Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show

If there is one thing that Gatlinburg is known for other than its thriving tourism economy, it’s the broad spectrum of arts & crafts that are produced by the town’s local artisans. Here, local artists even have their own community and put on such big events as the 2013 Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Now this isn’t the town’s first go-round with such shows, Gatlinburg is known nationwide for its numerous arts and crafts shows, but a few specific shows like the one that occurs every year at Easter, stand out above the rest. The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show takes place, as you guessed it, Easter weekend (March 28-30). You’ll see some of the finest artisans from the area demonstrating their craft and selling their wares.

The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show is FREE to the public and features all local artists. You won’t find that to be the case at any other arts and crafts festivals you may encounter. If you’re wanting to capture the true essence of the Smokies in the form of a gift, or just something special to remember your trip by, this show is a must-see. Put on by members of the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts community – one of the oldest of its kind in the country made up entirely of artisans, its become widely renowned for its uniqueness when it comes to the types of crafts on display. A number of the artists in the community are second, third, and even fourth-generation artists, their trades inherited and passed down among their family members.

After you visit the Convention Center, feel free to visit the 8-mile loop trail that makes up the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community located just three miles from downtown Gatlinburg on Highway 321 N or East Parkway. Here, you can visit with over 100 artists and craftsmen in their shops, listen to their stories, and pick up a few tips as well.

What kinds of Smoky Mountain-inspired arts and crafts appeal to you? Whatever it may be, you won’t want to miss this show!

Pirate’s Ball

Aaaaaaarrrrgh! Beware of pirates if you come to town in March. They’re nice pirates though, and it’s for a good cause. It’s all for the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc. And it’s their 5th annual Pirate’s Ball fundraiser at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

If you’ve ever wanted to be a pirate, what better of an event to let your hooks, err hair down. It all takes place March 11. As mentioned, the fundraiser benefits the Good Shepherd Center, a non-profit residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally- challenged adolescents from ages 13 to 21.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is the perfect place to host a gathering of pirates. Unique exhibits like the attraction’s underwater tunnels, sharks, and the ability to pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs in the stingray pool, are just a few of the aquarium’s big selling points and makes it a great spot to hold a fundraiser. And let’s not forget the penguins that live at the aquarium on Penguin beach. They’re so fun. They also feature a great coral reef exhibit, so be sure to stop a see that. Kids can play in the Discovery center. There’s always something for everyone, even pirates.

The Pirate’s Ball will feature food, drinks, dancing, and live entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your camera to this event, there will be plenty of opportunities to snap great shots of you and your pirate friends. Be sure to bring your “pirate accent,” appetite and your sense of adventure and fun.

If you’re going to be coming in from out of town, a Gatlinburg cabin rental is the perfect place to stay. Enjoy the Aquarium by night, and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains by day. There is so much to see and do in Gatlinburg, so bring some outdoor clothes as well and make the event a great little vacation.

The Pirate Ball turns Gatlinburg into a tropical paradise every year with live music, dancing, food and drink. For more information, call 865-774-7684.

Smoky Mountain Springfest

Spring in Gatlinburg means festivals galore. From barbeque to wildflowers, there’s a celebration for everything.

To say that Spring is just around the corner would be false, but we can eagerly look ahead during these long, cold January days. With every Spring, Gatlinburg ushers in a busy festival season in the old town.

Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Springfest celebration begins March 12 and continues through June 2. People can witness the town’s transformation into Spring when the streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, lantanas, and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers that can be seen throughout town.

On Easter morning, March 31, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 14th Annual Easter Sunrise Service enhanced by the beauty of the Smokies. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 5:45 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins at 6:30 a.m. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.

The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque will fill the air as folks roll up sleeves and dive in to sample their secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from vendors from all over the Southeast in April at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings from 5-8pm. This festive street party features live entertainment, lots of fun and barbeque ribs and wings on the open grill just for your tasting.

The 63rd Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage & Greener Living Expo, set April 24-28, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the University of Tennessee Botany Department, this five-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the wonderful season of spring in the Smokies.

Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show March 28-30.

To learn more about these and other events in Gatlinburg, call 800-56-VISIT (568-4748) or visit the Gatlinburg website at www.gatlinburg.com.

Gatlinburg Improv Fest

Mark your calendars for this year’s Gatlinburg Improv Fest at Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre March 8-9. It will feature a number of improvisation groups and instructors participating in a series of shows and classes over the two days of the event.

