Country Music’s Kaitlyn Baker Performs Free Concert at The Island in Pigeon Forge on September 23rd

Kaitlyn Baker Performs at Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn in Pigeon ForgeOne of country music’s hottest singer/songwriters, Kaitlyn Baker, is making a name for herself as the “new Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The twenty-one year old is from Pound, Virginia and her music  has been described as a little bit Loretta, a little bit Elvis, with a little bit of The Beatles thrown in for good measure. Baker will perform at the outdoor stage at Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn at The Island in Pigeon Forge on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 8:00 p.m.

This special “Fall to Pieces” concert is sponsored by Ole Smoky Distillery and Pepper Palace. Although the concert is free, donations will be graciously accepted for Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, a local non-profit.

Kaityn Baker’s new single, “To Pieces” is being released this month. Baker’s song “Coal Train” was featured in the 2015 Academy of Country Music Award’s ZinePak, a 2-CD album that also includes tracks from stars like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, and others.

Another one of Kaitlyn Baker’s songs “Burn” inspired Pepper Palace to create Kaitlyn Baker’s BURN Sauce two year’s ago. Known as “The Planet’s #1 Hot Shop, the Smoky Mountains-based company has a retail store at The Island in Pigeon Forge. 

For more information, visit Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn at The Island in Pigeon Forge.

All New Fun at the 4th Annual Halloween Carnival at The Island in Pigeon Forge

4th Annual Halloween Carnival at The Island in Pigeon ForgeThe Island in Pigeon Forge is brewing up all-new fun at the 4th Annual Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The entire oasis will be transformed into a magical carnival with circus acrobats, stilt-walkers, aerialists, and fire performers for a Halloween celebration like none other!

This free event features trick-or-treating throughout the property; just get a Candy Map and visit all the stops! Don’t forget, the annual Costume Contest will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Ole Smoky Moonshine Stage near the Dancing Fountains. Prizes will be given in several categories.

New this year! Selfie Studio will be available for free professional photos with family and friends so you can share your fabulous costumes with everyone on social media!

And for more fun, costumed guests at the event can purchase half-priced 24-hour unlimited ride passes! For more info on the 4th Annual Halloween Carnival at The Island in Pigeon Forge, call 865-286-0119.

Dandridge’s 10th Annual Scots-Irish Festival on September 24! It’s a Fun Celebration of Celtic Heritage in the Smokies!

The beautiful little village of Dandridge comes alive with the sites and sounds of bagpipes and Irish dancers during the 10th Annual Scots-Irish Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2016. With an amazing line-up of musical entertainment, you’ll want to spend the entire day at this great event by the lake.

Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival September 24

Dandridge is Tennessee’s second-oldest town and is situated along the banks of  TVA’s scenic Douglas Lake. The town’s 10th Annual Scots-Irish Festival begins at 9:00 a.m. with activities throughout the day. The event concludes at 9:00 p.m. with a lakeside performance by Kelly Shipe, Lone Piper on the Dike. Along with a street full of vendors, a highlands cattle and sheep exhibit, children’s play area, the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival offers something for everyone in your family.

Entertainment Lineup
Celtic music by The BorderCollies, Thistledown Tinkers, Lonestar Stout, Kathryn Powell, Kelly Shipe,  and Cranruach. Traditional storytelling with Bob Valentine and Sam Venable. Irish dancing with champion Katie Carver and local star Claire Macmillan.

Pipe & Drum Band Challenge Playoff
The Festival’s official band, the Knoxville Pipes & Drums will compete again the 17th Lancers Pipes & Drums from Nashville and the Atholl Highlanders Pipes & Drums from Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Dog Parade
The Dog Parade honors the Scottish and Irish working dogs who will lead off the parade at 3:00 p.m. Dogs of all breeds are encouraged to join in the parade. All pets must be on a short leash and easily controlled by their owners/handlers. There’s no charge for the parade, but donations to the Jefferson County Humane Society would be greatly appreciated!

Directions to the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival
Take exit 40 off Interstate 40 and turn right onto Highway 92 South. Drive approximately 2 miles to the intersection of Gay Street where Hwy. 92 turns right toward downtown. This turn may be crowded during the festival, so an alternate route is from Hwy. 92 South turn right onto US 25/70, which is about 1.5 miles from I-40, then in about 100 yards turn left onto Cherokee Drive. Continue on Cherokee Drive to the “T” at West Main Street. The largest parking area is on your right. See this Festival Parking Map for more parking locations.

Visit Schedule of Events for a complete list of entertainment and activities and their times.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Mountain Life Festival on September 17 | Come Celebrate the Harvest!

It’s fall harvest time at the Mountain Farm Museum on Saturday, September 17, 2016. From 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. the Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts the annual Mountain Life Festival at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center’s Mountain Farm Museum near Cherokee, North Carolina.

Mountain Life Festival September

The Mountain Farm Museum comes to life each fall with demonstrations of everyday pioneer activities like lye soap making, blacksmithing, apple butter making, chair bottoming, hearth cooking, and the ever-popular making of sorghum molasses. This sweet nectar has been made the same way for over 100 years with a horse or mule-powered cane mill and an open hearth wood-fired cooker. All activities are free and the public is invited to enjoy an autumn day on the farm!

The Mountain Life Festival reflects the spirit of cooperation among families in the rural southern Appalachian Mountains. Historic photographs and artifacts from the GSMNP collection will be on display for all to enjoy and reflect on our mountain heritage.

Enjoy an old-fashioned music jam session from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. These jam sessions are held every first and third Saturday of the month.

The Mountain Farm Museum is located at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, two miles north of Cherokee, NC.  For more information call the Visitor Center at 828-497-1904.

Brute Heart’s Jackie Beckey Performs at Oconaluftee on September 11 and at Cades Cove on September 17

Critically-acclaimed Brute Heart’s Jackie Beckey will perform original, mountain-inspired music at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. and in Cades Cove at the Becky Cable House on Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The free performances entitled “Appalachian Range: Old Mountains, New Music” are part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program.

Brute Heart's Jackie Beckey to Perform at Cades Cove

Brute Heart’s Jackie Beckey (photo: John Behm/Reviler.org)

Jackie Beckey is one of seven artists who were selected to participate in this special program allowing them to live and create art within the park for 4-6 weeks. The program is made possible by support from Friends of the Smokies and Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts.

Jackie Beckey is a classically trained violinist, composer, librarian, archivist and community-oriented performing artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her band, Brute Heart was commissioned in 2012 by the Walker Art Center to compose an original score the film classic, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”

Connect with Jackie and Brute Heart on Facebook. Here is a great recent article on Beckey at The Current.

For more information on other Artists-in-Residence programs, visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.