat.
A concert featuring country music legend Merle Haggard is scheduled for Saturday night. He will be accompanied by Janie Fricke and Cooter’s Garage Band.
The Dukes Cast, Butch Patrick, and Margaret Pellegrini will be selling autographs and memorabilia Saturday and Sunday. There will also be entertainment and activities throughout both days, including a children's area.
One-day or two-day tickets are available. You may also choose between general admission or a reserved seat for the concert on Saturday night. Children 11 and under will receive FREE general admission. (Limit two children free, per paying adult. Reserved Seats for children at concert are available for $10.00 each and must be ordered by phone only.) Call (865) 286-2300 for tickets.
Pigeon Forge Celebrates 4th of July at Patriot Park
Pigeon Forge is celebrating the 4th of July Holiday with their Patriot Festival, located at Patriot Park.
The July 4th Entertainment Line-Up is as follows:
TWIRLING MEDALLION MAJORETTE AND DRUM CORP (1:00pm)
Visiting from Virginia, Tina Hughes’s Baby Doll, Tiny Tot, Junior, & Senior Majorette Groups, and Drum Corp will be performing in Patriot Park at Patriot Festival.
PIGEON FORGE COMMUNITY CHORUS (3:45pm) Pigeon Forge Community Chorus consists of over 40 members from Pigeon Forge and the surrounding areas. The chorus is under the direction of Dr. Deborah Hicks, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Professional Entertainment Program from Walter State Community College. The chorus will be performing a medley of patriotic and gospel music.
HOMER HART (4:30pm) Homer Hart is an aspiring country artist from Knoxville, TN. A trip to the 2005 CMT Awards show provided Hart with the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names in country music, a jam session with Jason Aldean’s band “The Three Kings”, and an offer to help record his first album at Big Records in Nashville.
GRAND MAJESTIC THEATER’S “SWING TIME” CAST (5:15pm) The “Swing Time” cast will be performing their Military Tribute to our Armed Forces and the National Anthem at this year’s Patriot Festival. “Swing Time” is the Musical Dance Production at The Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN. Their heart warming and fun filled story takes you through the Swingin' Big Band sounds of the 40's with hits of Glenn Miller, Judy Garland and the Andrew Sisters all the way to the Rock and Rollin' years of the 50's with the classics by none other than Elvis and Buddy Holly.
THE TEMPTATIONS REVUE (5:30pm) The Temptations recorded over 50 albums...with 50 pop and 51 R&B singles in the top ten! They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in1989 and in 1990, four of the original lead singers joined with Nate Evans, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with "Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions", to form the Temptations Revue, traveling throughout the world receiving the same recognition as they did in the group's heyday. Today, Nate Evans is joined with Ritchie Stanley, Greg Lee, Curtis Taylor and Reggie Reed to bring the music of the ages straight to Pigeon Forge! Enjoy Nate, The Temptations' timeless tunes, some special guests and a few wonderful stories from the history of Motown at the all new Smoky Mountain Theater.
SARAH DARLING (6:15pm) Sara is an up and coming country music artist, originally from Iowa. She’s a farm girl in florals, a riverbank girl with a poet’s soul, a deeply introspective writer with a childlike curiosity, not to mention a sophistication and maturity in her songs far beyond her 25 years.In 2003, Sarah auditioned for an E Network reality show called “The Entertainer,” hosted by veteran Vegas showman Wayne Newton. She finished in the top three. Sarah also did modeling and appeared in a number of country music videos, with Kellie Pickler, Joe Nichols, David Ball, and Big & Rich. Sarah was discovered by Black River Records through her MySpace page with her song “Stop the Bleeding.”
JOHN BERRY (7:00pm) John Berry has one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in country music. He has a stunningly rich, majestic tenor that he uses to its full effect. With multiple gold and platinum albums and nominations from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the Grammy's, Berry has clearly forged an appreciation from the music industry and fans alike. Berry has charted nineteen songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One single "Your Love Amazes Me" from 1994 and six additional Top Ten hits: "What's In It for Me", "You and Only You", "Standing on the Edge of Goodbye", "I Think About It All the Time", "Change My Mind, and "She's Taken a Shine".
CLASSIC ROCK ALL STARS (8:15pm) The Classic Rock All-Stars is a supergroup composed of hitmaking artists in the 1960s and 1970s. Its lineup: Pete Rivera: Original drummer and lead singer for Rare Earth Dennis Noda: Bass guitarist for Cannibal and the Headhunters Jerry Corbetta: Keyboardist for Sugarloaf Mike Pinera: Lead singer of Blues Image and guitarist for Iron Butterfly and Alice Cooper Collectively, these musicians have been a part of hits such as "Green-Eyed Lady", "School's Out", "Poison" "The Garden" (w/ Guns N' Roses), "I Just Want to Celebrate", "Get Ready", and "Land of a Thousand Dances." The Classic Rock All Stars will have an outstanding lineup of high-energy classic rock hits everyone is sure to remember.
