Gatlinburg Festival of Trees

The Gatlinburg Festival of Trees is one of the area’s premiere pre-holiday events featuring hundreds of ornately decorated Christmas trees.

Light up your holidays with a preview of some of the area’s most beautiful Christmas trees, ornately decorated to the nines.

The Gatlinburg Festival of Trees will begin November 20 and continue through November 24 at the W.L. Mills Conference Center next to the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg, TN. The event is hosted by the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries (SMARM) and all event proceeds go to benefit the organization as well. It’s one of the year’s great benefits in Gatlinburg and a great way to get you in the Christmas spirit early.

Gatlinburg Festival of TreesThe Gatlinburg Festival of Trees is exactly what the name implies – an immaculate display of fully-decorated Christmas trees. We’re talking about hundreds of Christmas trees. At the W.L. Mills Conference Center it will be Christmas in November for five days. Guests are free to walk through the rooms and enjoy the lights, trees, and other Christmas decorations that are sure to get your holiday ideas churning. And admission to the event is free! You can’t beat that. Donations toSmoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministeries, the event’s sponsor, is highly encouraged.

Accordingly, SMARM is a faith-based group which provides assistance to the poor and needy population in the Smoky Mountain area. They are truly an amazing group which does a lot of good work for the area, and what better time is there to help your neighbors than the season of giving?

This is truly an easy way to get yourself in the holiday spirit this year by giving to SMARM and witnessing the simply incredible decorated Christmas trees.

Gatlinburg arts & crafts will be available for purchase along with photography opportunities and more.

To get to the W.L. Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg coming from Hwy. 441, turn at stoplight No. 8 onto Historic Nature Trail Road. The W.L. Mills Convention Center is located on the right just a few blocks from the parkway in Gatlinburg. Parking is available along Historic Nature Trail Road.

The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Restaurant

Fine Dining Atop the Smokies!

Let’s say that you have come to the Smokies with that special someone and you are looking for the exact ‘right’ place to eat.  Maybe your trip is for a honeymoon in Gatlinburg, maybe it is an anniversary or maybe you just want a romantic meal.  There is really only one place to go:  the restaurant at The Lodge at Buckberry Creek.  Great scenery, great service and the food is to die for.  A dining experience at Buckberry Lodge is something that you will remember for years to come.

The Lodge at Buckberry Creek is located up, above Gatlinburg on Campbell Lead Road.  If you take the Gatlinburg Bypass, you will come across Campbell Lead road at the top of the bypass.  Here is one of the best parts of the adventure to the Lodge at Buckberry Creek:  you get to make the drive into the Smokies and have the reveal of this glorious little lodge in the mountains.  You will fall in love with the lodge.  The setting is perfect and the view of the valley from the outdoor restaurant tables will leave you speechless.

The service at Buckberry is impeccable and starts from the first minute you step through the door.  After you park you are going to head to the check-in office which doubles as the lobby for the restaurant as well.  Hopefully you have made reservation in advance, because they do fill up with guests of the lodge, very quickly.  If you have reservations, they will have your table ready.  If it is nice outside, I recommend sitting on the deck so that you can see the view, which is spectacular.  Here is where you know that you are at a fine dining restaurant, the menu changes daily (more on that later) and the staff knows that menu backwards and forwards.  They will answer any question that you have make you fill like you are the only person at the restaurant.

And the menu is the main draw.  The chef’s at Buckberry change the menu everyday.  The changes are based not only on what is fresh and seasonal but also on what the chef’s want to cook.  They love their jobs and they love to share their joy of cooking with guests and locals alike.  They do have some items that tend to stay on the menu.  Their Beef Tenderloin is fantastic each and every time that you have it.  Tender, juicy, perfectly cooked this is beef taken to an art form.  At almost every sitting, the chef will also send out a special to the table, this is may be something new from the chef that he is working on for a future appetizer or entree or it might just be something special for the night.  Artisan breads, perfectly cooked seafood and in general perfect culinary creations are the fame of this restaurant high above Gatlinburg.

You are going to want to have that one perfect special meal while you are visiting the Smoky Mountains.  Make The Lodge at Buckberry Creek that meal.  Call ahead and make reservations.  Sit outside, especially if it is fall.  Enjoy the peace and serenity of the location and the setting.  Of course, you are also going to experience the professional service and great food of a top notch restaurant.

