There’s quite a sight to see in downtown Pigeon Forge this April 11-13 as the Spring Rod Run comes to town. This event, as in years past, celebrates classic and muscle cars cruising the strip with an all day and late-night street party and festivities. Hundreds of vehicles are expected, giving visitors plenty to see and do.
Posts Tagged: cars
Bluegrass and Hot Rods: September 2018 in the Smokies
Two completely opposite events are happening in the Pigeon Forge area Thursday through Saturday, September 13-15, 2018. There’s the astonishingly muscular Fall Rod Run classic car event in Pigeon Forge, and to the north a little ways in Kodak is the astonishingly musical Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival. Take your choice!
Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup 2018
The 36th Annual Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup happens at Dollywood’s Splash Country Friday and Saturday, September 7-8, 2018. This event takes place each year on the first weekend after Labor Day, and is always a big hit.
Ponies in the Smokies 2018
The Ponies in the Smokies – PITS 2018 – Mustang meetup happens in Sevierville Convention Center Wednesday through Saturday, March 21-24, 2018.
This event celebrates the Ford Mustang, one of America’s favorite sports cars, and one of the longest running production machines since its debut in 1964. This is 4 days of Mustangs and Mountains, and people are excited!
Fall 2017 Muscle Cars and Bluegrass in the Smoky Mountains
High excitement hits Pigeon Forge for the Fall Rod Run happening September 14-16, 2017. It’s 3 days and nights of cruising the strip, and muscle cars everywhere. If you want to take a break to swap muscle for music, at the same time the annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival is on just a few miles to the north.
And that’s not all, because Gatlinburg and Townsend also have some events at the same time, with more live music, lots of food tasting, and even more auto shows! It’s a happening weekend starting on Thursday – read on and we’ll sort it all out for you.
Shades of the Past 2017 – 35th Annual Hot Rod Roundup
The 35th Annual Shades Of The Past Hot Rod Roundup is happening at Dollywood’s Splash Country, September 8-9, 2017.Splash Country closes on Labor Day, and the first weekend following turns the huge parking lot to good use for this massive car show, prize contest and swap meet event.
2017 Spring Rod Run
Pigeon Forge hosts the 35th Annual Spring Rod Run Thursday through Saturday, April 6-8, 2017. It’s a 3-day street party and a showing off of hundreds of fast, custom and very pretty automobiles. People pour into town for the event, with thousands of visitors gazing at the sights on the streets, as proud owners of muscle, motor, chrome and paint practice the great American pastime of Cruisin’ the Strip!

Image courtesy of Dean Brown
Hot Rods and Cool Views in the Smoky Mountains
Ever since days of the moonshiners, when legends emerged about cars so quick that they could outrun the revenuers, automobile culture has been an important part of the Smoky Mountains region. This tradition continues today, as Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding area are home to a variety of popular events and attractions celebrating the power and beauty of American cars.
Fall Rod Run 2016
The street party is back again as Pigeon Forge starts its engines for three days and nights of the 34th Annual Fall Rod Run, Thursday-Saturday, September 15-17, 2016. Some of the fanciest custom wheels in the country gather here for this event, the great American art form known as Cruising the Strip.
The event draws thousands of extra visitors into town, come to mingle in the friendly crowds, and to watch the gleaming chrome and paint jobs slowly driving by.There’s lot of muscle on display too, with plenty of supercharged motors loping at low revs, and straining for the highway.

Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup 2016
It’s the first weekend after Labor Day, which means for the 34th year running, the annual Shades Of The Past Hot Rod Roundup is coming to Pigeon Forge. The event is held again in Dollywood’s Splash Country grounds, Friday and Saturday, September 9-10, 2016.
Hundreds of amazing vehicles with gleaming paint and lots of muscle – and all of a vintage no later than 1972 – will again gather from all over to show off their lines and celebrate some of America’s best cars ever built. There will be multiple awards and a Second Prize of $10,000 – with the First prize again a ’32 Ford Hi-Boy Roadster, custom built by Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop, a famous native Tennessee operation.