FIREWORKS! (9:45pm) The night sky will light up with a dazzling array of fireworks, creating a stunning end to the Patriot Festival.
The Great Smoky Mountains are celebrating their 75th year as one of America’s National Parks. After being established in 1934, the Smoky Mountains have become the most visited national park with over 9 million visitors annually. Located near the beautiful towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, the park easily provides vacationers with a mix outdoor fun and nearby entertainment, including Pigeon Forge’s Dixie Stampede and Dollywood.
The 800 square mile park - about 187,000 acres – has a lot to explore, which can be done in a variety of ways. Auto touring is a favorite for many, as travelers can see gorgeous views of the wilderness from Highway 441. There are also plenty of scenic stops and flowing creeks to stop at, which make auto touring a relaxing way to take in the beauty of the area. Hiking in the Smoky Mountains is also a favorite activity and with over 150 official hikes to choose from, there is enough to see and do in the Great Smoky Mountains that visitors come again and again to see more of the scenic area.
The 75th Anniversary Smoky Mountain Celebration is presenting several events and activities. Here’s what’s happening this spring:
Music of the Mountains: Scheduled for March 28th, this event celebrates the Appalachian heritage of this area and the music it has created. There are six performances scheduled throughout the day, with the event commencing at 6:30pm with a concert by Jimbo Whaley.
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage: This week-long event takes place April 22 – April 26. It is an educational event geared towards informing participants on the flora, fauna, and culture of the park. Headquartered at Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg, the event costs $20 for one day or $40 for two more days for adults. Students are $10 for one or more day and children 12 and under are free.
National Junior Ranger Day: This free event is scheduled for April 25 from 10am – 2pm. Children and their families can join in a variety of free hands-on activities that range from searching for salamanders to making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop. Historic toy making, weaving, wildflower searches, and other natural and cultural opportunities will be available.
Cosby in the Park: On May 16th, this free event will be open to the public from 10am – 4pm. This event spotlights the Cosby community, which is partially located in the Great Smoky Mountains. This event features old-time mountain music, storytelling, old-fashioned children's games, and traditional crafts.
Great Smoky Mountains Natioanl Park 75th Anniversary – Oconaluftee: Programs and exhibits will celebrate Smoky Mountain life from the Cherokee through park establishment on June 15. A ground breaking ceremony will symbolically initiate the construction of a new Oconaluftee Visitor Center and history cultural museum.
Battle of Burg Hill- Civil War Re-enactment: A Civil War Re-enactment and Living History Days of the historic Battle of Burg Hill, the only Civil War skirmish in Gatlinburg. Join hundreds of Civil War historian re-enactors camping and living as was done in 1865. Witness a battle between the Blue and Gray with infantry and canons. Learn the history and experience Civil War living first hand. Educational and entertaining for the entire family. This event is scheduled for June 19-21.
Dinner on the Grounds: Cliff Dwellers Gallery will host 'Dinner on the Grounds' as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Park. Dinners will be based on a typical 1930's Sunday noon meal similar to one served at the Wonderland Hotel at that time. Dinner will be served on Sunday, July 5, 2009 from 11 am to 3 pm. The charge will be the 1930's price of 35 cents plus a donation to the Park ($5.00 suggested minimum). This is the last of three 'Dinner on the Grounds.' Celebrate our country's 4th of July & the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, Before and after the Creation of the Park: Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, before and after the Creation of the Park" is a feature exhibition of the East Tennessee Historical Society. Through historical works of art, the exhibition highlights the lives and artistic expression of artists both local and visiting who chose the Great Smoky Mountains as their subject. This exhibit begins July 20 and runs through October 4.
Stringtime in the Smokies: A musical celebration of Appalachian life with a variety of well-known performers appearing throughout the event. Featured music will include traditional, bluegrass, and Americana styles with an emphasis on bluegrass. Activities for youngsters are on-site, along with excellent festival foods. This event is scheduled for August 14 & 15.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary - Park Rededication: On September 2 a rededication of the park, reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic 1940 park dedication speech, will be enacted at the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap. Special invitations to attend the ceremony will be issued accompanied by live broadcasts at the parks gateway communities.
Mountain Life Festival: Join park staff and volunteers on September 19 as we celebrate the fall harvest. The Mountain Farm Museum will be alive with history as demonstrators provide visitors with a glimpse into the past as they make soap, apple cider, sorghum molasses, hominy, music and more.