The Lodge at Buckberry Creek
961 Campbell lead Rd
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-8030
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The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot in Gatlinburg is THE fondue experience in the Smoky Mountains. Come enjoy a four-course dining experience downtown.

The Melting Pot in Gatlinburg is an interactive dining experience leave you hungry for the same fondue experience that you’re not likely to find anywhere else. From that first piece of bread to the last piece of dessert, it’s a dining experience like no other filled with new tastes and smells, or memorable ones if you’re dining at the Melting Pot again.

Enjoy fondue cooking and a variety of dinners, salads and delectable desserts. When it’s fondue, it’s up to you, literally. Melting Pot’s four-course meal consists of cheese fondue, salad, entree, and desert. Maybe just a glass of wine is what you’re looking for, well stop by and pair it with some cheese fondue. Or come by late for some desert. Our chocolate fondue has drawn many a late-night couple or group of friends by to indulge their chocolate craving.

The Melting Pot isn’t just a fly-by-night restaurant in downtown Gatlinburg. They’ve been the premiere fondue experience across America since 1975 when the first Melting Pot opened in Maitland, Fla., just outside of Orlando. At its beginnings, the restaurant menu consisted of Swiss cheese fondue, beef fondue and a chocolate fondue dessert. The menu has been expanding ever since.

Mark Johnston,who served as a waiter at The Melting Pot during his college years, became interested in the business, and with the help of his two brothers Mike and Bob, opened The Melting Pot of Tallahassee in 1979. As the Tallahassee location grew, within one year, franchise expansion presented itself and the Johnstons seized upon the opportunity.

Today, it isn’t just cheese fondue you can expect. Choose from a selection of spinach artichoke, fiesta, cheddar, Wisconsin trio, traditional Swiss, and Big Night Out cheese fondue. Same can be said with chocolate and its dark to light variations, as well as the entrees of steak, shrimp, chicken, salmon, Filet Mignon, and much more.

In 2010, The Melting Pot Restaurants celebrated its 35th anniversary, opened a restaurant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – its first international restaurant, signed a seven-unit deal in Mexico and opened its first Mexico location in Mexico City.

Including Gatlinburg, the Melting Pot is now operating at 140 locations across North America with another 15 locations in development. It is still considered the premier fondue restaurant franchise in America. In Gatlinburg and across the country, this is where fondue truly becomes a dining event. Come experience a dining event at the Melting Pot in Gatlinburg where you’re sure to never forget that first dip of cheese fondue, or that last chocolate bite.

The Melting Pot
959 Parkway #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 430-4430

Winter Magic Tunes and Tales

Winter Magic Tunes and Tales will turn downtown Gatlinburg into a wintery wonderland of carolers and holiday cheer this season.

There’s nothing like FREE entertainment right? Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic version of its annual Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales program will be seen on the parkway downtown Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. So, if you weren’t able to catch the performers during the year, you’ll have another chance, except this go round it be holiday-themed tunes and Christmas tales.

The carolers are members of the Walters State Community College chorus under the direction of Deborah Hicks. You’re also bound to see the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School barbershop quartet at some point. They were regulars this past summer during Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales and performed to rave reviews. Catch them at the Gatlinburg Festival of Trees opening show as well as Gatlinburg’s performance of the Nutcracker Sweet on Friday and Saturday, November 29-30, both at W.L. Mills Conference center.

You’ll be able to recognize the carolers by their Dickens-style holiday garb. These are traditional Victorian-era costumes with top hats and bonnets aplenty. They’ll be strolling down the parkway in downtown Gatlinburg from 5-9 p.m. from November 23-24 and from December 1, 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22.

You might even catch a glimpse of Zeno the Gatlinburg bear as he delays hibernation to catch visitors walking along the parkway and take in the holiday magic.

Winter Magic is an annual Gatlinburg holiday celebration in which the town is covered with spectacular lighting displays and Christmas decorations sure to take you back to your own childhood and the impending excitement of Christmas. Gatlinburg’s downtown area becomes a forest of branches and scrolls, accentuating the timeless Smoky Mountain displays visitors have come to know and love over the course of 22 years. From animals who call the Great Smoky Mountains National Park home – black bears to wintery snowmen, toy soliders and a shiny rocking horse, it’s a Christmas wonderland of past and present delight.

Gatlinburg’s Nutcracker “Sweet”

Gatlinburg’s Nutcracker “Sweet” returns this holiday season for two performances at the W.L. Mills Conference Center.