If you are a fan of stand-up and improv comedy, you might want to check out Improv Fest, March 8-9. The Gatlinburg Improv Fest is a festival for improv comedians and comedian groups to come and hone their craft. At the Gatlinburg event, there will be instructors giving classes to up and coming and inspiring improv performers, along with performers doing shows for spectators. The event will be held at the renowned Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre. The headline event, Chase Padgett’s “Six Guitars” act, will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8, and again on Saturday March 9, at the same time.

We understand some of you may have no clue what improv comedy is; we were also in your shoes not so long ago. We will do our best to give you a brief explanation so you can understand just how entertaining the Gatlinburg Improv Fest has the potential to be. In short, improv comedy is comedy “on the fly,” comedy in response to the environment. There is little to no scripting in improv comedy, and if done well, it is absolutely hilarious.

The multiple-award winning “Six Guitars” by Chase Padgett features Padgett taking on the personality of six different guitar players, each with their own voice, personality, and guitar-playing style. The result is a knee-slapping performance guaranteed to bring tears of laughter from the audience’s eyes.

Show times will be at announced for Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.

For more information, email gatlinburgimprovfest@gmail.com or call (865) 325-9712.

Winter Special Olympics

One of the more rewarding events you can experience in Gatlinburg are the Winter Special Olympics that occur every January at Ober Gatlinburg. It’s a great way to not only enjoy all the amenities offered at Ober, but also a way to cheer on some of the most deserving athletes you’ll ever meet.

Visitors are encouraged to come cheer on our Tennessee Special Olympics athletes as they compete for the gold and earn medals at their annual Winter Games. The two-day sports festival features events including snow skiing, ice skating and snowboarding.

Over 140 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding and Speed Skating in divisions based on age and ability.  The traditional lighting of the Special Olympics flame will take place on Monday morning at 9am on top of Ober Gatlinburg. The medal ceremony will begin at 2pm on Tuesday.

Special Olympic athletes have a real passion for what they do and live up to their highest potentials both on the field and off. Not only are the Special Olympics about competing with one another for medals and prizes, but it is also about having fun, meeting new friends, becoming part of a team and learning new skills along the way. Children and adults are urged to train for the Tennessee Winter Special Olympics which offer three different events to compete in.

Whether you have friends and family that are competing in the Tennessee Winter Special Olympics or are simply visiting the area, this is an amazing event to attend. There is a tram available at the bottom of the mountain that can take guests up to Ober Gatlinburg. Watch competitions in Speed Skating, Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding at different levels from beginner to advanced and see which athletes go home with the gold during the 2013 season.

2013 Gatlinburg Calendar of Events

January

Gatlinburg’s 23rd Annual Winterfest (January 1 – 31) – The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. Special lighting displays are added in January for Valentines Day. For more information please call 800-568-4748.

Ober Gatlinburg Winter Sports (January 1 – 31) – Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. 800-251-9202.

February

Gatlinburg’s 23rd Annual Winterfest (February 1 – 28) – The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. Special lighting displays are added in January for Valentines Day. For more information please call 800-568-4748.

Ober Gatlinburg Winter Sports (February 1 – 28) – Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. 800-251-9202.

March

Ober Gatlinburg Winter Sports (March 1 – 16) – Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. 800-251-9202.

Smoky Mountain Springfest (March 12 – June 2) – A countywide celebration of the season featuring special events, local craft shows and much more. 800-568-4748.

4th Annual Gatlinburg Screenfest (March TBA) – River Terrace Resort. Features independent films and filmmakers from all over the nation. For additional information visit www.gatlinburgscreenfest.com or call 865-809-4106.

Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show (March 28-30) – Unique handcrafted gifts and products produced by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are placed on display and offered for sale as they host their annual Easter show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Easter Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg (March 31) – Soak up Easter Sunday sunrise from the top of Mt. Harrison at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort during this service sponsored by the Gatlinburg Ministerial Association.

April

14th Annual Smoky Mountain Trout Festival (April 6-7) – Open to adults and children. Multiple categories to be contested in this largest trout tournament in the Smokies. For information call 865-661-3474.

5th Annual Gatlinburg Gateway Triathlon (April 13) – Gatlinburg Community Center. Begins at 8:15 am. Open to anyone 15 years and older capable of swimming one-half mile, biking twenty kilometers, and running five kilometers consecutively. 865-436-4990.

