The Day Hiker

In my opinion, there is no better find in a small mountain town then a good outfitter.  In Gatlinburg, one of my favorite places to pick up those things that I need while I am on the trail is The Day Hiker.  Located in the The Village, The Day Hiker is easy to find and always a pleasure to visit.  The walls are filled with all the necessities for a hike and somethings that you might not have thought you would find in a shop this size.

The Day Hiker is at the front of The Village in the center of Gatlinburg.  As you walk in, you will pass Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen and then The Day Hiker is immediately on the right.  When you step inside you will begin to explore all of the things you would need to spend a day on the trail.  Here is the funny thing though, the shop is called The Day Hiker but you could get gear to spend much longer on the trails in the Smokies here.  Backpacks to boots, food to trail fashions, literally everything you need for a day hike or a week long stay in the mountains.  But the best thing is that the staff is made up of hikers.

Unlike a lot of the outfitters in the Smokies, this shop is staffed by people that know their stuff.  If you are a novice and you are looking for a nice, quick hike with the kids, they will be glad to answers questions for you.  Maybe you are about to take your first serious hike and you need to pick up a pair of boots that will get you from hear to there.  The good people at The Day Hiker will be glad to make recommendations and point you in the right direction.  Or maybe you are getting ready to start a week long journey into the mountains and you know that your backpack or sleeping bag is not up to the trials of the trail you are going to be on.  Let the staff at The Day Hiker give you the tips you need to have a good time on the trail and not end up shivering in your sleeping bags during the cold nights.

They also have some of the best hiking t-shirts in Gatlinburg.  Funny, thought provoking and well made, you can find that t-shirt for those that could not make the trip.  You can find that shirt that let’s everybody know you spent some time hiking or just grab it for a souvenir of a great trip to the Smokies.  Either way, the selection of t-shirts at The Day Hiker is extraordinary.

If you are planning to hike while you are in the Smoky Mountains, it is always best to be prepared.  Make sure that you have the right gear for the trail you are hiking and of course if you have questions you need to find someone that hikes to ask.  The Day Hiker’s staff certainly has the knowledge and gear to help you have a great time while you are hiking.  Stop and tell them hello.  Ask them some questions and get them talking about the hikes they have taken. You might get a tip or find a trail that you would not have thought to hike otherwise.  The Day Hiker is one of the best outfitters in the Smokies and needs to be on your list of places to shop while you are in the mountains of East Tennessee.

The Day Hiker
634 Parkway #1
Gatlinburg, TN
877-229-4453
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Davy Crockett Mini Golf

Everybody loves to play miniature golf.  In Gatlinburg, one of the most popular mini golf locations is Davy Crockett Miniature Golf.  Located right off the parkway, there is plenty of parking, free parking, and you are out of the press of downtown Gatlinburg.  Add to this that it is one of the most beautifully made and creative mini-golf locations in Gatlinburg and you are in for quite a treat.

Davy Crockett Mini Golf attempts to tell the story of legendary hero of the Tennessee mountains with the help of an all-critter cast.  From Davy, in this case a fun loving raccoon to the rest of his mountain home friends, you will be amused and your children will be delighted by the antics that these animals get up to.  From shooting cannons to creating water sluices, the animals have been placed around the golf course to add obstacles and to create an atmosphere of fun and adventure around the course, or in this case, two courses.

Both of the courses (36 hole sin all) are challenging and fun.  The obstacles range from water hazards to hills, from wavy bumps meant to make it hard to putt to holes that are not visible from where you start.  Ripleys (yes, the same folks that run the Aquarium) have made this one of the neatest golf courses you will ever play on.  And, unlike many other attractions and activities in Gatlinburg, you don’t have to park and walk for a long time to get there.  There is a parking lot for Davy Crockett Mini Golf guests right next door to the golf course itself, so you aren’t paying extra to park but, it is not far down the street from some of the hotels and motels so you are always welcome to walk to Davy Crockett and enjoy the nice stretch of the legs on your way to play with the family.

Next trip you take to Gatlinburg, make sure that the Davy Crockett Mini Golf is part of your itinerary.  Get the family together and hang out in the great outdoors.  Spend some time challenging the kids.  Play both courses and take in the playful antics of the critters that tell a story about Davy Crockett as you make your way around the courses.  See who can win the game and then, when you come back year after year, play again and again, wait for that day when your kids finally win and then you can reflect on that first game you played with the Davy Crockett raccoon watching from the sign.