There are certain things you look forward to with each oncoming holiday season, and for those of us fortunate enough to call the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee home, one of those things is the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre’s yearly presentation of The Nutcracker “Sweet” at the W.L. Mills conference center in Gatlinburg. The classic ballet will run from November 23-24. It’s a two-night show that features local dancers from Sevier, Knox and Jefferson counties, is very popular and has become one of those holiday events that gets marked on the calendar months in advance.

The Nutcracker, for those who aren’t familiar is not your typical ballet. It’s full of common ballet moves and choreography, but it’s a story that you can really get into unlike other ballets that can include bits of foreign language and topics. This holiday adaptation begins at a Christmas Eve party held in a German home. As a brother and sister delight in their godfather’s entertaining party story complete with life-size robotic dolls, the sister, Clara, receives a nutcracker as a gift from someone. It’s a short-lived happiness as her brother breaks the gift. Clara is chased by a pack of mice following the party when she comes to check on her broken toy. From there, Clara’s nutcracker must defeat the mouse king, and lead Clara on a holiday journey you’re not soon to forget.

Tickets for the show range from $10-25, and are cheapest when bought in advance. Shows are at 7 p.m. in the W.L. Mills Auditorium. Call (865) 680-7369 for information and reservations..

Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show

Get out to the Gatlinburg Convention Center November 21-25 for the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show.

If it’s one thing that Gatlinburg really knows how to do, its put on a top-of-the-line arts & crafts show. That’s thanks in large part to Gatlinburg’s vibrant arts & crafts community. And they aren’t slowing down anytime soon with the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show scheduled to take place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center November 21-25.

It’s an ideal place to find that perfect Christmas gift for that hard to shop for relative or significant other. The Gatlinburg Convention Center has a reputation of bringing in some of the finest local and national crafters each year. Want to shop the best collection of Thanksgiving crafts you’ll come across all year? Well, better plan on attending this craft show. And for those of you looking ahead toward Christmas, you’re sure to find some Christmas stuff there as well.

Let the Thanksgiving Crafts Show ease your holiday shopping concerns. From that intricate piece of jewelry to that perfect piece to cap off your front lawn, you’ll find it here in November. Take your time while you wander from table to table. You don’t want to miss a thing. This is also a great place to get tips and ask crafters questions about their works. They also know one another pretty well through the craft show events so if you’re looking for something special they know who sells or can point you in the right direction.

It’s not unusual to see around 200 different crafters at these events – that’s how popular they are. As was previously mentioned, you can find basically anything here from paintings to wood works, just ask. Each table is choc full of merchandise and the crafters are as talented as they are knowledgeable about their type of craft. 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 crafters anywhere in the country than the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. They live it, breath it, love it, and surround themselves with 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.

Veteran’s Day in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg’s Veterans Day celebration will occur Sunday, November 11 at 2 pm at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. The event is FREE to the public.

In what has become one of its more popular annual celebrations, Gatlinburg will pay homage to all military men and women who have served and are still serving with the town’s Veterans Day Celebration this November. The growing Gatlinburg event will take place on Sunday, November 11 at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies at 2pm and is FREE to the public.

As designated by the Veterans Day National Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs, Gatlinburg is an official Regional Site for the observance of Veterans Day and one of two cities in the state of Tennessee to hold that honor. Across the United States, 57 different cities are bestowed with this prestigious honor. Of course, Veterans Day is marked nationally by a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington DC in Virginia. Gatlinburg’s Veterans Day Celebration will occur in accordance with ceremonies taking place at the National Veterans Day Observance in Arlington.

“The time, date, and month hold historical significance, marking the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki continued. “Much has changed in our world since then. These changes have strengthened the very fabric of our nation. We have seen this spirit reflected in the brave men and women who have set aside many of their personal goals and ambitions to serve in the United States Armed Forces.”

For those of you planning to make a day of it at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, activities on the docket include recognition of veterans, a military flyover, an American Bald Eagle presentation, patriotic music, and much more.

“Our veterans deserve our gratitude and coming to Gatlinburg for this event is one of many, many ways we can show our support and to thank the veterans,” said George Hawkins, special events manager for the City of Gatlinburg. “While it’s very important for us to remember those who gave their lives to protect our nation, Veterans Day is the holiday dedicated to letting the surviving Veterans know how much we appreciate them.”

The City of Gatlinburg and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies are proud to sponsor this year’s Gatlinburg Veterans Day ceremony and hope that everyone will come out and give a big “Thank you!” to all our military men and women.