97th Cherokee Indian Fair: Scheduled for October 6-10, the fair offers an opening parade, midway, fireworks, traditional Cherokee food and competitions that bring out the best of the Eastern Bands basket makers, carvers, quilters, gardeners and more.
Sawin' in the Smokies: Scheduled for October 17 & 18, this event will be a fall festival centered around a 10 event lumberjack and Chainsaw carving competition with auction. The lumberjack event will also be this years US national "Single Buck"(Cross-Cut saw) Championships. In addition, there will be storytellers, bluegrass music, and arts and crafts vendors. There will be pig catching contests for the children, along with pony rides, a mini petting zoo, and hayrides all weekend. Ample parking, restrooms, and concessions will be available. the event is being held in Wears Valley Tn,in a very nice old field, with the mountains, Cove Mountain in particular, towering above and all around.The chainsaw carvers will carve a "masterpiece" and have 2 seperate hour long "quick carves" with all work to be auctioned for charity.
Thanksgiving in the Mountains: Scheduled for November 23 - 29, Fontana Village will bring together all the food and activities that make Thanksgiving in the mountains what it is with cooking seminars by local chefs using locally grown and indigenous plants and meats, family fun and activities, arts & crafts, music and entertainment throughout the Village.
Festival of Christmas Past: 2009 will mark the 34th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration, to be held Saturday, December 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is free to the public. The popular event is a celebration of Christmas and winter in the Smokies. Around Christmas time, people gathered in churches, homes, and schools, and many of them celebrated the holiday through music, storytelling, and crafts. The Festival of Christmas Past lets us pause and remember some of these traditions. The festival will include old-time mountain music and Old Harp singing, as well as demonstrations of traditional domestic skills such as the basketmaking, quilting, spinning, and apple butter making.
Holiday Homecoming: On Saturday, December 19, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a holiday homecoming at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Mountain Farm Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and will include an exhibit on Christmas in the mountains in the past. Hot cider and cookies will also be served. The Davis/Queen farmhouse at the Mountain Farm Museum will be open for visitors to walk through and park staff and volunteers will provide demonstrations and music.
For a complete schedule of 75th Anniversary Events, click here.
Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival - Pigeon Forge 6/4 - 6/6: Activities from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily Nominal admission charge for adults, children free. Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival will feature traditional mountain stories, Jack tales, and other mountain heritage/history stories with an emphasis on youth storytelling, along with nationally known storytellers. The event will again be the leading event in the U.S. for youth storytellers as National Youth Storytelling Showcase is permanently headquartered in Pigeon Forge, bringing young storytellers from across the nation.
Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival - Townsend 06/05 - 06/06; 9:00am--5:00pm; Admission is Free The Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival, June 5 & 6 2009, brings together over 30 talented potters from the Smokies and beyond. This is a juried show that highlights fine pottery in many styles. Visitors have the opportunity to meet the artisans, see them work, and purchase unique wares--from functional bowls, place settings, mugs, and vases to distinctive sculptures. Special activities include demonstrations of wheel-throwing, hand-building, and Raku firing. In the Children's Tent, families can try to make a pot or create a clay animal. Guest potters will be on hand to show their techniques, and the heritage of pottery from Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be illustrated. Music and good food are also part of the event.
National Trails Day 2009 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park 6/6/2009 Staging @ 7:30 AM; Work period = 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Picnic @ 5:30 PM Registration= $15.00 per person National Trails Day is observed in the Smokies every year with a day of planned work projects that are performed by volunteers who pay a registration fee to participate. Participants receive coffee, juice & donuts in the morning, then a picnic at the end of the day, as well as a commemorative t-shirt, and a chance to win great door prizes. This annual event brings together folks who love the Smokies, and who want to do help take care of it by performing important trail maintenance work on the Appalachian Trail. This event is jointly coordinated by Friends of the Smokies and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club.
"Dinner on the Grounds"- Gatlinburg 6/7/09 11am - 3pm; Admission is 35 cents PLUS a donation to the Park (minimum $5.00) Cliff Dwellers Gallery will host "Dinner on the Grounds" as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Park. Dinners will be based on a typical 1930's Sunday noon meal similar to one served at the Wonderland Hotel at that time. Dinner will be served on Sunday, June 7, 2009 from 11 am to 3 pm. The charge will be the 1930's price of 35 cents plus a donation to the Park ($5.00 suggested minimum). This is the second of three "Dinner on the Grounds."