Davy Crockett Mini Golf
188 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-8851
http://www.ripleys.com/gatlinburg/your-visit/ripleys-mini-golfs/

Celtic Heritage

Our goal is to link You with your own Celtic Heritage

The people that settled the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina were primarily of Scottish and Irish descent.  If you are trying to rediscover those roots in yourself you can always step through the doors of Celtic Heritage in The Village shopping center in Gatlinburg, TN.  Each and every inch of this quaint shop is covered with Scottish and Irish merchandise from the mother land.  Food stuffs to clothing, accessories to music, Celtic Heritage has a little bit of it all.  And in this shop if it is not Celtic it is not displayed.

As you walk in your eyes will be buffeted by the sheer number of items that they have packed onto the shelves.  At the very front of the store are two display cases that are filled with ornate, traditional Celtic jewelry.  Wedding bands with a Celtic theme, Claddagh rings for both men and women and of course, necklaces and earrings decorated with Celtic knots and trinities.  These pieces of jewelry range from sterling silver to gold and fit every budget.  There are other pieces of jewelry on racks in the rest of the store as well.  These include kilt pins and badges that are designed after the clan crests of the various clans of Scotland.

If jewelry is not your thing start looking through the clothes.  T-shirts proclaiming your favorite nationality (Scottish, Irish or even those from Wales are represented).  Glengarries for those that want a pipe band feel, bonnets and plaid ivy caps for those that would like to keep their heads warm.  You can also get a tie, scarf or a pair of socks in the tartan of your family.  The tartan is the color and design of the kilt plaid that the various clans started wearing to designate themselves from each other.  If you are having a hard time picking out the right tartan for yourself, they also have a book that might help you make a choice based on your last name.

Among the other pieces of the merchandise on the shelves are foods from over the pond.  Shortbread cookies, sweets and drinks that have been imported to give you a taste of the motherland.  Candy bars that never see the inside of a vending machine on this side of the Atlantic are there for the purchasing.  You can try something new, something that you and your kids might never get a chance to try again.  One thing that I can recommend is the Irn Bru.  Irn Bru is known as the traditional drink of Scotland.  Think of it as a mountain Dew mixed with an Orange Crush.  Plenty of caffeine and plenty of sugar in this drink to keep you going all day and it is a decidedly Scottish beverage.

Pay a visit to Celtic Heritage.  They are located in The Village.  This shopping center has more then its fair share of shopping and dining possibilities.  If you go through The Village to the very last shop on the right you have found Celtic Heritage.  Spend some time at this unique, wonderful shop.  Get in touch with the Celtic side of things.

Celtic Heritage
634 Parkway #26
Gatlinburg, TN
800-391-6136
http://www.celticheritage.net/

Sugarlands to Undergo Renovations

Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg is getting a facelift, of sorts. In actuality, its lobby and visitor contact area are being renovated in order to improve the layout of the building’s main space.

That doesn’t mean you can’t still stop by as officials said the building would remain open through March 31, when the project is scheduled to be completed.

For the visitors center, it will be a welcome change to the building’s aesthetics, “many of whom find the current museum entrance to be difficult to locate,” said Molly Schroer, park spokesperson. “This renovation will alleviate that problem.”

Interactive exhibits will enhance park information for all visitors coming into Sugarlands. The center’s lighting system will be overhauled, as well as the information desk and the building’s overall accessibility. The aforementioned interactive exhibits in the lobby will highlight the park’s recent natural resource challenges, such as forest health and air quality.

Constructed in 1960, the Sugarlands Visitors Center sees thousands of park visitors come through its doors every year. Until 2011, when the Oconaluftee Visitor Center was constructed, Sugarlands was the only visitor center in the Great Smoky Mountains that was built specifically as a visitor center.

Park rangers provide the public with educational programs at Sugarlands Visitors Center including talks surrounding the park’s first settlers, edible wild plants that grow along the trails, or a simple GSMNP history lesson. The talks and presentations are specifically developed for Sugarlands by the Park Service. One good move might be to contact the visitors center before coming to the park to see what programs are running during your specified trip.

Another reason to visit Sugarlands is if you plan staying overnight in the Great Smoky Mountains at a campground or backcountry site. Not only can you make reservations at one of the park’s campgrounds, Sugarlands is an ideal place to make lodging plans for one of the park’s backcountry shelters. Each backcountry shelter must be reserved as they are managed by the park service. For anyone planning an overnight trip on one of the trails, make plans to stay in one of the shelters. Any of the Sugarlands park rangers will be able to help you out with that process.

Construction work will occur between 2 – 11 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, through the end of March. During construction, the natural history museum portion of the visitor center will be closed. All other services, including general information, the park film, and the bookstore will be open.

Mount LeConte

Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,593 feet in elevation, just behind Clingmans Dome and Mount Guyot. However, it is the tallest mountain in Tennessee measuring from its base to its tallest peak at 5,301 feet. And there’s is no spot in the park as talked about or sought out around the Gatlinburg area as LeConte.