Music on the Mountain (April TBA) – Sugarlands Visitor Center. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park presents its one-day event with free, limited-seating performances by a series of six prominent musical acts. 10 am. – 5 pm.

5th Annual Mountain Man Memorial March (April 20) – 26.2-mile march in the Smoky Mountains. A tribute to our men and women in uniform. For information call 865-974-5371.

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage (April 24-28) – Seven day event featuring 170 different programs, nature walks, lectures, seminars, art classes, photographic tours, and motorcades. Call 865-436-7318 ext. 22 or visit www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org.

May

10th Annual Ribfest and Wings (TBA) – Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza and River Road. Live music, children’s activities and Hot wing eating contests. $10.00. Call 800-568-4748 for details.

Gatlinburg Farmer’s Market (May 18 – October 12) – Offering local choices for healthy mountain living, the Gatlinburg Farmers Market is open each Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Alamo Steakhouse parking lot at 705 East Parkway starting May 18 through October 12, 2013.

June

Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales (June 21 – August 10) – Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales is a summer-long street performance event featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying time periods as far back as 1800.

July

4th of July Midnight Parade (July 3-4) – Saluting the valiant men and women of our military services, this 38th annual showcase is the “First July Fourth Parade in the Nation!” Parade starts at the stroke of midnight to begin Independence Day.

River Raft Regatta (July 4) – Gatlinburg’s popular River Raft Regatta takes place at noon on July 4th, on the Little Pigeon River in Downtown Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg Craftmen’s Fair (July 19-28) – Art, crafts and music lovers can find 150-plus booths featuring some of the nation’s finest work. Artisans and craftspeople are on hand to demonstrate their skills, answer questions and offer their unique art for sale. Live Country & Bluegrass entertainment. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

August

Smoky Mountain Songwriter’s Festival (August 15-18) – Celebrating the area’s Appalachian musical roots, Gatlinburg will host its third annual Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival August 15 through 18.

September

Fat Cars ‘N Mason Jars Moonshine Festival (September 26-28) – Ole Smoky Moonshine celebrates Appalachian heritage with this event featuring tours and mountain music. A concert and dinner are also part of the tentative plans.

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (September 13 – October 31) – Fall decorations, events, entertainment, and local craft exhibits.

Octoberfest at Ober (September 27 – November 3) – Ober Gatlinburg is celebrating October with a fantastic festival featuring Bavarian-style food, drink and music, but you don’t have to don your finest lederhosen or dirndls to be a part of the fun.

Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament (September 28 & 29) – The 14th Annual Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament is open to adults or children – and equally challenging for both visitors and locals, with multiple categories to be contested in this largest trout tournament in the Smokies.

October

Smoky Mountain Fall Foliage (October 1 – November 2) – The notion that peak color season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park happens in mid-October is a misconception. The marvelous colors of autumn actually light up the Smokies for seven weeks or more as the peak elevations move down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills.

Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival (October 4-6) – A family oriented fine arts festival featuring juried artists from around the country and music on the campus of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in downtown Gatlinburg.

Ripley’s Fright Nights (October 4-31) – Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is celebrating its 15th annual Fright Nights.

Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair (October 10-27) – Art, crafts and music lovers can find almost 200 booths featuring some of the nation’s finest work. Artisans and craftspeople are on hand to demonstrate their skills, answer questions and offer their unique art for sale. Live Country & Bluegrass entertainment.

November

Veteran’s Day Celebration (November 11) – Join Gatlinburg in saluting America’s veterans of the Armed Forces, featuring stirring musical numbers and words of tribute on Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza.

Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff (November 13) – Offering mouth-watering recipes of homemade chili ranging from mild and delightful to wild and adventurous, the City of Gatlinburg hosts its 24th annual Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cookoff on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown.

Festival of Trees (November 26-30) – Surrounded by the twinkling lights and sounds and smells of the holidays, shop the many handmade centerpieces and craft items, and return to the joys of celebrating Christmas in the Smokies.

Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show (November 26 – December 1) – Unique handcrafted Thanksgiving gifts made by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are offered for sale at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Nutcracker “Sweet” (November 29 & 30) – Presented by the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre, enjoy this holiday classic presented in Gatlinburg, with performances at 7 p.m. in the W.L. Mills Auditorium. (GSE) Call (865) 680-7369 for information and reservations.

