Smoky Mountain Special Events

Pigeon Forge Chuckwagon Cookoff
2017-03-04
Food Network star Kent Rollins will be hosting this new event built off the previous “Saddle Up!” convention of years previous. More than 10 chuck wagons will gather at Clabough’s Campground on Wears Valley Road (across the street from Pigeon Forge Middle) and serve some awesome Western-style lunch. Other free activities will be available also. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/chuckwagon-cookoff-competition/

Rose Glen Literary Festival
2017-02-11
The literary festival for 2017 takes place at the Sevierville Convention Center and is featuring Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass, who, together, make up “Jefferson Bass”, the author of the Body Farm series. See more at http://visitsevierville.com/MobileRoseGlen/Default.aspx.

Smoky Mountain Strong
2017-02-10 - 2017-02-11
This is a brand new event for the post-holiday Winterfest season and it includes a major bluegrass music festival designed to continue raising funds for the Dollywood Foundation Wildfire Scholarship Fund. Performers include Flatt Lonesome, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, David Adkins Band, Lonesome river Band, Jimbo Whaley & Greenbriar and more. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/smoky-mountain-strong-a-bluegrass-celebration/

2017 Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend
2017-01-27 - 2017-01-29
The Winter Heritage Festival is a weekend of culturally enriching activities at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend. Speakers will come and talk about family history in the mountains, programs the national park puts in place, stories and much more. http://www.gsmheritagecenter.org/

New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show
2016-12-31
Gatlinburg writes: “Gatlinburg will welcome the arrival of 2016 in unique style with its 28th Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show around the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle late Thursday night, December 31.” http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=117

New Years Eve at The Island
2016-12-31
Pigeon Forge writes: “Ring in the New Year with us on The Island! After our widely successful event last year we are back BIGGER and BETTER with a night packed full of fun! Live music & plenty of family fun, plus attractions! And what’s a New Years Celebration without a midnight countdown and fireworks? Its all brought to you FREE by The Island!” http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/new-years-eve-at-the-island/

Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival
2016-12-07 - 2016-12-10
A four-day music mini-festival at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center just off the parkway in Pigeon Forge with lots of artists playing, Christmas cheer and much more featured. Talent includes Balsam Ridge, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grascals, Sideline and more. http://www.smokymountainconventioncenter.com

Sevierville 54th Annual Christmas Parade
2016-12-03
Sevierville writes: “Join us to celebrate Sevierville 54th Annual Christmas Parade! Viewing Smoky Mountain Winterfest lights with friends and family is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit – and with more than 15 million lights in a 25 mile stretch, there’s certainly plenty of looking to do!” http://www.visitsevierville.com

Winter Magic Tunes and Tales
2016-12-02 - 2016-12-18
Tunes and Tales is a big hit and one of Gatlinburg’s newest traditions, as far as traditions are structured in Appalachia. Previously a Summer-only event, Tunes and Tales is now entering its second year of a Winter edition complete with caroling, holiday themed storytelling and more. Come see it and get in the Christmas spirit!
Performances are December 2nd-3rd, December 9th-11th, December 16-18th.
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=194

Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
2016-12-02
Definitely one of the biggest events in December to get the holiday spirit started and moving, ALL your favorite Christmas and holiday characters, images and icons will be on display on the main road of downtown Gatlinburg – from a great plethora of Santa Clauses’ to the pipe marching bands to the Polar Express and more. http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=17

Great Smoky Christmas Arts and Crafts Show
2016-11-28 - 2016-12-04
Nothing helps build the holiday spirit (or a good list of Christmas shopping ideas) like visiting like the Great Smoky Christmas Arts and Crafts Show. More than 100 booths open up at the Gatlinburg Convention Center and everything you thought could be made by human hands (and some you thought surely couldn’t!) will be on display. http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=15

Fireworks on Thanksgiving at the Titanic
2016-11-24
How often do you get to see fireworks for Thanksgiving? The Titanic, one of the classiest attractions in the Smokies, will be shooting off a marvelous fireworks display to honor the lives of those lost during the original voyage. www.titanicpigeonforge.com

Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show
2016-11-22 - 2016-11-27

Gatlinburg Festival of Trees
2016-11-22 - 2016-11-27
The Gatlinburg Festival of Trees takes place at the W.L. Mills convention center and its also an excellent introduction to the coming Christmas season. This is a charity event sponsored by Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries and features dozens of exquisitely made Christmas trees to make a man-made Yuletide forest in the great convention center. All proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains. http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=120

Old Mill Square Holiday Open House
2016-11-12
The Old Mill is Pigeon Forge’s Arts and Crafts Community, and throughout the seasons, they hold open houses and festivals to give visitors an even better look and taste of Appalachian culture. This one in November is sure to help you get ready for Winterfest, so come on by! www.old-mill.com.

Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cookoff
2016-11-09
Gatlinburg promises every year to put the real “magic” into Winterfest Magic, and they haven’t disappointed yet. The main road of the downtown transforms its busiest street into its busiest walking section with dozens of chili vendors, fun stations for the kids, live entertainment and, of course, the big switch for the Winterfest lights. www.gatlinburg.com.

27th Annual Winterfest Kick-off
2016-11-08
Pigeon Forge writes: “Join us for Winterfest in Pigeon Forge, the nearly four-month celebration of winter in the Smokies. Enjoy the light displays at your leisure on our Winterfest Lights Driving Tour. Pick up your tour guide at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center at traffic light #0 or at the Fun Time Trolley office in Patriot Park. Winterfest light displays will shine through the end of February.” – www.mypigeonforge.com

Sevierville’s Winterfest Kickoff
2016-11-07
Free food, local entertainment, kids’ games and fireworks make this event fun for everyone! The evening wraps up with “flipping the switch” on the area’s first Winterfest lights. Call 1-888-738-4378 for more information. http://visitsevierville.com/

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
2016-11-05 - 2016-12-31
Is it any wonder the best Christmas activity in Pigeon Forge comes from Dollywood? The entire park transforms and the decorations are unrivaled by anyone for miles. Lights reach from the entrance all the way to the very tall trees, rides, and even out to the furthest corners of Dollywood. The hours stay open later, the rides operate in the dark (unless it’s too cold), there is a Santa’s workshop, nightly parades, carolers and, yes, much more. See more on Dollywood at www.dollywood.com.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
2016-11-04 - 2017-01-01
Located right where Sevierville turns into Kodak on Highway 66, Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland turns the Smokies Baseball Stadium into that which truly lives up to the name “Christmas Wonderland”.
Shadrack’s includes Santa’s Village, inflatable entertainment for kids, and some of the most brilliant lighting displays ever made. See more on this at www.shadrackchristmas.com/sevierville.

Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair
2016-07-14 - 2016-07-17
Art, crafts and music lovers will discover over 200 booths featuring some of the nation’s finest work. Artisans and craftspeople are on hand to demonstrate their skills, answer questions and offer their unique art for sale. Live Country and Bluegrass entertainment. www.craftsmenfair.com

Gatlinburg's Fireworks Finale
2016-07-04
Join the celebration in downtown Gatlinburg to mark out nation’s “Independence Day” with a magnificent fireworks show. The City of Gatlinburg lights up the mountain Skyline downtown at 10:00PM with this grand display. Designated a Top 20 event by Southeast Tourism Society. www.gatlinburg.com

First Independence Day Parade in the Nation
2016-07-03 - 2016-07-04
Saluting the valiant men and women of our military services, this annual showcase is the “First July 4th Parade in this Nation!” Parade starts at the stroke of midnight to begin Independence Day. Floats, balloons, and marching bands pay tribute to our country during this Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event. www.gatlinburg.com

Dollywood's Great American Summer
2016-06-11 - 2016-08-07
Dollywood’s smash summer season pulls out all the stops for providing an awesome family vacation – live performances of the Star Spangled Banner, nightly fireworks, the gazillion bubbles show and much more in addition to the new rides and quality of entertainment Dollywood offers each day. www.dollywood.com

Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
2016-06-10 - 2016-07-30
Ever wanted the Smokies to be filled with the old timey music and legends that it used to have way back in the day? Come to Gatlinburg for Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales and you can experience Gatlinburg celebrating Appalachian Culture the way it used to. Music, stories, dancing all throughout the city on evenings. www.gatlinburg.com

Magma Gaming Event
2016-06-10 - 2016-06-12
The Mountain Association of Gaming and Media Alliance is coming to the LeConte Convention Center in Pigeon Forge and there will, naturally, gaming events, guest actors from anime and video game roles and much more. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/magma-gaming-event/

Sevier County Relay for Life
2016-06-03 - 2016-06-04
One of the biggest fundraising events throughout the year in Sevier County, Relay for Life is a great way to run for a good cause and all are invited to participate. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY16MS?pg=entry&fr_id=74372

Bloomin BBQ and Bluegrass
2016-05-20 - 2016-05-21
One of the few events to take place in downtown Sevierville, there are hundreds of different ways to get the best barbecue platter you’ve ever had and there will be a marathon of bluegrass and local acts playing on stage while arts and crafts booths open up on the avenues surrounding it. Lots of great stuff there and you can see more at http://www.bloominbbq.com/

Wilderness Wildlife Week
2016-05-18 - 2016-05-22
If you love the nitty-gritty details and the dirt and all of what makes the mountains Smoky, this is your event. A full week of lectures, vendors, guest speakers, wildlife guests and even guided walks through the mountains… aaaannnd we hadn’t even mentioned admission is free – until now. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events_winterfest_wilderness.aspx

Dollywood Barbeque and Bluegrass
2016-05-13 - 2016-05-22
Dollywood provides some of THE best pork, chicken, beef and Southern music entertainment East Tennessee has to enjoy in May in addition to the dozens of rides and interactive fun stuff they provide almost year-round as well. www.dollywood.com.
