Yearly Archives: 2015

Festival of Nations 2015 at Dollywood

Once again Dollywood kicks off spring in the Smoky Mountains with the Festival of Nations, lasting from March 21 through April 20, 2015. The music, dance and costume of different cultures from around the world are represented in modern and electrifying ways, in unique performances by award-winning, literally world-class acts.

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Images courtesy of Dollywood

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Snow Making at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort

One of the big guns.

One of the big guns.

Ober Gatlinburg is Gatlinburg’s very own ski area, and East Tennessee’s only snow resort. What makes a ski area is snow of course. But what makes the snow? At Ober Gatlinburg, in business for over half a century, the secret of good snow is high technology.

Snow making guns are the hallmark of every ski area in the temperate zone nowadays. Every skier knows that man-made snow has a more granular feel than natural snowflakes, but it’s an important asset for creating a solid base and guaranteeing the times that trails are open. Meanwhile snow makers around the world strive continually to come close to the natural powder that skiers crave. (more…)

February Love & Marriage in the Smoky Mountains

image courtesy of Carles-Witt Events

image courtesy of Carles-Witt Events

February is an especially romantic month in the Smoky Mountains, and that’s saying something, for an area that’s one of the most popular places in the country to get married.

Romance is year round in the Smoky Mountains, but February holds that special Valentine’s Day in its heart, a favorite time to propose marriage. Spring is just around the corner, but it’s still cold and cozy by the fireplace to snuggle, and set the scene for that proposal. (more…)

Carles-Witt Events: Wedding Planners and More

Wedding Planners Extraordinaire: Carles-Witt Events

When you’re planning to get married, that’s exactly what’s involved: planning. Many people turn to a wedding planner to help with the enormous amount of details required to make sure the special day is perfect.

At Gatlinburg Falls Resort, where many couples come to be married in our scenic wedding facility, people often look for help with their wedding, and we always turn to sisters Julie Witt and Janene Carles. Julie and Janene are the owners of Carles-Witt Events, and planners of flawless weddings. (more…)

Freestyle Skiing at Ober Gatlinburg Terrain Park

As the winter wears on, and some people start looking for the colors of spring, folks up on the mountain are in a world of white. January at Ober Gatlinburg means the season – and the snow – are still building up.

Right now the Smoky Mountains’ very own ski resort has 8 of 10 trails open and 3 of 4 lifts. There’s 35 to 45 inches of snow as base, the weather’s cold enough to freeze, and the resort just turned the snow-making guns on Grizzly, the long Black Diamond trail that the more advanced skiers have been eagerly waiting for. (more…)

The 12th Annual Evergreen Ball 2015

image courtesy of Friends of the Smokies

image courtesy of Friends of the Smokies

The 12th Annual Evergreen Ball takes place this Saturday evening, forming a fitting celebration at the end of another year’s Wilderness Wildlife Week.

Organized by Friends of the Smokies, the Evergreen Ball is a way for supporters of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to celebrate and meet friends new and old, over cocktails and dinner, with benefit auctions, and live-music dancing. (more…)

Wilderness Wildlife Week, 2015

Image courtesy of Wilderness Wildlife Week

Image courtesy of Wilderness Wildlife Week

The last week in January marks the time of the 25th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week. Based in LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, the massively popular event is also incredibly huge in scope. Lasting 8 days from Saturday, January 24, 2015 through Saturday, January 31, the event is totally FREE and open to all.

With literally hundreds of experts and talents in practically any field you can think of, conducting hundreds of classes, demonstrations, tours and performances through the week, it is simply impossible not to find something each day that enthralls you. This is perfect family fun, informative and entertaining at the same time. (more…)