Winter Magic Tunes & Tales (November 29 – December 21) – Through the holiday season, visitors can meet characters and storytellers and enjoy caroling along the Parkway Friday and Saturday evenings during this fourth annual event!

December

Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show (December 2-8) – Unique handcrafted gifts made by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are offered as they host their annual Christmas show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade (December 6) – The City of Gatlinburg invites you to bundle up and generate a spirited dose of holiday cheer and soak up Gatlinburg’s 38th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade at 7:30 p.m.

Christmas On Ice (December 7 & 8) – Enjoy the spirit of the season as local skaters display their talents on ice to the sounds of holiday music in a two-day performance at Ober Gatlinburg’s ice arena.

*Be sure to also check out the Pigeon Forge Calendar of Events.

Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show

The Great Smoky Christmas Arts and Crafts show is the big one in Gatlinburg every year. Stop by the Convention Center and see for yourself.

Gatlinburg really does have the market cornered when it comes to holiday arts & crafts show. And that’s in large part due to Gatlinburg’s thriving arts & crafts community. Next up on the docket is the Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show scheduled to take place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center November 26 – December 2.

Want to find that perfect Christmas gift for the person hardest to shop for on your list? The Gatlinburg Christmas Arts and Crafts Show has the finest collection of local and national craftspeople each year. Shop the best collection of Christmas holiday crafts you’re bound to see this year. Plan on attending this craft show. Mark  it on your calendar and be at the Gatlinburg Convention Center the week of November 26.

Let the Christmas Crafts Show be your Christmas shopping answer. Find that piece of jewelry or that perfect holiday decoration for your home here from November 26 – December 2. Meet the crafters, get tips and ask them questions. Crafters are a tight-knit group. They also know one another pretty well. So, if you think you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask anyone there and usually they can point you in the right direction.

Expect to see over 200 different crafters at the event. It seems like every year more and more people are wanting to participate. From paintings to wood works, it’s all here. Tables are full of merchandise and the crafters are as talented as they are knowledgeable about their items. Again, take the time to get to know the people and you’ll have a greater acceptance for the craft and make your purchase all that more rewarding. You won’t find a greater group of people anywhere in the country than the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. They live it, breath it, and love to talk about it.

The crafts and art are the main draw of the show but there is always some kind of entertainment throughout the day, food to enjoy and demonstrations from a range of talented artists. Hey, you may walk up to someone finishing a perfectly turned piece of pottery, or finishing the final brush strokes on a brand new painting. Take in the show for a bit of Christmas shopping, expanding your knowledge about the crafts, shaking hands with a group of new friends or just attending one of the best events in the Southeast you are sure find something unique at the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts show..

Doors open at 10 am and admission to the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show in FREE. For additional information call (800) 568-4748 or visit our website at www.gatlinburgcrafts.com.

Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

Get the inside information about the 2012 Gatlinburg Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights in Gatlinburg, TN scheduled for Friday, December 7. Find out where the parade starts, ends, how long it lasts, etc.

The time of year has come for the 2012 Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade scheduled for Friday, December 7 and beginning at 7:30 pm. The Christmas parade is the third event in Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic celebration. This parade will feature over 100 entries which includes at least 12 marching bands, giant helium balloons, and so much more. Finally, what Christmas parade would be complete without Santa Claus? He’ll be there as well!

Presented by Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Sharky and Sharkette of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will serve as the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade’s Grand Marshals as it travels through downtown Gatlinburg. Distinguished entries in this year’s parade include the world-famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The first Wienermobile was designed by Carl Mayer, nephew of Oscar Mayer, in 1936. The Wienermobile itself is 24 hot dogs high, 60 hot dogs long, 18 hot dogs wide and weighs 140,500 hot dogs.

If you plan on attending the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade, here is some inside info that can help you out. Santa will start his “Autograph Party” at 6 pm at the Riverbend Mall which is located in front of the Welcome Center at traffic light No. 3. The parade itself is scheduled to start at approximately 7:30pm. It will will begin at traffic light 1A on highway 321 and will make its way downtown to traffic light No. 10. If you’re anywhere between those two traffic lights, you’ll have front-row seats for the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade! The parade will last about an hour and a half, so bundle up and bring some hot chocolate!

