Grab Some Hot Cocoa For This One...
Gatlinburg will host it's 37th annual "Fantasy of Lights" Christmas Parade on December 7th at 7:30 PM.

Come to The Smokies for a fun holiday weekend break...Catch the parade that will feature plenty of Christmas sights including marching bands and giant helium balloons!

Celebrate Veterans Day

noun: a public holiday held on the anniversary of the end of World War I (November 11) to honor U.S. veterans and victims of all wars. It replaced Armistice Day in 1954.

Sevierville: Nov. 10, 2012: THE DINER's Veterans Day Cruise In  - Trophies for Best of Show, THE DINER Pick, THE DINER RATS Big Cheese, plus more. Noon to 7 pm, games, drawings and prizes before 7 pm. Music by Gary's Sound Machine. Fall colors will usually linger until now. We honor our veterans, their commitment and sacrifices. American Legion Flag Ceremony included

Pigeon Forge: Titanic Museum Honors Veterans Novenber 5th-12th, 2012. Military Members Receive VERY SPECIAL OFFER with Military ID during Pigeon Forge Veterans Week, November 5th-12th, 2012. Guests must present a Military ID/Papers.

Gatlinburg will extend a heartfelt “Thank You!” to the men and women who put service before self at the Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration. The popular free-admission event on Sunday, November 11 will be held on Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies at 2pm.

Find the perfect place to spend the weekend in the Smokies...

Winterfest in the Smokies

Find the perfect place to stay while you enjoy Winterfest.

Millions of lights are glistening and will continue on through February 28, 2013.
Don't miss all the pleasures of winter in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. From dinner shows to deep white mountain views the Smokies has something for everyone.
In Sevierville you can get live music, dancing in the streets & hayrides with Santa. Sevierville Winterfest starts November 2 at the Community Center, located just off Dolly Parton Parkway, the festival marks the beginning of the illumination of thousands of lights.
On November 6, 2012 Pigeon Forge lights up their Winterfest. This is a great place to do the family Christmas shopping. But be sure to finish by dusk so you can enjoy the dancing bears, larger than life snowflakes, and enormous Christmas trees that will light up the evening.
Come walk the streets in Gatlinburg to witness Winterfest in a remarkable way. This town sparkles with warm treats and entertainment for the whole family.

OktOBERfest of Ober Gatlinburg

Location: Ober Gatlinburg

Dates: Sept. 28 - Nov. 4, 2012

Photo Source: InsideGatlinburg.com

OktOBERfest is now in full swing, and there are only a few more weeks remaining so consider yourself lucky if you will be in town to take part in this fun, family-friendly event! It all takes place throughout the month of October at the Ober Gatlinburg Resort where you can indulge in authentic Bavarian cuisine and sip your favorite German beverage. The festival is reminiscent of the famous Oktober Festival which is held annually in Munich, Germany since 1810 and features daily merrymaking throughout every October since then. This year marks the third annual Gatlinburg-style version of this event, and it is growing more popular as folks have become more aware of the festivities.

Live music performances by the Bavarian Fun Makers Band will take place at 1pm and 5 pm Monday through Thursday throughout the week and at noon, 2, 4, and 6pm Friday through Sunday on weekends. The Bavarian-style show consists of entertainers in authentic costumes who perform original German folk dances, oompah music, sing-a-longs, yodels, schuhplattling, and more. You will find yourself being swept away by the unique traditions and lured by the mouthwatering edible temptations so you don't even have to be German to appreciate all the culture that is showcased at this festival!

Food will be served a-la-carte at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant & Lounge and includes appetizers, sandwiches, and entrees as well as a menu full of traditional Bavarian cuisine such as German bratwurst, sauerkraut, schnitzel, pretzels, strudels, and more. Beer tents will be set up outside where special Oktoberfect Biers and German lagers including Shiner Bock, Sam Adams, Oktoberfest, and Cottonwood Pumpkin Spiced Ale will be served on tap. You will be sure to get your fill and satisfy every taste bud at this delectable event.

While you're here, venture out and explore all the other fun activities of Ober. It is primarily known for its winter activities which include skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing, but that's just the start of what you can do here. Ride the 120-passenger Aerial Tramway and get a full appreciation for the beautiful scenery overlooking the fall leaves and mountain views, or check out the Wildlife Encounter including the Municipal Black Bear Habitat and Birds of Prey Exhibit. There’s also an ice skating rink, Alpine Slide, scenic chairlift, three water raft rides, shops, restaurant and lounge on site as well as a carousel, a water ride, a kiddie land, mini golf, and an arcade. Oh, and don't forget to check out the newest attraction at Ober Gatlinburg, the 4,600 square-foot Amaze‘n Maze, where guests of all ages can sharpen their navigational skills while competing against their family, friends and the clock. As you can see, there are a number of reasons to visit Ober, Gatlinburg, and OktOBERfest will make your experience even more memorable than ever!

Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair

Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center

Date: October 11, 2012 - October 28, 2012

Image Source: www.craftsmenfair.com

If you have an appreciation for arts, crafts, and music, then you will absolutely love the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair. Starting on October 11, the Gatlinburg Convention Center will be transformed into a shopper's delight as numerous artists and merchandise-filled booths spread throughout multiple levels and provide aisles and aisles of various hand-crafted commodities to ensure that you will find something that sparks your interest. It's the perfect opportunity to start your holiday shopping early and find the ideal gift for even the most difficult person to shop for on your list. You can find everything from jewelry to fine art to knick-knacks, so you will be sure to discover a unique item to satisfy even the most unique taste.

A soap maker, watercolorist, metal sculptors, and a designer and creator of whimsical snowmen are just a few of the types of various artists expected to showcase their work. Some of the crafts and products that you can expect to find include glass bead jewelry, pottery, horseshoe creations, shadow box art, primitive turkey callers, knives, antler crafts, lamp work, treasure boxes, carved and whimsical gourds, original design leathers, muzzle loading guns, as well as handpainted switchplates, clocks and lamps.

As you can see, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair hosts a wide variety of crafts created by juried artists from all over the country who produce quality workmanship with an original flair. The most unique feature of this event is that not only can you view and purchase the artwork displayed, but you can also meet the craftsmen in person and even watch as they demonstrate their artistic abilities. This is one reason that the Southeast Tourism Society has recognized the show as being one of the top 20 events in the Southern US!

Although the primary appeal of the fair is the artwork and crafts, there will also be entertainment provided throughout the show which includes country and bluegrass musical performances by Dennis Lee and band as well as Tim Watson, the “Fiddle Man”. Hours are 10am to 6pm daily and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. Music shows are 12, 2 and 4pm daily 12 and 2pm on Sundays and are included in the cost of admission which is $6 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Group rates are available. For additional information, visit www.craftsmenfair.com.

Fright Nights Show: Voodoo 13

Featured At: Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Dates: Every Friday, Saturday, & Sunday in October

Photo Credit: Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Halloween is almost here, and everyone is on the prowl for the most creepy and frightening place to get in the spirit of this dark holiday. Fortunately, you don't have to wait until the end of the month to celebrate All Hallows' Eve because Ripley's Haunted Adventures of Gatlinburg, TN is featuring their very own Fright Nights Show every weekend in October! This annual presentation is all new this year with a "Voodoo 13" theme in which all the freaky aspects of the ritualistic traditions associated with voodoo are featured in each of the thirteen special event evenings.

Each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night during October, the show kicks off at 6:13pm with a character parade reminiscent of those in New Orleans, where voodoo is prevalent.  Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is well-known for its haunted house year-round, but it will become even more terrifying this time of year as the amount of performances is increased and the themed environment plays on your senses. Your sight, sound, touch, and even smell will be scrutinized throughout the show. The show will even change up each weekend so visitors within the local area can see up to 5 different shows as Halloween approaches.

Admission tickets are $13.99 + tax for adults and $7.99 + tax for kids under the age of 12, but they must be accompanied by a parent. However, due to the graphic nature of the facility, children under the age of 6 are not allowed. There is no additional cost to attend the special event shows, and multi-weekend tickets are available at a discount for the month of October only. Call (865) 430-9991 for more information about Voodoo 13 at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg. 

Taste of Autumn

Gatlinburg Convention Center

September 27, 2012

 

Photo Credit: www.gatlinburg.com

Autumn has just begun, and Gatlinburg is starting this season off with some seasoning of its own at the Taste of Autumn event this evening. The Gatlinburg Convention Center will be full of fun and feasting from 5pm - 8pm. There you will find lots of music and munching going on, all in support of a good cause.

Guests can savor endless samples of fine dining from several of the area's most distinguished restaurants as Millie Palmer Jazz entertains the crowd with musical performances throughout the evening.

While all this toe-tapping and food tasting is bound to make for a pleasurable occasion, the experience will be made even more enjoyable in knowing that your attendance also supports the local community as well. In fact, all of the proceeds from this event will be contributed to The United Way of Sevier County without any deductions for overhead. This organization is devoted to enhancing the lives of individuals by encouraging the local society to establish continuous development focused on a common well being.

Guests can expect to enjoy offerings from participants including Calhous's Catering, Hard Rock Café, Mellow Mushroom, Park Grill Steakhouse, Smoky Mountain Winery, Sugarland Cellars, Gigi's Cupcakes, Smoky Mountain Ice Cream & Fudge Co., The Park Vista Doubletree Hotel, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and Climbworks Canopy, just to name a few!

The cost to attend this event is just $25, and children under 7 are admitted for free.
To purchase tickets, click here or call 865-436-4178.