It has four subpeaks – West Point (6,344 ft), High Top (6,593 ft), Cliff Tops (6,555 ft), and Myrtle Point (6,200 ft) and is also widely known for LeConte Lodge, the highest inn providing lodging for hikers in the Eastern United States.

When discussing the LeConte name, it’s still of great debate which LeConte family member the mountain is named in honor of. Joseph Le Conte, famous geologist, gets many a nod, especially from those in his field. Still, some like the authors of A Natural History of Mount Le Conte, believe Joseph’s older brother John Le Conte, a physicist at South Carolina College, is the rightful honoree. This claim says that Samuel Buckley, in respect to John’s help in moving his barometer to Waynesville, North Carolina, named the mountain in honor of his friend for the aforementioned good deed.

The mountain didn’t see much activity until the 1920s though. Paul Adams, an enthusiastic hiker and explorer, spent a good dose of his down time creating his own adventures in the Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountain Conservation Association, a group dedicated to establishing a national park in the region, was an interest he set his sights on in 1924. Adams actually led an expedition up the mountain after joining the association with big-wigs from Washington, in order to show them up close the beauty the mountain possessed. They spent the night in a large tent which eventually became the LeConte Lodge – a cabin now, and a popular stop and lodging point atop Mount LeConte. It was a rousing success as nearly a decade later Mount LeConte was included in the establishment of the Smokies as a national park.

Mount Le Conte is made up of Late Proterozoic rocks; mostly metamorphosed sandstone, siltstone, shale, and conglomerate formed over 800–450 million years ago and lies in the Appalachian Blue Ridge geologic and physiographic province. Years of erosion and weather events have given the mountains in the region a distinctive sloping feature. Southern Appalachian spruce-fir left over from the last Ice Age cover the mountain’s peaks and upper slopes.

Ober Gatlinburg Turns 50

There’s a BIG birthday to celebrate this year, but it isn’t just anyone in particular’s birthday. It’s Ober Gatlinburg’s, and the popular ski resort is turning a very robust 50 and looking even better with age.

With Sunday at Ober Gatlinburg being the first day of ski season after opening day was pushed back a few weeks, now’s an even better time to experience one of Gatlinburg’s most popular attractions.

Skiers were anxious to hit the slopes this year after 2012 when Ober was forced to close early due to unseasonably warm weather.

In all seriousness, 50 never looked better on anyone than it did at Ober this past weekend. With all the new snow, skiers no matter the age and experience, were slipping and sliding on the fresh slopes. The recent low temperatures made for some great new snowmaking.

Ober officials said with the amount of snow making equipment, and the conditions, three slopes were open on the first day which made for a busy afternoon and night. December 10 is what Ober usually shoots for every year as an opening date. With just a few weeks behind their target, guests seemed pleased despite the late opening.

Ober provides a much needed burst of economic productivity for the area to go along with the holiday tourism season.

As previously mentioned, Sunday marked the start of Ober’s 50th ski season and the day’s turnout couldn’t have been better. Over 1,000 skiers skied Ober’s slopes between its two sessions Sunday. A busy 2013 looks to be on the horizon.

*Ober Gatlinburg offers 9 trails for their guests from beginners to expert skiers. They are also equipped should you not have your own skis or snowboard. Their rental fleet contains 1,800 pairs of shaped skis and 400 snowboards, and the staff is more than happy to get you set up and ready to hit the slopes. Renting at Ober doesn’t just mean skis and snowboards, you can also rent ski pants, jackets, and helmets. They’ve really got you covered.

Wild Plum Tea Room

Are you looking for some place different to eat while you are in Gatlinburg?  Or, maybe like a lot of people you have heard of the Wild Plum Tea Room and have just never made the time to go there?  Well, drop what you are doing and get to the Wild Plum Tea Room right now.  You are in for something special and a unique experience in the Gatlinburg area.

The Wild Plum Tea Room is modeled after the teahouses in the mountains of Austria.  The idea with these teahouses was to have a place for people to gather, eat, talk and have a good time.  The food they ate was prepared off of whatever was in season and fresh, this is the same with the Wild Plum Tea Room.  They buy fresh and prepare something new all the time.  Depending on the season, depends on what you are served.  As the calendar moves forward and they harvest from their garden and buy from local farmers, the menu changes ever so slightly, day to day.  Also like those teahouses, it is a quaint shop with limited seating so it is always wsie to call ahead and make reservations.  Also when you call, you can find out what they have on the menu for the day.