Park Grill

Gatlinburg’s Grand Steakhouse

When you come to the Smokies one of the questions that you will find yourself asking over and over is:  Where are we going to eat tonight?  If you are looking for one of the best dining experiences that you can have in the Smokies then you want to try the Park Grill.  Great steaks, great service and a reputation that brings people back year after year.

The Park Grill is a fine dining restaurant located near traffic light 10 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, TN.  The log cabin style building, uses full, huge logs on the outside and the inside to give you an amazing dining experience in true Smoky Mountain style.  As you enter the building, you will take in the grandeur of this decades old location in the food scene of the Smokies.  The interior is decorated with art and even some of the denizens of the Smokies.  The decor of this restaurant is designed to give you your own little quite space to enjoy a meal with that special someone.  Great design elements abound, even down to the chirping crickets in the bathrooms.

Let’s talk about the food:  WOW!  The menu at the Park Grill is very eclectic.  From food choices that you might see on any menu at a family restaurant to Smoky Mountain themed food, there is literally something for everyone.  Appetizers like their Smoked Trout Spread allow you to enjoy the trout that is famous for its connection to the Smokies in a whole different way.  All of the entrees come with their salad bar.  The salad bar at the Park Grill is unlike any salad bar that you have seen before – with several lettuce choices, lots of different choices, smoked oysters and even anchovies on the bar you will find thousands of different ways to make a salad at the Park Grill salad bar.  And as far as the entrees go, you will be able to choose from 9 different cuts of beef, local favorites like Moonshine Chicken and of course Fresh Rainbow Trout like you might catch in the Smokies.  But, be sure that you leave room for dessert.

There are a few restaurants where dessert is a required part of the meal.  With the dessert options at the Park Grill, dessert is a must.  Whether you choose the cobbler or the Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse you will not be disappointed.  But if you are looking for their signature dessert you are looking for the Jack Daniel’s Creme Brulee.  This is a traditional creme brulee made with Jack Daniel’s own Tennessee Sour Mach Whiskey.  The whiskey flavor is strong and wonderful.  A bit of class with an East Tennessee flare.  With the Jack Daniel’s Creme Brulee, they do sometimes run out by the end of the night so make sure that you preorder your dessert when you sit down.

Check out the Park Grill the next time you are in Gatlinburg.  If you are looking for that someplace special on your weekend getaway or your Gatlinburg honeymoon, the Park Grill is a great bet.  They fill up quickly so remember they do accept call ahead seating.  Go to the Park Grill and let them treat you to a fine dining experience at the foot of the Smoky Mountains.

Park Grill
1110 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN
865-436-2300
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Gatlinburg earns “Prettiest Town” Distinction from Forbes

Gatlinburg earns “Prettiest Town” Distinction from Forbes.com.

It doesn’t always take a “higher-up” to give credence to how good someone or something is, but it’s always nice when they do. In this case, it’s Forbes.com recognizing the popular Smoky Mountain town of Gatlinburg for all things it has come to stand for over the years with a ranking of one of the “Prettiest Towns in America”. Gatlinburg, along with such notable destinations as Newport, Rhode Island; St. Augustine and Key West, Florida; Taos, New Mexico; and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico made this year’s list.

I’m sure for many of you it’s no wonder as Gatlinburg continues to stand out for its numerous ascetic attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Ober Gatlinburg, the Space Needle, and restaurants like the Hofbrauhaus. All of these lying along a downtown parkway adorned with the best and brightest in seasonal decorations.

Accordingly, Forbes.com came to decision on a final rankings based on input from  such renowned sources as  The Travel Channel and National Geographic. To see the listings, please visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngiuffo/2012/03/29/americas-prettiest-towns-2/.


“With its charming, quaint old buildings in the center of town, its dramatic mountain backdrop and the only ski resort in Tennessee, Gatlinburg has become a popular tourist destination for regional fun-seekers. Located on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg benefits from its location as a tourist draw and reinforces it with attractions such as an aerial tramway, an aquarium, whitewater rafting, hiking, and even a haunted house. But let’s not kid ourselves: as pretty and irresistible (as) the town is, the real draw in this part of Tennessee is the nature. ‘The wildflowers around Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are absolutely spectacular in the spring as they burst with wildflowers at their peak,’ says Zain Habboo, National Geographic’s director of travel.” Forbes.com

“We are very thrilled with this honor from Forbes,” said Cindy Cameron Ogle, Gatlinburg city manager. “We are blessed to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and we take pride in being the gateway community to the country’s most-visited national park. It truly is a wonderful place to enjoy.”