Firefly Festival - GSMNP 6/12/2009 10:00 am -- 6:00 pm; Admission is free Come and enjoy music, food and drink, an insect zoo, meet a firefly expert, enjoy meeting a local nature author and more! All while learning about and celebrating the wondrous diviersity of the synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Cades Cove 6/13/2009; Special exhibits and programs will highlight the cultural history of Cades Cove. The finale will be an outdoor performance by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. In order to manage traffic flow and seating, visitors must have a vehicle pass to attend. Passes can be purchased by calling the KSO box office at 865/291-3310. Only two passes will be issued per person.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Park Headquarters 6/14/2009; All day free An open house at Park Headquarters near Gatlinburg, TN will highlight park development, park management activities, park architecture, and the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). An exhibit, "Snapshots of 1934, the Establishment Year of GSMNP." featuring some authentic and some reproduction archival materials including photos, maps, drawings, data sheets, journals entries, and a few small artifacts will be on display in the Sugarlands Training Room.
Battle of Burg Hill - Civil War Re-enactment: Gatlinburg 6/19/2009, 6/20/2009, 6/21/2009; Daytime free Civil War Re-enactment and Living History Days of the historic Battle of Burg Hill, the only Civil War skirmish in Gatlinburg. Join hundreds of Civil War historian re-enactors camping and living as was done in 1865. Witness a battle between the Blue and Gray with infantry and canons. Learn the history and experience Civil War living first hand. Educational and entertaining for the entire family.
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.
Dolly Parton Parade Gets Bigger with Addition of Duggar Family
The Annual Dolly Parton Parade, scheduled for May 8 2009, just got a bit bigger. The Duggar Family, stars of TLC’s “18 Kids & Counting,” has been invited to Pigeon Forge for a week of family fun and participate in the Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade.
The Dolly Parton Parade, which has been going strong for the past 24 years, will be held on a 2-mile stretch of the Pigeon Forge Parkway where fans can see the superstar in all her glory as the Grand Marshal of the parade. This year’s parade has special meaning, as Parton is the official ambassador of the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains Park, and the parade is supposed to reflect that theme. The float Dolly Parton will parade on is always a tightly kept secret, but it never disappoints!
The Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade starts at 6 p.m. on May 8 near Traffic Light #6 and travels north nearly two miles to Traffic Light #3 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive in Pigeon Forge early in order to acclimate to the city and find Parkway space from which to view the parade.
For Pigeon Forge lodging during the Parade weekend, view our selection of guaranteed lowest rate lodging options.
Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass Event Scheduled for May 15-16
The 5th Annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival in Sevierville is scheduled for May 15-16, 2009. This event features delicious southern barbeque, family-friendly activities and free bluegrass concerts. Barbeque cook teams from all over the nation gather in Sevierville, Tennessee to compete for $15,000 in cash & prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion.
On Friday, May 15, guests will want to take time to stroll through the “Que Zone,” where cooks will be preparing their barbeque specialties. The Eating Tent is the place to gather after you pile your plate high, as a variety of entertainment will be available throughout the event. Plus, Summertown Road, Cherryholmes and Marty Raybon will be performing Friday night, at 5pm, 6:30pm, & 8pm respectively.
On Saturday, May 16, a Kids’ Que event takes place for children 6 -16, sponsored by the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union. The championship cook teams will be mastering their BBQ recipes throughout the day, and at 4pm, the winners are scheduled to be announced. Categories include Chicken, Ribs, Pork, Brisket, and specialty categories like “Anything Bush Beans” and Dessert. Performers on Saturday include Mountain Ruckus at 1pm, Barry Scott at 1:50pm & 3:30pm, Charlie Sizemore Band at 2:40pm & 4:15pm, Daily & Vincent at 5pm, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier at 6:30pm and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at 8pm.
Along with Championship Barbeque, the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass event is presenting their 5th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals on May 16. The competition honors Dolly Parton, and participants must sing a song written by Dolly Parton, of which there are more than 3,000, in any style of their choice. The Kids’ Zone also returns this year, and is bigger and better than ever. It will provide climbing walls, bounce houses, and old time toys to play with so fun can be had by those of all ages. The Bluegrass Music Tent will also give kids and adults who are still kids at heart the opportunity to play instruments like banjos & fiddles, all with an instructor on site. Both the Kids’ Zone & the Music Tent will be open until 9pm both Friday and Saturday.
The Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade is set for May 8 2009. This is the events 24th year. The parade honors Pigeon Forge native Dolly Parton, and is especially poignant this year because she is also serving as the official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The parade is usually held in March, but has been moved to May to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days.
