Escape the Winter Blues at the Smoky Mountain Snowdown Winter Festival January 26 – 29, 2017

Looking to escape this winter blues? The Smoky Mountain Snowdown Winter Festival on January 26-29,2017 in Townsend, Tennessee make be just the cure for which you’re looking! For the third year, this Winter Festival celebrates Smoky Mountain heritage and culture through art, music, food and drink. Entry to the festival is free; however several of the classes and activities have admission fees.

All the fun begins with great food and music on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at a free Opening Reception at Mtn Trax in Townsend, Tennessee from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Here are just a few of great activities to enjoy at the 3rd Annual Smoky Mountain Snowdown Winter Festival in Townsend, Tennessee:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

Brusho Watercolor @ Cades Cove Cellars
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 per person (ages 12 and older)

Beginning Dulcimer @ Wood-n-Strings Dulcimer Shop
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 – $40 per person (ages 7 and older)

Cades Cove Preservation @ Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: free

Cast Iron Cooking Demonstration and Luncheon @ Dancing Bear Lodge and Appalachian Bistro
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person

Textured Crochet @ Townsend Visitor Center
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 per person

Songwriters in the Round @ Tremont Lodge and Resort
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: TBD

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017

Get Wild Painting Wildflowers @ Townsend Visitors Center
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 per person (ages 9 and older)

Fly Tying Demonstrations @ Little River Outfitters
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: TBD

Charity Chili Challenge @ Apple Valley  Cafe
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $12 per person (ages 10 and under $5)

For a complete event schedule and to purchase tickets for the Winter Festival, visit Smoky Mountain Snowdown. Special lodging deals for the event available at Chilhowee Bed and Breakfast, Dancing Bear Lodge, Townsend Gateway Inn, Richmont Inn, and Best Western Cades Cove.

2017 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains set for April 11-15, 2017 in Gatlinburg | May We See in Spring New Shades of Green We’ve Never Seen Before!

Many have asked if the wildfires would prevent the 67th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains and the answer is no way! The popular event is scheduled for April 11-15, 2017 in Gatlinburg. Several trails were affected by the fires and the event planners are currently making adjustments to some of the outdoor programs. Registration for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage will begin on March 1, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.

The 67th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains is a four-day special event that offers 100+ guided walks and indoor presentations that explore the Smokies’ lush, natural environments at one of the best times of year!

Guided walks and hikes are led by naturalists and National Park staff allowing participants to view first-hand the awe-inspiring beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and learn more about the most biologically-diverse place on planet Earth! Indoor sessions take place at Mills Conference Center at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. This is an excellent opportunity to learn all about the wonders of the Smokies in springtime! There will be programs on wildflowers, trees, mosses, fungi, butterflies, bugs, birds, bears, cultural heritage, and more!

Registration is required for the 67th Annual Spring Wildflower Pigrimage in the Smoky Mountains either online at www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org or onsite at Mills Conference Center at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Follow the Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage on Facebook.

Fire reminds us that nature is not static.  Ecosystems are processes, constantly changing from one state to another, with an ever-changing cast of characters fulfilling the vital roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers.  No matter how much we want it to, not even rock stays the same, eventually broken down by wind and water, tree roots or lichen.  Trying to keep things exactly the same is just a waste of time. Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society.

We’re looking forward to seeing what new wonders the spring season will bring to the Smokies following last year’s wildfires. As a resilient Gatlinburg resident has said, “May we see in Spring new shades of green we’ve never seen before.” Join us for the 67th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smoky Mountains in April 2017!

In the meantime, take a peek at some beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers as filmed in the Greenbrier section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and an area just outside the park!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sets Visitation Record in 2016! Over 11 Million Folks Feeling Great in the Smokies!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park set an all-new visitation record in 2016 with over 11 million visitors! Last year 11,312,785 folks were…feeling great in the Smokies! Over 2,200 of them joined GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash on the trail for the Smokies Centennial Hike 100 challenge.

“I continue to be inspired by the number of people enjoying the park, but more importantly, I am moved by their unwavering support and care for this special place,” said Superintendent Cash in a recent press release. “This support is more critical than ever since we have entered into our second century of service and recovery following the Chimney Tops fire. The response of the Smoky Mountains community, both near and far, has been remarkable and we thank you.”

Known as the “People’s Park,” the Great Smoky Mountain National Park benefitted from over 117,000 hours of volunteer service by over 2,230 wonderful people. These folks volunteer their time and energy to provide trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, and provide visitor information on the trails, at the visitor centers and campgrounds within the park.

For more information about visitation, please go to the National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics web page at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/.

Get Ready for the Smoky Mountain Strong Bluegrass Celebration in Pigeon Forge on February 10 & 11, 2017

Play me some mountain music at the Smoky Mountain Strong Bluegrass Celebration in Pigeon Forge on February 10 & 11, 2017! Some of the most popular names in Bluegrass music are headed to LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge to donate their talents to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation Wildfire Scholarship Fund which will provide financial aid for Sevier County students who lost their homes in last year’s wild firestorm.

Here’s the fantastic line-up for the two-night Smoky Mountain Strong Bluegrass Celebration:

Friday, February 10, 2017
LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
5:00 p.m. (doors open at 4:00)
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Grascals
Flatt Lonesome
Volume 5

Saturday, February 10, 2017
LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
4:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:00)
The Lonesome River Band
Barry Bales & Friends
Newtown
Dave Adkins Band

Tickets for both concerts are $50 per person or $30 per person for either of the two concerts. Purchase tickets online at KnoxvilleTickets.com or visit the Department of Tourism offices at LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge. 

Here’s a peek at some of the great talent performing at the Smoky Mountain Strong Bluegrass Celebration. This video was produced by event sponsor Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism.

A Mountain Quiltfest at LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge March 21-25, 2017

The 23rd annual A Mountain Quiltfest, one of the leading quilting events in America, will be held at LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge March 21-25, 2017.

 

Hundreds of beautiful new and antique quilts will be on display, over 75 classes and lectures will be offered, and over 50 vendors will be on hand for all your quilting needs. 

This year RaNae Merrill, an award-winning quilter from New York City, will be a featured instructor for the 23rd annual A Smoky Mountain Quiltfest. RaNae’s unique spiral-patterned quilts, as shown above, have already become sought after works of art. Learn more about her at RaNaeMerrillQuilts.com.

To see the variety of quilting classes offered and prices, and to enter a quilt in the Quilt Show, please visit A Mountain Quiltfest Registration.

The 23rd Annual A Mountain Quiltfest is hosted the City of Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events. For more information, give them a call at 865-429-7350.