September is the month in which we can truly say that Fall is coming. It’s the time of harvest celebration and the turn of the seasons reflected in the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, and in this part of the Smoky Mountains it means bluegrass festivals, auto rallies, scarecrows and pumpkins, beer tasting and lots of food, fun and festivity.
Image courtesy of Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival
Gatlinburg is an ideal location for a family reunion, church retreat or other large group outing. Our area offers a ton of activities and amenities perfect for groups. We have nature activities in beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), fun activities in exciting Pigeon Forge, and enough entertainment options that everyone, from young children to grandparents, can find something enjoyable to do.
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August is a great month for mountain festivals. First off, our annual hot air balloon festival is a local favorite. Car lovers and choose between the Bronco Stampeded or the Jeep Invasion, both held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge. Music lovers can attend the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival or – for a more lively scene featuring hard rock and heavy metal – The Mountain Music Festival. It’s a diverse set of events with something to please everyone.
Dates: August 15-19, 2024
Location: Various venues in Gatlinburg
The Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival brings together some of the best songwriters in the country for a celebration of music and storytelling. This five-day festival features live performances, workshops, and meet-and-greet sessions with award-winning songwriters. Attendees can enjoy intimate acoustic sets in cozy venues throughout Gatlinburg, offering a unique opportunity to hear the stories behind the songs. The festival highlights the art of songwriting and provides a platform for emerging talents to showcase their work.
Website: https://www.gatlinburgsongwriters.com/
The 4th of July holiday is the big attraction this month, with lots of celebrations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and nearby towns. There’s so much to do, many holiday events even start on July 3rd!
There’s also plenty to do all month long. From patriotic celebrations to unique festivals, here’s a roundup of special events that will captivate tourists.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge get a lot of traffic, especially during the summer peak season. Roads through Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be crowded. Likewise, traffic along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge can be bumper-to-bumper on buys weekends.
That’s why it can be useful to know some of the alternative roads to take if the main routes are jammed.
We’re locals, so we know our way around and have developed some tricks to avoid clogged rounds during the busy season.
Here are some of our favorite shortcuts.
The arrival of June brings a world of excitement to the Smoky Mountains, particularly the twin towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a music lover, or searching for family fun, June is packed with something for everyone. Here’s a glimpse of what’s going on this June 2024.
Pontiac aficionados won’t want to miss Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge, an event that brings together over 400 Pontiacs, from classic models to the latest editions. The event includes a car show, a swap meet, and a cruise through the scenic streets of Pigeon Forge. Held at the LeConte Center from May 29 to June 1, 2024, it’s a unique gathering for anyone with a passion for these iconic cars and a perfect opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts.
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April in the Smoky Mountains around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is the month of wildflowers in the millions, all the venues are open, people are arriving for fun, and everything starts popping.
Wildflowers are a big thing here in the Smokies, with literally millions of brightly colored wildflowers springing up all over during April. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is normally so filled with trees and covered with canopy that the forest floor doesn’t see a lot of sun, but in springtime, before the canopy has fully leafed out, the wildflowers get their chance in the sun, for a short window of time.
We see flowers blooming everywhere inside and outside of the park during April, but we see it best each year with the expert guides of the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage taking us on selected tours to the best places and the most stunning sights of these millions of exotic flowers. Registration opened in March, and the magic dates this year are May 1-4, 2024.
The snow melt brings water to the forest floor (the “understory“) for all those wildflowers to wake up, and the waters of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are generally rushing and giving us good waterfalls, and river adventures – and the fishing is good. Music is in the air as special events happen, and the sound of hot rods mingles in too.
April is also the time when the national park announces the viewing dates for the annual synchronous fireflies in June, and the Lottery dates for the limited parking available.
One image courtesy of GSMNP
Here are March events in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, as wildflowers, wildlife and venues all wake up, and cabin deals abound in this less crowded time.- a good time to visit for those who like less crowds but plenty of action.
Photo by Genia Stadler
We’ve had virtual reality for some time, but immersive theaters are fairly new – this is where the screen image moves and so do you, in your moving seat. Immersive technology continues to grow, so this roundup of all the immersive experiences available in the area will expand over time. It’s a moving target – rather like most of the sights and sounds in the immersive attractions.
Here’s a brief roundup of the immersive theaters in the area.
Image courtesy of Ripley’s 5D Adventure
The Smoky Mountains area of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a feast of wonders for homeschooling parents who want to pack a semester’s worth of learning into so much fun that kids will value their education forever. Even better is that many of the attractions also offer homeschool rates.
From the natural wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the museums and attractions of the towns, a trip to Gatlinburg packs in more opportunity for adventure and learning than anyone can take in just in the one trip. That’s why so many people make it a favorite for the kids (and parents) to return to often.
We are the one of largest cabin rental agencies in the Smoky Mountains and have been recognized by Southern Living as the Best Family Resort in the Smokies. We manage over 340 cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Tennessee areas. Visit us today and get over $700 of free attraction tickets with your cabin rental.