The parade will start at 6pm of Friday, May 8. The parade route stretches along the parkway, from Traffic lights 3 through 6. The parade will feature a variety of floats representing high school marching bands, Pigeon Forge theaters, car clubs, cheerleading teams, equestrian clubs and twirlers. The Sevier County High School Band will also perform.
4/2/2009-4/4/2009: Legacy Network – Men’s Conference GRHCC; For more information call 1-800-251-4444
4/4/2009:Belz Outlets Annual Easter Egg Hunt Belz Outlets; For More information call (865) 453-7316
4/4/2009: Chuckwagon Gang & Friends Smoky Mountain Convention Center; For more information call 1-888-319-1021
4/11/2009: Easter Egg Hunt & Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Pigeon Forge Community Center; breakfast at 8:00 A.M. Egg Hunt at 10:00 A.M. 865-429-7373
4/16/2009-4/19/2009: Belz Outlets Truckload Sale Belz Outlets; For more information call (865) 453-7316
4/16/2009-4/19/2009: Grand Spring Rod Run Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center; For more information call 1-800-251-4444
4/17/2009: Fiesta-Val Band and Chorus Competition Music Road Hotel & Convention Center; Spectators Welcome; Free; For more information call (804) 264-8663
4/23/2009-4/24/2009: Conservative Christian Ministries 4th Annual Ladies Retreat in the Smokies Holiday Inn Resort Hotel; For more information contact Connie Harman (276) 964-5663 or visit www.conservativechristianministries.com
4/24/2009-4/26/2009: Gold Wings GRHCC; For more information call 1-800-251-4444
4/24/2009: Fiesta-Val Band and Chorus Competition Music Road Hotel & Convention Center; Spectators Welcome; Free; For more information call (804) 264-8663
4/30/2009-5/3/2009: Shrine FunFest Music Road Hotel & Convention Center; 1-800-429-7700; For more information call (865) 573-1901
A Mountain Quiltfest Event Underway in Pigeon Forge
A Mountain Quiltfest, with annual attendance of more than 20,000 visitors, celebrates its 15th year, March 11-15. Quilters and crafters from across the U.S. gather for a quilt show and more than 65 classes and seminars. An expanded vendor mall and a quilt show featuring more than 300 quilted items will be located at The Music Road Convention Center and The Smoky Mountain Convention Center. An impressive list of quilting experts will instruct organized classes at Music Road Convention Center in Pigeon Forge.
Instructors for the 2009 event include Becky Goldsmith, Klaudeen Hansen, Lynda Milligan, Sally Schneider, Pat Sloan, Nancy Smith, Betty Suiter and Terry White.The newly expanded vendor area will offer a variety of quilt- and craft-related items. Other Quiltfest activities include brunch and dinner lectures, show and tell opportunities, a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sampler Contest, and a special exhibit entitled “Sacred Threads.”
Detailed information regarding classes and seminars is available at mountainquiltfest.com. A Mountain Quiltfest is produced by the city of Pigeon Forge and co-hosted by the Piecemakers and Sevier Valley Quilters Guilds. It is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary sanctioned event.
Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
The Spring Grand Rod Run is the kick-off event to a new season of car shows. Thousands of classic car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains each year.
Pigeon Forge is a popular host to rod runs and car shows. The participants in these car shows are so eager to get the weekend started that the Parkway and hotel parking lots begin to fill with classic cars on Tuesday of that week. The events feature more than just rare and unique autos, though. Throughout the event weekend, visitors can enjoy interactive displays presented by vendors from all over the country. Those who enjoy the mechanical aspects of the auto world will savor the opportunity to participate in workshops and get answers to technical questions. Are you traveling a long way from home for the car shows? A variety of welcoming lodging options are available to delight any visitor, including cabins, hotels, motels and condominiums.
Visitors can spend the day looking over the amazing amounts of cars, trucks, new products and swap meet items. However, at night there are great restaurants, theaters, and attractions like go-cart tracks, putt-putt courses and exhibits to enjoy. Every rod run and car show that Pigeon Forge hosts is an overwhelming success and a great experience for all who attend.
When: April 16-19, 2009
Where: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Participants:30 Days Before Event = $30
Within 30 Days of Event = $40 Vendors: Outside Space (9×16) = $135
Inside Space (10×10) = $155
Sales Corral = $75
For more information about any of the Grand Rod Runs, contact: MCS Promotions at 865-687-3976
2009 North American Country Music Awards in Pigeon Forge
The 2009 North American Country Music Awards in Pigeon Forge is the best place to be for country music lovers. Beginning March 9, NACMA will be featured at the Country Tonite Theater, and will offer a variety of activities geared towards country music lovers. The event runs through March 15.
