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 May, 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 the area, its… 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 »
2023 INFO: The Park Service provides updated information here. The Lottery for a parking pass to view the Synchronous Fireflies is open April 28-May 1 of this year, and you can register for the lottery here. The Firefly Viewing dates are June4-11. Every spring you have a chance to see thousands of fireflies light up… 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 »
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous and looking for some unique fun, ziplining might be just the activity you and your family or friends could enjoy. images courtesy of Legacy Mountain Ziplines Imagine a thick steel cable strongly anchored from higher elevation and running down above the trees to a finishing place lower down the… 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. Take a free round trip on the Tramway with our compliments when you book a cabin with… 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 »
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 the roads are wide open. Traffic is the… 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. Get a Free Bike Rental AND One Free Tubing Pass, plus over $700 in other coupons, when… Read more »
Tubing down the river in the Smoky Mountains is fun for all family members and there are two great rivers for tubing in the Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge area. Tubing down the river is one of our favorite ways to beat the summer heat. Tubing is a great alternative to canoeing or kayaking. It’s inexpensive,… 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 »
There are lots of riding stables and a wonderful variety of terrain throughout all the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains available for horseback riders visiting Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. You can pick a trail ride that suits all your family members, from youngest to eldest, many with guided tours and even dinners by a… Read more »
One of the least known festivals, with some of the best bluegrass music in the world, happens each year at the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival at Kodak, just up the road from the bustling towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg…Read more »
During your stay in the Smoky Mountains, time is precious, so here’s a guide to some of the best quick and super-easy ways to venture outdoors into nature and the mountains. Even though the cabin life is great to hang out in, here’s how to take an hour or two for short excursions that create family memories forever…Read more »
Here are some of the best places to go shopping in Gatlinburg. The town is packed with specialty shops and boutiques of all kinds, so your shopping adventure can reveal treasures around every corner, but also can cost precious time if you don’t know where to go to get what you’re looking for. Here’s our… Read more »
The Gatlinburg Trail is a popular hiking trail connecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Gatlinburg, suitable for all ages and skill levels, and accommodating pets and bicycles. Read on to discover more of what makes this trail unique. Great Views The hiking and walking trails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are teeming… Read more »
The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has locations in Tennessee and North Carolina, with a flagship outdoor gear store called the Great Outpost in Gatlinburg, on Parkway at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Known for its whitewater rafting adventures on the Nantahala River, NOC offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including kayaking,… Read more »
Everyone wants to spend time in the great outdoors with their four-legged friends, and the Great Smoky Mountains are a beautiful area to explore with your pet. However, it’s important to remember that there are restrictions when it comes to bringing pets on hiking trails within the park. Learn more about how you can have… Read more »
Pigeon Forge shopping offers a world of shopping adventures from unique specialty shops to outlet malls – here’s our guide to some of the best places to go shopping in Pigeon Forge, so you can save time during your visit and hit the best spots. And usually you’ll find fabulous entertainment, dining and kids fun… Read more »
Practically anywhere you drive in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is a scenic drive, but here are some of the super-scenic roadways and places to stop along those roads, for photographs and memories. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and some days this shows in the amount… Read more »
Foothills Parkway is a national parkway that flanks Great Smoky Mountains National Park and offers superb panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains. One of the best and most recent scenic drives to appear in the Smoky Mountains is the formerly “missing link” of the Foothills Parkway that was opened in 2018. This stretch runs from… Read more »