Some of the menu items that you will see throughout the year include:

  • Homemade Pimento and Cheese
  • Sherried Tomato Bisque
  • Lobster Pie
  • Salmon Burger
  • Hommade Chicken Salad
Of course, you can always get their Wild Plum tea for which they are named.  This tea is served hot or cold and is a specialty of the house.  The hint of plum in the tea really brings out a different flavor that is surprising and wonderful.
If you have decided to take a ladies outing into the Smokies, the Wild Plum Tea Room might be the highlight of your trip.  It is a good place to have a wonderful meal and a the staff will make you feel like you are the only people in the room.  And gentleman, if you think because of the name that you will leave hungry, you could not be further from the truth.  They will fill you up with some of the best food you are going to find in Sevier County.  You are going to go to the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community while you are in town.  While you are there shopping, go to the Wild Plum Tea Room.

Wild Plum Tea Room
555 Buckhorn Road
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-3808
http://www.wildplumtearoom.com/

Today is the LAST DAY to Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Gatlinburg!

Today is the LAST DAY folks to recycle your Christmas Tree. Let Gatlinburg take care of your tree instead of dragging it down to the curb and waiting for it to be picked up for weeks, or even months sometimes. In return, you might even get something you didn’t expect but will leave you smiling regardless.

Today, Thursday Jan. 3, 2013, is the last day that the city of Gatlinburg will offer its annual Christmas tree exchange. Anyone who wants to bring their Christmas tree to the city greenhouse from 3-5 p.m. will in turn receive a late Christmas gift from the city in the form of a pecan, bald cypress or tulip poplar tree. Sort of a tree for a tree to plant on your own and watch grow.

The city greenhouse is located next to the Gatlinburg Community Center at 156 Proffitt Road.

Each tree will be recycled and put to good use, mulched up, and put through a chipper. The mulch is then used to fertilize the ground around city plants.

This is now a program that has been ongoing for 10 years now and continues every year right after New Years. Anyone who does not want to participate in the exchange, but still wants to drop their Christmas tree off can still do so at the greenhouse any time until Tuesday, Jan. 8.

For those who live closer to Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Christmas trees also can be dropped off for recycling at the Pigeon Forge Community Center parking lot through Friday, Jan. 4. Or, if you’d just assume to leave your tree at the curb, Sevier County Public Works officials report that they will be by to pick up trees left outside by city garbage customers this year. Those trees will also be mulched at the Sevier County Solid Waste facility.

A Jann Peitso Art

Jann Peitso is a watercolorist and a lover of all things East Tennessee. She uses the mountains, the cities and the people as a stepping off point to create art.  She uses vibrant color to produce paintings and characters that warm the heart and delight the soul.  She has characters like Bootsie and Gussie Mae covering the walls of her gallery and of course her other works of art including her renderings of quilts are just as original and perfectly befitting this artist of the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.

Gussie Mae and Bootsie are probably the two most memorable works that Jann Peitso has ever produced.  Gussie Mae is a personified flamingo.  She is the personification of all the women that survive the bumps of life and come out on the top.  Jann’s humor and wit really shine through in the Gussie Mae works and she has become a bit of a collectors piece for those that have been drawn to her long-legged antics.  Bootsie is another character all together.  Bootsie is the angle in your family that helps you keep up with all those important dates, wonderful people and helps us all to plan ahead in that time so that we can reach out to other that are in need. These are two of Jann’s most wonderful creations but they are by no means her most wonderful art.

It is in Jann’s ability to capture the beauty in nature and mix that with an artists ability to add the abstract that really sets her work apart.  She can take every twist and turn of a leaf or a tree and then add these vibrant colors to the image that make it leap off the page.  Her ability to take the trees and pieces of flora from the mountains of the Smokies and make them something even more spectacular, to put on paper her feelings when she sees a simple leaf and the colors that might just be her interpretation of fall is striking and lights up any room.  Jann is also fond of quilt blocks and she uses her watercolor abilities to re-interpret these age old country creations into wall hanging pieces of art that will compliment any decor.

A Jann Peitso has a gallery in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community on Glades Road.  If you head out of Gatlinburg on the way to Cosby, you will pass Glades Road about 11 miles from traffic light #3 on Hwy 321 or Parkway East, whichever you want to call it.  Usually she is in the gallery so while you are shopping and browsing you can actually talk to the artist that produced the art that decorates the walls and might, decorate your home as well.  Stop by and say hey to Jann.  Tell her how much you love Bootsie the Angel and Gussie Mae.  Pick up some prints and take a little of this wonderful artist home with you.  They might help you remember a special trip to the Smokies.

A Jann Peitso Art
170 Glades Road
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-2363
http://ajannpeitso.com

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.