The reason why the North American Country Music Awards is a weeklong event is because it’s much more than just an awards show. There are all sorts of activities for the family to enjoy, including ones where you can learn the various aspects of country music such as instrument playing, recording a record and television performances. For any country music fan who is interested in the “behind the scenes” elements of country music or for any one hoping to make it big one day, this event is for you!
Formed by Peggy Franck in 1997, NACMA aims to “promote the development of the Country/Gospel Music Industry in each state and country through an International Association to promote and inform members of the industry and the public about resources available in the various states and countries for Country/Gospel Music production.”
The Great Smoky Mountains might seem an odd place for a festival devoted to cowboy poetry, western music and chuckwagon cooking, but Saddle Up! in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., is a certified hit.
The ninth annual Saddle Up!, Feb. 19-22, is on American Cowboy Magazine’s list of the “Top 101 Western Events.”
This celebration of the American West is one of the featured events during Pigeon Forge Winterfest, which enlivens this gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from November through February.
Saddle Up! entertainers include musicians Wylie & the Wild West (the 2008 Cowboy/Western Swing Group of the Year), The Quebe Sisters Band, Juni Fisher, Andy Wilkinson and Andy Hedges, along with cowboy poets Paul Zarzyski, Kent Rollins and Jim Hawkins.
A highlight of the four-day weekend is the Cowboy Symphony featuring Wylie & the Wild West and the Smoky Mountain Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Russell Ramsay. The Cowboy Symphony is Feb. 19 at the Country Tonite Theatre.
Other activities include concerts (both free and ticketed), the Pigeon Forge Chuckwagon Cookoff with more than a half-dozen authentic chuckwagons and competitive cooks, the non-denominational Cowboy Church and a western swing dance .
Concert venues are the Country Tonite Theatre (1,500 seats), the Grand Majestic Theater (1,000 seats) and the Tennessee Shindig Theater (1,150 seats). The dance will be at Music Road Convention Center, the Chuckwagon Cook-off will be at Clabough’s Campground and Cowboy Church will be at Stages West.
Feb. 19 (Thursday):
- Slice of Pure Country Celebrity Breakfast (free chuckwagon sausage, biscuits and gravy and a chance to meet Saddle Up! artists from 8-11 a.m. and a free Cowboy Caffeine Concert from 10 a.m.-noon). Location: Tennessee Shindig Theater.
- Afternoon concert from 1-5 p.m. Location: Grand Majestic Theater.
- Cowboy Symphony from 7-9:30 p.m. Location: Country Tonite Theatre.
Feb. 20. (Friday):
- Dutch oven cooking demonstration from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A chuckwagon lunch will be available for $5. Location: Tennessee Shindig Theater.
- Afternoon concert from 1-5 p.m. Location: Grand Majestic Theater.
- Evening concert from 7-9 p.m. Location: Grand Majestic Theater.
Feb. 21 (Saturday):
- Pigeon Forge Chuckwagon Cookoff from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No fee to observe. Ticket sales for a $5 lunch start at 11 a.m. Location: Clabough’s Campground on Wears Valley Road.
- Afternoon concert from 1-5 p.m. Location: Grand Majestic Theater.
- Evening concert from 7-9 p.m. Location: Grand Majestic Theater.
- Western swing dance starting at 9:30 p.m. and featuring Wylie & the Wild West. Location: Music Road Convention Center.
Feb. 22 (Sunday):
- Cowboy Church, a non-denominational service featuring many of the SaddleUp! entertainers. Location: Stages West.
- Chuckwagon lunch ($5). Location: Stages West.
Admission information: The Thursday afternoon concert is $15. A Friday/Saturday pass, excluding the Cowboy Symphony, is $50. Day passes for either Friday or Saturday are $30.Tickets for Cowboy Symphony are $20. All prices are plus tax. Ages 17 and younger are admitted free.
Advance ticket sales are through the Country Tonite Theater at 1-800-792-4308; in-person purchases begin Feb. 19 at the Grand Majestic Theater. Admission to the dance is $5 per person; ages 17 and younger are admitted free. Cowboy Church is free. Proceeds from the various chuckwagon lunches and the dance benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
On Feb. 19-21, Tennessee Shindig Theater will host a Chuckwagon Jamboree. Information and tickets are available at 888-908-3327.
Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair Scheduled in Pigeon Forge, TN
Southern Gospel fans, mark your calendars for March 16-21. That's when the 5th Annual Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair takes place at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN.
The event brings together more than 100 artists for a six-day event that includes worship services, performances, artist meet-and-greet time with fans, and the SGM Fan Awards and Talent Search.
Artists scheduled to appear include Karen Peck & New River, Aaron & Amanda Crabb, Dixie Melody Boys, Jeff & Sheri Easter, among many others.
