Try some Southern entertainment, Pigeon Forge style, at dinner shows featuring some of the nation’s top performers. Here’s a sample of what to expect. Can the Hatfields and McCoys finally solve their differences after all of these years feuding with each other? Probably not, but one thing is guaranteed – everyone in your family will… Read more »
Billed as the Smokies’ Most Fun Place to Eat, Dolly Parton’s Stampede is a restaurant and show like no other. Watch as 32 magnificent horses and a cast of top-notch riders thrill you with daring feats of trick riding and friendly competition, all culminating in a patriotic salute of Red, White, and Blue! Read more »
Almost everyone knows about the many great music shows that play in theaters in the Smokies, but fewer people are aware that there is plenty of world-class comedy to be found here as well. Check out some of the following options for shows that will have you doubled over in laughter on your next Smoky… Read more »
The towns and theaters of the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains area are home to many types of world-class entertainment, and fantastic magic shows are no exception. Here are some of the most notable and popular magic shows in the area so you can start planning the magical entertainment for your next visit. Impossibilities:… Read more »
Quality entertainment, big laughs and solid productions aptly describe the dinner theater scene down in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. You and your friends and family simply can’t afford to miss some of the top-notch performances you’ll find here. But when it comes to family-friendly comedy, one venue in particular stands out: The Comedy Barn… Read more »
Array is a fast-paced variety show that runs the gamut of specialty acts ranging from comedy to juggling, acrobatics, high-wire, quick-change, ventriloquism, song and dance. The family-friendly show offers a high-energy spectacular with a Cirque de Soleil feel of extravaganza, and the talent is as good as anywhere in the country. Top-rated local performers combine… Read more »
Each year starting in March and going into April, Dollywood stages its month-long celebration of world music, food, culture and entertainment known as Festival of Nations. Reminding us that around the world, “we all smile in the same language,” Dollywood seeks out and hosts top talent acts from different countries in a lavish smorgasbord of… Read more »
Springtime in the Smoky Mountains is a nature lover’s paradise. Two major events occur in April and May, centered around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These are the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, based in the national park close to Gatlinburg, followed by the annual Wilderness Wildlife week, based in Pigeon Forge…Read more »
2025 INFO: A Mountain Quiltfest this year is June 9-12. Most everything is free and open to the public but many things require registration at the website (see below). Registration usually opens in early March. Every year in June, the city of Pigeon Forge plays host to a “quietly spectacular” festival that draws 20,000 visitors… Read more »
In early March of each year, two events occur, usually right together and frequently on the same weekend. You have to choose – or juggle – between magic and comedy, as Gatlinburg hosts a comedy improv festival and Pigeon Forge hosts a magic convention. The Winter Carnival of Magic happens in the world-class setting… Read more »
The springtime period after Easter marks the magical time in Great Smoky Mountains National Park when millions of wildflowers bloom for a brief time, one step ahead of the trees blooming, which will cover the skies above with foliage and plunge the forest floor back into deep shade. The annual Pilgrimage offers expert programs to explore this time…Read more »
The Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival is an annual street festival in the fun town of Seviervile, just up the road from Pigeon Forge. Happening in the latter part of May, it’s a very family-friendly event with kids activities,championship barbecue and world-class bluegrass music. The festival takes place in Sevierville’s historic downtown, and it’s Free… Read more »
Every spring the city of Maryville, TN plays host to one of the most unique events of the year: the Scottish Festival and Games. Held on the historic campus of Maryville College in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this one-of-a-kind festival is a celebration of all things Scottish. It’s fun for the whole… Read more »
You’ll have a hot time in the summertime when visiting Tennessee and that’s because the Smoky Mountains are “smokin’ hot” for two weeks starting in late May with the savory flavors of barbeque and the sizzling sounds of bluegrass at the Dollywood theme park. For two weeks, it’s all aboard for visitors on a nonstop… Read more »
Every year in January or February, Pigeon Forge hosts a week of programs known as Wilderness Wildlife Week. Free and open to the public, the event offers hundreds of experts presenting workshops, seminars, children’s educational and fun activities, and guided hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a celebration of the abundant diversity of… Read more »
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show is Dolly Parton’s latest dinner show attraction in Pigeon Forge, located minutes from Dollywood. As with everything Dolly, the talent is world class, and this show is an extravaganza that will thrill kids and keep the whole family spellbound throughout the performance. One ticket to the attraction pays for admission… Read more »
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge offers a comfortable stadium to view plenty of action, skill, and entertaining activities up-close in a fun-friendly environment. With an energy-packed atmosphere, a climate controlled stadium, exciting lumberjack-themed competitions, and audiences…Read more »
Are you in the Pigeon Forge area looking for a tasty meal with a side of entertainment? The Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show has you covered. The theater breaks the mold for this historic old town, blending Southern charm, slapstick entertainment, and of course a side of murder and sleuthing. Dinner… This theater… Read more »
