Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

There is no better way to greet the Christmas season than Gatlinburg’s Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade at 7:30 p.m. on December 2nd. A multitude of glistening lights adorn the streets and skyline, all attentively placed in the most beautiful spots of Gatlinburg. Santa and his helpers will herald your presence with hugs and smiles as you experience the parade extravaganza. The festivities include artificial snow, sparklers, dancing, little elves, inflatable costumes, clowns, horses, costumed llamas, giant balloons and a breathtaking 30-foot Christmas tree. It is no wonder that over 80,000 visitors flock to the Pigeon Forge area for the Christmas Parade each year; the parade is designed to welcome guests and evoke Christmas cheer.

Giant helium balloons hover over illuminated floats, marking the parade route with distinctive Christmas flair. The route begins at Traffic Light 1A on Highway 321 and rambles on to Traffic Light 10 at the corner of Parkway and Ski Mountain Road.

Before the parade begins at 7:30, from 6-7 p.m. children are invited to visit with Santa and all the elves for a splendid autograph party at the Riverbend Mall at Traffic Light 3.

Free parking is available at the Gatlinburg Park and Ride lot located at the Welcome Center just before the entrance to town. Parking is also available at the Reagan Drive parking lot, the Aquarium parking lot, and various additional parking lots located in the downtown area. Special trolley tours of the city to view the illuminated chandeliers that drape the streets and other lighted displays throughout Gatlinburg are available on the Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights tour.

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Are you looking discounts or coupons for Pigeon Forge? Look no further! PigeonForge.com now has a Coupon and Discount Page where you can print off vacation money saving offers!

When planning your Pigeon Forge vacation, go to our Coupon Page and find great deals on cabin rentals and a fun Smoky Mountain attractions. Many accommodations are available at greatly discounted rates. And, remember, there are always more coupons to come, so keep checking our Coupon Page and save yourself some cash this winter.

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It’s about that time again! Christmas season is upon us, and it’s almost time to trim trees and decorate yards with twinkling lights. Get inspired at the Gatlinburg Garden Club’s 33rd Annual Festival of Trees. Myriads of intricately decorated Christmas trees will be showcased at the Gatlinburg Convention center from November 23-26.

Admission is free, and the event is sure to evoke Christmas merriment for all who visit. Trees will be decorated by a sampling of Sevier County citizens from various church groups, civic clubs, school groups, artisans, professional designers, and business owners. The festive display will be open from 2-6 p.m. on November 23 and daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through November 26. Call 865-436-4412 for more information.

Tell us what you think about Christmas decorating!

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This Saturday, November 19, the Pigeon Forge Community Center will be the set of an international evening of storytelling, sponsored by the
Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association and the city of
Pigeon Forge. Tellabration! is part of National Storytelling Week, taking place globally in six continents.

The night will be filled with engaging tales as well as cookies, punch and coffee. Local storytellers Cuz ‘n Jan, rather, Cuz Headrick and Janice Brooks-Headrick will perform along with Mary Peterson and Millie Sieber of Maryville and Kathleen Mavournin and Lovella Richardson of Knoxville.

Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $5 at the door. Call 865-429-7350 for more de-TALES. This is a wonderful event for the entire family!

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Imagine the Smoky Mountain foothills teaming with wild creatures, not a billboard on the horizon, and no roads or modern developments. Once the sacred hunting grounds of Cherokee Indians, Pigeon Forge has evolved from wilderness land into a metropolis of tourism filled with exciting attractions, marathon shopping outlets, Smoky Mountain cabin retreats, Dolly Parton entertainment, mountain top weddings, country music and commerce, commerce, and more commerce.

Before bustling commerce filled the Parkway with businesses and billboards, Pigeon Forge was known as the “Lost State of Franklin”, located deep in Cherokee hunting territory. In 1781, Samuel Wear built a fort near Walden’s Creek. The Indians fought Samuel Wear for the territory, but the Treaty of Dumplin’ Creek opened the area to pioneer settlers after the Revolutionary War. Settlers from the Carolinas trekked the Great Indian Path over the Smoky Mountains in the late 1700’s and began to develop what we know as Pigeon Forge today.

The name Pigeon Forge was derived from two sources: flocks of passenger pigeons that congregated along the Little Pigeon River and the great iron forge built along the river by pioneer Isaac Love in 1820. Love’s blacksmith shop brought settlers from afar for wagon and farm machinery repairs, trading and animal shodding. The Love family left a lasting legacy in Pigeon Forge, not only with the iron forge, but also with the historic Old Mill. Isaac’s son William built the grist mill with 40-foot long, “14 x 14” Yellow Poplar logs which still stand today, 180 years later. In the early days, the Old Mill served as a gathering place for the town, producing nurturing grains for city dwellers’ bellies and a warm, social community for their hearts. Today the Old Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most photographed locations in Pigeon Forge.