The SGM Fan Awards honor Southern Gospel legends, acknowledge accomplishments, and recognize fan favorites. Fans are encouraged to cast their votes on the SGM website. Deadline to cast your vote is February 28.
Independent southern gospel music soloists, duets, trios, quartets and ensembles are eligible to enter the Talent Search There is an entry fee of $100.00. First prize includes a recording package from Millennium Music Group, a professional photo shoot courtesy of Agape Creations Photography, a spot on the Saturday evening concert line up, and more. Deadline to enter is March 1, 2009.
Artists scheduled to appear at the 5th Annual Southern Gospel Fan Fair: (Subject to change without notice)
Monday Darlene Chapman, Gold City, Jeff Treece Band, Kingsmen, Lauren King, Mattingly Family, Michael & Dehlila Kidds, Mike Southerland, Rod Burton, Samaritans, Tim Parton, Triumphant Quartet, Yielded Ministries
Tuesday 3 4 Thee, Dennis Benton, Driven, Glorymen, Homelighters Quartet, Jamie Coulter, Karen Peck & New River, Margaret Ann Smith, Marla Conrad, Nelons, New Direction, Richard Madison, Rick Strickland, Sheila Reed, Steve Roberson, Terry Morgan, Violet Maynard, Watts Family
Wednesday Allegiance, Anchormen, Bev McCann, Bumbaugh Family, Cerces,Destiny's Call, Down East Boys, Gospelaires, Joe & Gina Ables, Keith Caldwell, Kevin Spencer & Friends, Lindsey Reed, Ron Brewer, Shane Tecza, Southern Harmony, Still Water, Tim Lovell, Truly Blessed
Thursday Aaron & Amanda Crabb, Cookes, David Livingston, Expectation, Jamie Coulter, Kirk Talley, Latter Glory, Libby Golden, Luke & Olivia White, Lynn McCarn, Marty Raybon, Nale Family, Naomi & the Segos, Out Of Ashes, Peggy Inks, Shephards, Singing Echoes, Sunday Drive
Friday 2 R More, Baker Family, Barkley Family, Dean Browder, Debbie Bennett, Dixie Echoes, Dixie Melody Boys, English Family Quartet, Eternal Vision, Four Fold, Freemans, Gary Winningham, Hearts Of Faith, Heather Chapple, Hendersons, HisSong, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Kenny & Donna Morss, Naomi & the Segos, Pathfinders, Premier Quartet, Rick Alan King, Steve Wilson, Suwanee River Boys, Tammy Norris, Tony Gore & Majesty
Saturday 4 The Lord, Back Home, Bethels, Brothers Redeemed, Calvary's Hill Quartet, Cavaliers Quartet, Crystal River, Dan Knoch, Eternity's Crossing, Gann Family, Gardners, Graceway, Heartmen Quartet, Heirline, Journey & Faith, Keith Barkley, Paul Family, Roarks, Roy Edwards, Shireys, Silver City, Singing Weavers, Sunday Drive
For a complete schedule of events as well as information about the Fan Awards and Talent Search, visit the Southern Gospel Music Fan Fair website.
The chuckwagon cookoff competitors are serious about their hobby. A fully equipped and authentic chuckwagon can cost in excess of $15,000, so the cooking teams are devoted to preparing top-notch chicken-fried steak, cornbread, biscuits, fruit cobblers and other dishes. They are judged on food, the wagons and the camp set-ups.
The teams are members of the American Chuck Wagon Associations Southeast Chapter, and they'll mosey into Pigeon Forge from Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Florida. Their wagons carry names such as Broken Spoke, Grumpy's Grub, Cow Camp, Ramblin Rose, Fairplay Cattle Co., Yellow Rose and Little Hard Labored Creek.
The chuckwagon cookoff is Feb. 21 (Saturday) 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Clabough's Campground on Wears Valley Road. There's no fee to inspect the chuckwagon camps and to observe the cooking. After the judges get their tastings, lunch will be available for $5; ticket sales begin at 11 a.m., and proceeds benefit Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
Saddle Up! begins Feb. 19 (Thursday). Entertainers include musicians Wylie & the Wild West (the 2008 Cowboy/Western Swing Group of the Year), The Quebe Sisters Band, Juni Fisher, Andy Wilkinson and Andy Hedges, along with cowboy poets Paul Zarzyski, Kent Rollins and Jim Hawkins.
A highlight of the four-day weekend is the Cowboy Symphony, featuring Wylie & the Wild West and the Smoky Mountain Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Russell Ramsay. The Cowboy Symphony is Feb. 19 at the Country Tonite Theatre.