Biblical Times Dinner Theater presents immersive shows based on Biblical stories, engaging the audience through the accurate retelling of classic Bible tales and persons, uplifting and enlivening through world-class sound and visual effects.The theater brings Bible stories to life in fun and creative ways the whole family can appreciate at any age. The characters and… Read more »
UPDATE: The Museum is now permanently CLOSED. Floyd Garrett passed away in November, 2021, after a lifetime devoted to cars. He was a very friendly man, and had one of the finest auto museums in the country. It was a classy ride. If you love the old American muscle cars it’s worth taking a run… Read more »
Meet the Hatfields and the McCoys in their very own dinner show. They’ve been a-feudin’ fer decades now, but this time they’re doing it for your whole family’s entertainment! Can you help them finally settle their differences? That’s not too likely to happen, but at least you’ll have fun while trying. Good ol’ John Boy… Read more »
A great theater with 3 high energy, rousing dinner shows of song, dance and comedy for the whole family. America’s Hit Parade – hit songs of the 50’s thru 80’s. Soul of Motown – the signature sound that became an instant world hit. Hazzard County Hoedown – characters and antics from the famous TV show…Read more »
When you think of your favorite hit musicians, the chances are good that Memories Theatre has at some point featured performers who provide stunning tribute renditions of their greatest numbers. Elvis never left, he just moved to Memories Theatre in Pigeon Forge, home of the longest running show on the Parkway, now 27 years old… Read more »
2024 INFO: The Park Service provides updated information here. The Lottery for a parking pass to view the Synchronous Fireflies is open April 26 – April 29 and you can register for the lottery here. Lottery results will be announced on May 7. The Firefly Viewing dates are June 3 – 10. 2024 UPDATE: If you… Read more »
Independence Day is such a special occasion that it deserves more than one day of celebration, and for over 40 years the town of Gatlinburg has been treating residents and visitors to a Fourth of July event that kicks off at the stroke of midnight on the night of the 3rd. The First Independence Day… Read more »
One of the most engaging attractions of summer in Gatlinburg is the annual street-performing Tunes & Tales event, which runs for almost two months and features musicians and performers at large on the streets of Gatlinburg, entertaining downtown Parkway strollers with bluegrass music for free every evening. Tunes & Tales usually starts in late June… Read more »
Gatlinburg ziplines feature some of the longest and best courses you’ll find anywhere. Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer exhilarating ziplining experiences that will leave your heart pounding and your spirit soaring. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a nature enthusiast, ziplining across the lush landscapes of this region is an adventure like no other. If… Read more »
Ober Mountain is Gatlinburg’s own ski resort, and one of Tennessee’s top attractions. A year-round playground of mountain fun and amazing scenic views, Ober Mountain offers an adventure even getting there, on one of America’s largest Aerial Tramways. The cable car departs regularly every 20 minutes from downtown Gatlinburg going directly to the ski resort.The… Read more »
The annual Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival happens in Gatlinburg, TN, to bring songwriters, music professionals and enthusiasts together to Celebrate “Celebrate Our Appalachian Musical Roots” with numerous free concerts, songwriting workshops, auditions, mentoring programs, song competitions and ticketed shows.… Read more »
The Smokies feature some great whitewater rafting! Read our guide to rafting on the Pigeon River near Gatlinburg. Find outfitters, rates and things you need to know for your rafting trip. For whitewater rafting near Gatlinburg, the Pigeon River is the place to go. The area around Hartford, TN, 45 minutes from Gatlinburg, has a… Read more »
Mountain biking in Gatlinburg is a real thrill. With so much scenery and so many roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the area around Gatlinburg, it’s not surprising that you can find some nice biking adventures too, IF you know where to look. The trails of the park are prohibited to cyclists, but… Read more »
Every fall on the first weekend after Labor Day, thousands of visitors flood Pigeon Forge for the annual Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup at Dollywood’s Splash Country. Some of the greatest cars ever built in America are on display, as well as some of the wildest custom modifications…Read more »
Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center is a one-stop shop for river tubing, bike rentals and outdoor gear – located in Townsend next to the Little River, and close to trails, biking greenways and Cades Cove in the national park. Spending quality time outdoors in the Smoky Mountains is an important priority for many visitors, but people… Read more »
A classic Smoky Mountain experience, river tubing is fun for all family members. It’s an affordable, relaxing way to enjoy nature and a great way to stay cool in the summer. River tubing is one of our favorite ways to escape the summer heat. It’s an excellent alternative to canoeing or kayaking. It’s affordable, requires… Read more »
In spring and fall each year, Pigeon Forge fills up with visitors, classic cars and hot rods to enjoy the Rod Run, a gathering of car enthusiasts and owners competing for cash prizes in the the thousands of dollars, showing off paint jobs, and joining in the great American pastime of Cruising the Strip…Read more »
Have you tried ziplining yet? Maybe it’s time, next time you’re in the area. Soaring downhill above the treetops and through the beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery – it’s so safe a child of 3 can do it, and so exhilarating that even those with a fear of heights can relax and enjoy it. The Smoky… Read more »