Developments from the Old Mill and the iron forge grew the town’s population to 154 residents in 1907. Pigeon Forge remained a sleepy mountain town, unknown to much of America. In the 1930’s buzz about the natural beauty and recreational fun of the
Great Smoky Mountains began to spread, and in 1934 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established. On September 2, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the park.

Though Pigeon Forge Pottery was the area’s first official tourist attraction, the new national park and the completion of guest cottages along the river successfully launched the tourism industry in Pigeon Forge. It was not until 1982, however, that the hospitality industry really began to thrive. The year 1982 marked Pigeon Forge’s tourism industry boom, and shortly thereafter the famous Dollywood opened its doors in 1986. Growth quickly escalated, with the additions of such attractions as the Louise Mandrell Theater in 1997 and Dollywood Splash Country in 2001. Today more than 11 million visitors frequent the area annually, making Pigeon Forge, Tennessee one of the most popular vacation destination in the Southeast United States. Being only a day’s drive for two-thirds of people who reside east of the Mississippi River, Pigeon Forge is the place to visit for a fabulous holiday getaway!

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An all-star cast that reads like a who’s who in the world of sports, entertainment and the great outdoors joins together to help Bass Pro Shops celebrate a spectacular Evening for Conservation, Tuesday, November 29th. NASCAR® driver Kerry Earnhardt, one of NFL’s top ten scorers of all time and former Tennessee Titans place kicker Al Del Greco, former Tennessee Titans great Frank Wycheck, former captain of the University of Tennessee football team, offensive tackle –All SEC Will Ofenheusle, TV celebrity Tina Wesson from the hit CBS show Survivor, The Australian Outback Tina Wesson, legendary fisherman and one of Tennessee’s favorite sons Bill Dance, America’s favorite fisherman and TV host Jimmy Houston, Bassmaster Classic qualifier Tim Horton, “Mr. Crappie” Wally Marshall, the University of Tennessee cheerleaders and character mascot “Smoky” are among the many celebrities attending.

The new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Sevierville is located at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 66 on an 18-acre tract adjacent to a major development by the City of Sevierville and the Bridgemont Development Group. It will officially open its doors for a preview celebration during the fundraising event and ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. A portion of the night’s sales will be donated to the Fish Habitat Initiatives in the region while local conservation groups will sell food and drinks courtesy of Old Wisconsin and Coca-Cola and hold silent auctions with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting those organizations. The event is open to the public.

Local conservation groups on hand Tuesday evening include the US Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited, Smoky Mountain Archers, Tennessee Striped Bass Association, Friends of the Smokies, National Eagle Foundation, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, English Mountain Bear Hunters, National Field Archery Association, Great Smoke Mountains Association, Anglers for Christ, Tennessee State Parks and many more.

Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops President and COO Jim Hagale, Bass Pro Shops President and CAO Jim Pierce, Bridgemont Development Group Chief Manager Jim Calkin and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Sevierville General Manager Jim Osborne are among those scheduled to attend. Legendary angler Jimmy Houston will serve as master of ceremonies.

Exciting displays include Martin Truex, Jr.’s #8 NASCAR Busch race car.

The Grand Opening Celebration begins Wednesday, November 30th and will include special exhibits, more celebrity guests, store wide savings and fantastic giveaways. You can also visit with today’s experts on fishing, hunting, dog training and more. See huge displays from the industry’s top manufacturers and talk with factory reps for answers to your product questions.

The world’s leading supplier of outdoor products is much more than a hunting and fishing store. Part museum, part art gallery, part education conservation and entertainment center, the 130,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store in Sevierville will also offer equipment for hiking, backpacking, camping, outdoor cooking and more. Shoppers will find outdoor apparel for men, women and children, along with a fine selection of outdoor, casual and athletic footwear. A gift and nature shop serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops has received more conservation awards than any other outdoors retailer. The store will also offer Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families.

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"Duty, Honor, Country"... General Douglas MacArthur bestowed these sage words to the West Point graduating class of '62 as a description of what a good officer is to embody, what he is to be. Today is Veterans Day, and America has many many good officers and soldiers fighting a war far from here.