Other activities include concerts (both free and ticketed), a non-denominational Cowboy Church service and a western swing dance.
Concert venues are the Country Tonite Theatre (1,500 seats), the Grand Majestic Theater (1,000 seats) and the Tennessee Shindig Theater (1,150 seats). The dance will be at Music Road Convention Center, and Cowboy Church will be at Stages West.
Other chuckwagon demonstrations and lunches are offered Feb. 19 (Thursday) and Feb. 20 (Friday) at the Tennessee Shindig Theater and Feb. 22 (Sunday) at Stages West.
Admission information: The Thursday afternoon concert is $15. A Friday/Saturday pass, excluding the Cowboy Symphony, is $50. Day passes for either Friday or Saturday are $30. Tickets for Cowboy Symphony are $20. All prices are plus tax. Ages 17 and younger are admitted free.
Advance ticket sales are through the Country Tonite Theater at 1-800-792-4308; in-person purchases begin Feb. 19 at the Grand Majestic Theater. Admission to the dance is $5 per person; ages 17 and younger are admitted free. Cowboy Church is free. Proceeds from the various chuckwagon lunches and the dance benefit Cal Farleys Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
Free Songwriting Seminar Brings Hit Songwriters to Pigeon Forge
Composers of songs for Kenny Rogers, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Wayne and George Strait are among the panelists who will participate in the free Songwriting Seminar@Winterfest in Pigeon Forge.
Tim Johnson, Joe West and Dave Pahanish, the trio responsible for Jimmy Wayne’s number one hit “Do You Believe Me Now,” are panelists.
Johnson has had cuts by Kellie Pickler, Mark Chesnutt, Tracy Byrd, Chris LeDoux and Darryl Singletary. West and Pahanish also co-produced nine of the tunes on Wayne’s album “Do You Believe Me Now.”
Pam Belford, who co-wrote George Strait’s “If I Know Me” and “Holding My Own,” will join the roster of panelists, along with Wood Newton, who has had hits with a Kenny Rogers recording of “20 Years Ago” and the Oak Ridge Boys “Bobbie Sue.”
Newcomers Meg Allison and Joshua Stevens will round out the singer/songwriters on the panel. Allison was in the top 10 of season five of “Nashville Star” and was named the Newest Rising Star of 2008 in Campus Activities magazine’s Reader's Choice Awards.
Stevens is also an alumni of “Nashville Star,” landing in fourth place on the 2007 season. He is newly signed to Robbins Nashville, with his debut single “Rock ‘N’ Roll and Pensacola” released last year.
He has had songs cut by Danielle Peck and Canadian artist Michael Carey. Another of his tunes, “That Could Happen To Us,” was in the Fox movie “Kissing Jessica Stein” and on the soundtrack album for the film.
Industry VIPs on the panels this year include Robbins Nashville label head Phyllis Stark, Warner Brothers Records vice-president of A&R Carole Ann Mobley; and independent songplugger Gayle Richardson who is the owner of OnTrack Entertainment.
Moderators for the panels will be Deborah Evans Price, a freelance journalist based in Nashville who writes for “Billboard” magazine and the Gospel Music Channel, among other outlets; and Hunter Kelly, the Nashville correspondent for ABC New Radio and ABCNews.com.
The seminar is coordinated by Vernell Hackett, a Nashville-based journalist who has interviewed many songwriters and publishers. She had a short story included in the book “Literary Cash” which is loosely based on Cash’s song “Tennessee Flat Top Box.” Hackett also co-wrote a book on Las Vegas ghosts, gamblers and gangsters with Michelle Honick and Liz Cavanaugh, which should be out in 2010.
The seminar, held in conjunction with the City of Pigeon Forge’s Saddle Up! Celebration, will take place at Music Road Hotel & Convention Center. It begins at 9 a.m. on February 21.
Panelists will discuss various aspects of songwriting and publishing and will take questions from attendees in the morning during three different panels. There will be two Song Critique Sessions in the afternoon, as industry professionals listen to songs written by those people attending the seminar.
Attendees should bring a CD with no more than three songs on it, along with the lyric sheets to the songs, and be prepared to play at least one of the songs for the folks who will do the critique sessions. The CDs and lyric sheets will be returned at the end of the sessions.
This is a free seminar sponsored by the City of Pigeon Forge. Those who wish to pre-register may do so by emailing songseminaratpf@bellsouth.net and putting Pigeon Forge Seminar in the subject line. Please include name, city and state, and e-mail address in the body of the email.
Lunch will be available for a nominal cost at the seminar site.
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ds, free concerts, kid’s activities and tons of family fun.
ds, free concerts, kid’s activities and tons of family fun.