They are expecting around 80,000 to view the parade, so it’s wise to find a spot early. Also, make necessary dinner plans as most restaurants in Gatlinburg will be packed between 5 pm-7 pm. Either call ahead to your restaurant of choice, grab some fast food, or eat wherever you will be staying (hotel, cabin, etc). It’s not suggested to eat in Pigeon Forge as it will be difficult driving into Gatlinburg before the parade. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s something to prepare for that will make your evening more enjoyable.

The Gatlinburg Christmas Parade is a great event for the entire family. It’s an enjoyable experience to see the faces of children light up as they see all of the lights, floats, cars, entertainers, etc stroll down the street. The music, sights, smells, etc add to what makes a Smoky Mountain Christmas so special to the locals. We hope that you get to experience it along with us! Besides the parade, you’ll also find yourself in a place where people still say Merry Christmas and enjoy sharing their faith and the true reason for the season with others. Christmas in the Smokies is truly one of God’s blessings. We sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Shocktober in Gatlinburg Begins Tomorrow!

Witness mentalist Bill Gladwell perform tricks with the mind that will you amazed and confounded at Gatlinburg’s Shocktober (Oct. 17-31).

If your idea of being scared has less to do with vampires and other things that go bump in the night, and is more about the tricks and deceptions a person’s mind can play on them, you’ll want to be in Gatlinburg tomorrow for the first showing of Shrieks and Mind Freaks as part of Shocktober in Gatlinburg. The show is put on by Bill Gladwell, one of the nation’s most talented mentalists. His mystical show, Shrieks and Mind Freaks, will take place at the Arcadia Theater October 17th through Halloween night (October 31).

Bill Gladwell has received numerous accolades over the years with his incredible mental abilities. This particular show has been hailed as one of best to come through Gatlinburg by a number of media outlets. Gladwell demonstrates his abilities through two completely different performances. If you choose to see Head Case, you’ll witness Gladwell’s hypnotic abilities combined with the power of suggestion and psychology. As with all famous hypnotists and magicians, Gladwell’s talents as a showman take the performance to new heights of thought and wonder with each show. Audience members will stand mouths agape as he pulls thoughts directly from their mind and completes what they’ve only begun to say.

In Gladwell’s Hypnotized performance, actual volunteer audience members – not paid performers, not audience plants, are picked to help deliver a thought-provoking, while humorous show. It’s a part family-friendly comedy show as audience members are convinced that they’re things like movie stars, dancers, or weight lifters in a competition. You’ll laugh in amazement as people are transformed mentally before your very eyes.

People know about these shows , but do you really know what Gladwell has in store for his Halloween performance? Hypnotism? Mind-reading? Maybe something even more mind blowing?

Only he knows the details, so it’s truly going to be a surprise. Especially for those who choose to volunteer. The one guarantee is that it will be an experience you’ll never forget. So be sure to check out Shrieks and Mind Freaks in Gatlinburg! Shocktober 17-31 at the Arcadia Theater in Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg’s Trick or Treat Carnival

Gatlinburg’s Trick or Treat carnival takes place on Halloween at Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza at 12 noon.

For those of you with small children who still want them to experience all the fun and frivolity of Halloween, Gatlinburg has the perfect event planned for you. Their 5th Annual Trick or Treat Kickoff Carnival is slated to be held on Wednesday, October 31 from noon to 5 p.m. at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. It’s fun for kids of all ages. There will be contests, inflatables including a bounce house, games, costumed characters, food vendors and lots of CANDY! If it’s anything like in years past, it will be a memorable, fun night for the kids and you as well.

Gatlinburg started its Trick or Treat Carnival five years ago because there a number of things Halloween-related that may be a little too frightening for the town’s younger residents. Therefore, something that eventually became  the Trick or Treat Kickoff Carnival would be a great option for the younger crowd. When kids get to the Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza Halloween afternoon, local businesses will be handing out candy and gifts in order to get the day started out right. There will be a number of costume contests, games and prizes, for everyone. So come dressed in your favorite get-up, costume, whatever.

This fantastic family Halloween day event is not just for the locals, any visiting children and their parents who want to take part in the fun are more than welcome to come participate in the contests, play in the inflatables, fill their bags with candy as well as participate in a pumpkin contest.

Trick or treat safety tips will be provided by the Gatlinburg Police Department and the Gatlinburg Fire Department will offer information on fire safety during the event, which attracted more than 1,200 children last year.

Proceeds from some activities will benefit the United Way of Sevier County. To volunteer or for more information, contact Chuck Winstead at 654-0766.