To honor all who have sacrificed for the sake of freedom, Sevier County is hosting the Third Annual Veteran's Day Celebration in the Ripley's Aquarium Plaza in Gatlinburg. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m., November 11- the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month- to commemorate local war veterans. Carl Mays will lead as Master of Ceremonies, which will feature a Warbird Flyover, courtesy of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation, a Presentation of the Colors by the Gatlinburg Police Department, and an Eagle Presentation by the American Eagle Foundation Boy Scout Troop 111. Performances by Walters State Community College, the Gatlinburg Pittman High School Band, Will Bethel on bagpipes, the Knoxville Pipes & Drums, and the Boyd's Creek Choir will follow. For more information, call 865-436-4178.

In Sevierville, a program will be held to honor war veterans at the Sevier County Courthouse on the 11th at 11 a.m. Services will highlight the history behind Armistice Day, later becoming Veteran's Day following World War II.

What is more, on November 11, veterans can have breakfast at McDonald's on Forks of the River Parkway for free from 8-10 a.m. and free dinner at Golden Corral's Sevierville and
Pigeon Forge locations from 5-9 p.m. on November 14.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the arrival of Winterfest and brisk autumn weather, the excitement of the holidays is beginning to buzz around town. The evening chill brings anticipation of another winter filled with seasonal parties, family fellowship, outdoor recreation, travel and celebration. A visit to Sevier County to tour the festive light displays can further put you in the holiday mood. Over five million brilliant lights glisten on the horizon each night in the cities of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg, beckoning you to gaze and enjoy.

The light displays of Sevierville have been placed in the vicinity of a few streets, perfect for touring on foot or by vehicle. A highly suggested route begins on Bruce Street, passing through the historic district, circling the Fountain of Lights at the Sevierville Community Center, and ending with a stroll down the Winterfest Walking Trail.

The cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg offer authentic trolley light tours, which highlight city landmarks and decorative displays in the comfort of a temperature controlled environment.

The Pigeon Forge Funtime Trolley Tour of Lights will run Monday through Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Beginning in February the Tour of Lights will be available to groups only. Funtime Trolley Station is located at Patriot Park in the city of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For more information regarding the Tour of Lights you can call the Trolley Station at 865-453-6444.

To view light displays in Gatlinburg, hop on the Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights for a delightful 45-minute guided narrative tour of the city. Rides depart from the Gatlinburg Welcome Center at traffic light Number 5, beginning November 3rd. Rides are $4, scheduled to leave at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. nightly throughout November and December. The trolley is closed on Christmas day; rides resume in January on Saturday nights only. Look forward to seeing winking and dancing bears, toy soldiers, hot air balloons and much more... The rest you have to see for yourself! Call the welcome center at 865-436-0535 for reservations and more details.

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It finally looks like fall in the Smoky Mountains! Now is the time to rent a cabin, pack your bags, and take a beautiful drive to east Tennessee! For Vol fans, the timing could not get any better. Take a drive or hike in the park to finish off homecoming weekend and look for great discounted accommodations due to the late arrival of the fall colors. With the recent turn in weather, the mid elevations are expected to be brilliant through this weekend, followed by more and more color appearing in the lower elevations as we enter next week. The park reports that colors are best between 2400 and 4500 feet with amazing shades of red, orange, yellow, and burgundy showing in every direction. A park volunteer even believes he has not seen color this remarkable in five years.

If you do not have time to make it into the national park, take a walk or drive around Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville to also find spectacular colors. The entire community is ablaze with color and now that Winterfest has begun, plenty of activities are available morning, noon, and night. Do not delay! Nature will not hold onto these breathtaking views for very long.

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Pigeon Forge Winterfest has been named a “don’t-miss” event for 2006 by a committee of the American Bus Association; to be exact, they ranked the dazzling lights festival as one of the Top 100 Events in North America. This doesn’t surprise me at all. Each year Winterfest opens a world of fun, free things to do in Sevier County. The entire county gets involved, putting on the most impressive holiday festival in the state of Tennessee. There are attractions tailored for all ages, all different personalities. Anyone can find something fun to do or see!

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It's here! The Pigeon Forge Winterfest celebration kick-off is this Thursday, November 3rd at 5:30 p.m. The evening will be filled with entertainers including Greenbriar and Louise Mandrell. Louise Mandrell will host the show, and she will partner with local Volunteer of the Year Bob Kolb to flip the switch, lighting up the brisk Pigeon Forge evening skyline with the city's display of over five million lights. After the light ceremony, trolley light tours begin, complimentary this night only. Rides are scheduled throughout the rest of Winterfest, with $5 admission. Call 865-429-7350 for more details.

Spectacular light displays illuminate the evening landscape of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the four month-long holiday celebration of Winterfest. Over five million lights shimmer at dusk throughout the Smoky Mountain town, inspiring a grand jubilee of light arrangements, festive decorations, special events, seasonal delicacies and mountain music.

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