To further the beauty of town, the City of Gatlinburg is in the process of completing the sixth phase of its Underground Utilities and Streetscape Project. Since the late 1990s, Gatlinburg has been working to bury its utilities, thus further improving the aesthetics downtown. It’s teamwork personified by the city, its downtown and community businesses, its residents, everyone.

“Of course, it has taken a lot of people doing a lot of good things to allow us to earn this lofty recognition,” Ogle said. “It’s been a great public-private collaboration of dedication that has dramatically improved the aesthetics of the Parkway and helped us blend in with the Smokies.”

Gatlinburg is calling, Forbes listened. Now, will you? Come spend a day, weekend, or a week or two in Gatlinburg and see why it really is one of the prettiest towns in America.

Gatlinburg Winter Magic & Chili Cookoff

The light switch to Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic lighting display will be flipped up on Nov. 7 and for four months visitors can cruise, mouths agape, through the wintery lighting spectacular.

It’s now but a mere few months before Gatlinburg is lit up like so many other towns around the holidays. Although, when you’re the town of Gatlinburg, you tend to take it a step further.

The light switch to Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic lighting display will be flipped up on Nov. 7  and for four months visitors can cruise, mouths agape, through the wintery lighting spectacular. The town promotion has continued to grow in popularity and it shows with the million dollar investment in LED (light emitting diode) bulbs strung across every light post and city tree. Displays highlight the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its inhabitants including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits. Many of the timeless displays visitors have grown accustomed to over the past 23 years have been converted to crisp LED as well. Most recently, fanciful snowmen, dancing fountains, a group of international children and a shiny rocking horse have joined the lineup.

According to town officials, this transformation has brought about a new era of holiday entertainment in Gatlinburg, that has in years past attracted thousands of visitors each year with its wintery displays. These new lighting displays can be found along Gatlinburg’s famous Downtown Parkway, adjacent River Road, and the triangle juncture of the two.

The first three phases of the $1.6 million-plus rollout of custom designed and fabricated lighting displays are marked by sections reminiscent of winter forests, evergreens and romance. Now, Hwy. 321 features an injection of new displays. In all, switching to LED displays have saved some 95 percent in energy costs and allow for 120 days of lighting.

But don’t just come down for the lights on Wednesday, Nov. 7, stay for the  Chili Cookoff that day as well. Homemade chili ranging from mild, hot, to really hot will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Downtown Parkway, highlighted by the Winter Magic LED lights unveiling.  The Winter Magic Chili Cookoff will feature more than 20 restaurants, attractions, civic groups, retailers, banks, and public service agencies serving more than 30,000 cups of chili and competing for a variety of awards.

Those attending are encouraged to vote for their favorite chili. These votes will be tallied to award the coveted People’s Choice Award to the most popular chili. A panel of judges will cast their votes for other awards, including: Best Presentation, Best Chili Apron, and Best Chili. Cookoff winners will be announced and trophies awarded at 7:15 p.m.

Chili providers who have participated in this event include: Corky’s BBQ, Crawdaddy’s Restaurant, Dick’s Last Resort, Fox & Parrot Tavern, Gatlinburg Elk Lodge #1925, Gatlinburg Fire Department, Gatlinburg Police Department, Great American Grill at Hilton Garden Inn, Johnny Rockets, Loco Burro Cantina, Mellow Mushroom, Mountain Brook Village, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, Partridge & Pear, Puckers Sports Bar & Grill, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Sugarland Cellars, Citizens National Bank, Flying Saucer Bistro, Diamond Mountain Rentals/Smoky Mountain Real Estate, Sevier County Utility District and Titanic Museum Attraction.

Although admission for the event is free, an $8 wristband is required for chili sampling and can be purchased on-site the day of the event, with a portion of proceeds going to benefit Pi Beta Phi Elementary School PTA. Wristbands can also be purchased in advance at Home Federal Bank at their Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville locations, or at City of Gatlinburg Welcome Centers. Wristbands will be available for purchase onsite the day of the event as well. For more information, please call 800-568-4748.

Other holiday events occurring in the Great Smoky Mountains region during Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic festival include Gatlinburg’s own Trolley Ride of Lights and Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest.