Easter Sunrise Service, Gatlinburg, TN

 

This Easter gather your family in Gatlinurg for the memorable annual sunrise worship service. The service is held atop Ober Gatlinburg, where tram rides will be provided free of charge. The Service will last for 30-40 minutes and be led by local pastors of the Gatlinburg Ministerial Association. All offerings collected from the service will be used by the Association in collecting the county’s needy.  A breakfast buffet will be available at the Ober Gatlinburg restaurant form 7:30am to 10:30am. For more information on the event please visithttp://www.obergatlinburg.com/special.htm

This Little Light of Mine, Synchronized Fireflies on Elkmont, Great Smoky Mountains

Starting June 7, for one week, the lightening bugs will be in Elkmont, located in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is one of the few places in the world where you can witness the synchronized flashes of fireflies. Synchrony, repetitive group flashing, is very rare. For this one week in June, the males have a very distinct flash cycle as a way of attracting female fireflies. They flash about 6 or 7 times, pause for about 6 to 8 seconds until another fly begins the cycle over again.

This event is becoming more popular every year, so the city of Gatlinburg and the National Park partnered to provide trolleys to Elkmont nightly from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. between June 7 and June 14. For $1 you can catch the trolley at the Sugarlands Visitor Center RV/bus parking lot.

In the past, as many as 2,000 people per weekend night have taken the trolley to watch this natural phenomenon. The fact that this event is nature in its own element, the National Park, is what makes this such a popular event.

Make your stay in the Great Smoky Mountains with a cabin in the Smokies

18th Annual Family Fest in the Smokies 2008

The 18th Annual Family Fest in the Smokies begins today and continues all weekend. The Festival features Southern Gospel Music with singers such as Bill & Gloria Gaither, Gordon Mote, Russ Taff, and the Booth Brothers. The guest speaker for this event will be Anne Graham Lotz. The series begins at 7:00pm today and has a 10am session and a 6pm session on both Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit www.gaither.com.

2008 Trout Fest in Townsend, Tennessee

The 2008 Trout Fest in Townsend began yesterday and continues through today. This is a great event that keeps adults and kids entertained for hours. The outdoor festival is free and parking is free. The event will be held at the Townsend Visitors Center. For more information about 2008 Trout Fest, click here to visit their website.

4th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival, 2008

Today is the first day of the 4th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival. The 2-day festival is being held in downtown Gatlinburg at Ripley’s Aquarium and River Road. This is a family-oriented event filled with artists from around the country, good food, and music. This event is free to the public, so come and browse the many booths & support the fine arts.

27th Celebration of the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Starting today through the 18th is the 27th Anniversary Celebration of the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games. Tonight will be the Grand Parade for the clans, the parade will go down the Parkway through Gatlinburg. The gates and field open at 8:00 a.m Saturday, this is where the Clan Challenge competition will be held, the competition will continue through Sunday. There will also be a worship service at 9:30 on Sunday. At the service there will be distinguished Chieftains and highest-ranking clan individuals will be recognized. There will be live music from modern Scottish entertainers such as Colin Grant-Adams, a Scottish Balladeer, and Seven Nations, a Celtic rock band. Other events include a Pipes & Drums competition, whisky tasting, and a highland dance competition. Come out and represent your clan at this Scottish Festival in Gatlinburg. Click here for places to stay while visiting this festival.

4th Annual Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival, Sevierville Tennessee, 2008

Join in the events of Springfest in Sevierville at the 4th Annual Bloomin’ Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival on May 16-17. Come compete in the best BBQ competition as well as the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition. There will be live entertainment from bluegrass legends Larry Cordle, Cadillac Sky, Marty Stuart & others.

The BBQ categories include chicken, ribs, pork, brisket, sausage, beans, and dessert. Admission to the festival is free, so come join in the celebration of spring in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Spring Time is Here at the Spring Festival and Old Timers’ Day, Townsend, Tennessee

Today is the first day of the 2-day Spring Festival and Old Timers’ Day in Townsend, TN. This is an event to celebrate the culture of the Smoky Mountains. It is being held at the Townsend Visitors Center among the beautiful Smoky Mountains. You do not want to miss the traditions of BBQ, bluegrass music, and the clogging. Around the venue there are displays of local arts & crafts, contests, nature programs, storytelling, and many other activities for the family. Do not miss what this festival of what mountain culture is all about.

Punch Bug, No Punch Backs! Volkswagen Car Show at the Sevier County Fairgrounds

May 3rd and 4th the Sevier County Fairgrounds will host the “Circle Your Wagons” event. This event is a Volkswagen car show and competition. You can compete your VW, watch the country’s finest VW’s compete, or purchase one for your own. Pre-registration has ended, but there will be an opportunity to buy tickets at the event. Don’t want to camp at the fairgrounds all weekend? Click here for more information about lodging in the area.

Home Run Smokies, Tennessee Smokies Minor League Baseball

A fun family event is attending a Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball game. The games are held at the Smokies Park right off of Interstate 40. This “nine-inning vacation” brings the family together through excitement and anticipation as you watch the Smokies compete in the game. You can escape to the ballpark and enjoy a game for an affordable price. Visit the Tennessee Smokies website to find further information about the schedule and obtaining tickets.