Due to the many visitors the Great Smoky Mountain National Park receives each year it is not a surprise that many events have become annual events that many plan their vacations around.
Dollywood’s Festival of Nations is a fabulous time to visit Dollywood. Spring brings beautiful days with multicultural performances, tastes and smells all throughout the park. It is a fabulous event!
July:
Midnight 4th of July Parade: on July 4th, the first parade in the nation. Gatlinburg
Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival: All day gathering at Patriot Park with music, foods, festival games and fireworks Pigeon Forge
Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights is a very popular event that takes place every autumn in the beautiful late September and October months of the year. The area is dressed in it’s Harvest Festival Best and Dollywood is at it’s best.
Christmas:
Smoky Mountain Christmas: Dollywood, opening week prior to Thanksgiving.
Pigeon Forge Winterfest: Located throughout all three communities, beginning November 8, 9 & 10.
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. 1st Friday in December, Gatlinburg.
Stay Tuned as we add more pop
ular events in thePigeon Forge Rod Run
Where:
All throughout Pigeon Forge and some of Sevierville and Gatlinburg.
When To Expect It:
Mid-September and Mid-April.
What:
“A spectacular 3-day event for any car enthusiast! Over 500 show cars! Huge automotive swap meet. Celebrity guests! Ultimate 7 and top 25 awards! $10,000 Cash Give Away!
Join the many automotive enthusiasts and come on out to the Pigeon Forge Rod Run, the area’s largest automotive event! Don’t miss this incredible car show!”
Info:
https://www.rodrun-pigeonforge.com/ area.
Wilderness Wildlife Week
Where:
Music Hotel Convention Center or LeConte Convention Center.
When:
Late January.
What:
“Come celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains. This year, we’ll be inviting some of the leading wildlife experts to lead informative discussions with you. This is a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about nature.
Showcasing what makes the Smokies so special, Wilderness Wildlife Week celebrates the abundance of wildlife, variety of plants, trees, and wildflowers, and rich history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee through a series of classes, seminars, demonstrations, guided hikes, panel discussions, and workshops.”
Info:
https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week
Smoky Mountain Music Festival
When:
Early-to-mid April
Where:
W.L. Mills Conference Center
What:
“The Smoky Mountain Music Festival continues its dedication to excellence by offering school musicians an opportunity to demonstrate their talents before prestigious adjudicators in a beautiful setting. For over 30 years the festival has drawn musical groups from over 29 states and Canada.”
Info:
https://www.smmfestival.com
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival
When:
Mid-April to Early June
Where:
Dollywood Theme Park
What:
Experience the splendor of springtime in the Smokies. Blooming to life in spectacular color, Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival celebrates the beautiful blossoms and fresh flavors of the season with larger-than-life Mosaicultures, unique foods, and stage shows! Capture picture-perfect moments under our signature Umbrella Sky and hear inspiring sounds of springtime as live music fills the air. Celebrate spring with all your senses.
Info:
https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/festivals/flower-and-food/
Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival
When:
Mid-late May
Where:
Downtown Sevierville
What:
Whether you’re enjoying toe-tapping tunes, devouring the nation’s best BBQ or simply enjoying the sights and sounds of one of the southeast’s top festivals, Bloomin’ BBQ is a weekend of fun for the whole family.
Info:
https://www.bloominbbq.com/
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
When:
Late April
Where:
Throughout Gatlinburg
What:
The SWFP is an annual nonprofit event featuring professionally-guided walks, exhibits, and other learning opportunities to explore the region’s rich natural and cultural resources. Pilgrims from more than 40 states and several countries make the pilgrimage each year to learn more about fungi, ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, medicinal plants, insects (terrestrial and aquatic), salamanders and snakes, birds, mammals (bats to bears), journaling, art and photography, and park history.
Info:
https://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org/
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair
When:
April, July, October, December
Note: Also known as Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community Holiday Show and Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show.
Where:
W.L. Mills Auditorium
What:
Filling the 150,000 square feet of downtown Gatlinburg Convention Center, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair hosts Artisans and Craftsmen from all over the nation. Two hundred booths with unique and one-of-a-kind handmade products are beautifully displayed, as these skilled craftspeople demonstrate their talents. Each participant is subject to a rigorous jury process to ensure the uniqueness and quality of their respective products. All items represented are handmade and of utmost quality and without duplication. Look for exceptional pottery pieces, leather, copper art, local candy makers, and many more unique items.
Info:
https://craftsmenfair.com/
