Summer Brings Culture and Legends with Gatlinburg Cherokee Carnival!

Summer will be here before you know it, and the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge area has plenty of activities awaiting your arrival, including the cultural Cherokee Carnival on June 6 – 10. Visitors will have a blast experiencing all kinds of great fast-paced rides and delicious foods provided by vendors throughout the carnival. Bring the whole family along and listen to some of the live music or try your hand at a few of the games that are provided inside the park. If you’re planning on staying for the entirety of this great event, feel free to reserve your Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge lodging before you get here.

You can discover even more of the outdoors with Parrot Mountain and Tropical Bird Sanctuary. View all of your favorite birds within their tropical habitat – you may even hear a few of them talk to you! Every color of the rainbow is present on these birds’ feathers, and you’ll see species such as Australian lorikeets and colorful garden parrots. Take the kids to the petting zoo within the preserve, where they’ll be able to interact with all kinds of animals. You can even hand-feed the birds.

Another great animal attractions within the Gatlinburg area is the Rainforest Adventure Discovery Zoo, which holds all kinds of fun animals within their habitats. The entire zoo is indoors, so you don’t have to worry about rain or storms of any kind. You’ll see some of the most amazing animals in the world, including ring-tailed lemurs, enormous tortoises, and slithery, tropical snakes. If you come by at the right time, you’ll even be able to see some of the animals being fed or taken care of by the professional pet handlers within the zoo.

Festival of Nations Adds Culture to Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge

Celebrate all of the world’s unique cultures at the Festival of Nations in Dollywood. March 26th through May 2nd, Dollywood will be having this annual festival in order to both educate and entertain everyone who visits. You will see a number of fascinating shows and displays including a combination sword and ballet show from Caucasus, Argentinean folk dancing, and drummers and singers from Nova Scotia. The whole park will be a whirlwind of fascinating traditions, people, and food from other countries, so you can have an experience that is unforgettable!

Continue your exploration of other cultures with the Soul of Shaolin after visiting Dollywood. This show offers you a look into the world of China where acrobatics and martial arts play a huge part in life. The show focuses on the life of one orphaned boy who is taken in by martial arts masters and is trained to be one of the greatest martial arts masters of all time. With special lighting and effects, this story becomes one of the most dramatic and touching that you will see onstage in Pigeon Forge. It’s perfect for a family vacation or a night out with friends.

Finish off your cultural visit to the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge area with the Cirque de Chine Acrobatics Show. This show features 60 gold and silver award winning medalists from international championships. These renowned performers offer a choreographed acrobatic performance that is designed to stun everyone in the audience – and has time and time again! Originally, the popular show started out in the flash and dazzle of Las Vegas but has now moved on to be a part of the cozier Gatlinburg entertainment district. This show is certain to be one of your favorite activities during your time in Gatlinburg!

Unique Tours Offer Stunning Views of a Smoky Mountain Winter from Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge

Experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains during the winter from the charming Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area. Numerous tours and sightseeing opportunities are available as winter takes over the mountains and turns them into stunning displays of glittering snow and ice.

Smoky Mountain Picnic and Romantic Carriage Rides

For a scenic tour through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, take advantage of one of the Smoky Mountain Picnic and Romantic Carriage Rides. These carriage rides all take place at the beautiful EchoBrook Farm where guests can enjoy 4200 acres of incredible landscapes. A mountain stream, snow covered hills, and a carriage with sleigh bells offer an opportunity for romance or a delightful afternoon with family. Either way, you’re certain to have a lovely time exploring the area. With customizable options to choose from, you can decide which tour you would prefer!

1 Hour Smoky Mountains Horseback Ride

With the 1 Hour Smoky Mountains Horseback Ride, you can experience the beauty of the area by horse. You will arrive at a stable filled with beautiful horses that you will be shown how to ride. After a brief orientation, your journey through the lovely Smoky Mountain landscapes begins. Your entire ride will take place on terrain that even beginners can handle, so you will have plenty of freedom to enjoy the picturesque views of the mountain in winter. It’s a wonderful way to have an adventure and do some unique sightseeing!

Gatlinburg Sky Lift

If you want to see the beauty of the area from a bird’s eye view, you need to go on the Gatlinburg Sky Lift. The sky lift will take you over the city of Gatlinburg, so you not only get great views of the mountains, but you also get to see the city. Your sky lift chair will stop at the top of a mountain where you can look down on the world from an elevation of 1,800 feet. While you’re at the top, you can relax and take some time to enjoy the views before taking the trip back down to Gatlinburg.

Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade is a Holiday Hit in Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge

Gatlinburg will be filled with holiday cheer on December 3rd when the 35th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade starts its journey through town. Kris Kringle, also known as Santa Claus, will be leading the parade as it makes its merry way through the streets. Over 100 other parade entries will be following Santa Clause including the Oscar-Myer Weinermobile, marching bands from all over, and larger-than-life helium balloons. After the grand procession of the parade, there will be an autography party at the Riverbend Mall. This is a holiday tradition for Gatlinburg that has only become more popular with time.

Stay warm and get more Christmas cheer during your stay by visiting the Dixie Stampede for their Christmas extravaganza. Their holiday dinner and show combination features a friendly competition between the North and South Pole, a visit from Santa, and many other exciting holiday activities. Between the delicious, home-style cooking and the great show, you’re going to be feeling warm and satisfied from the inside out!

Another Christmas show you won’t want to miss while you’re visiting is the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show. They are right in the middle of their holiday festivities and put on a classic, endearing Christmas show the whole family will love. Their Christmas story takes you from Santa’s Workshop, to New York City, and to a living Nativity scene. Great costumes, dazzling sets, and talented performers really make this show a special holiday event.

Spend Your Thanksgiving Enjoying Entertainment in the Smoky Mountains

Spend this Thanksgiving out exploring the many attractions of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area rather than stressing yourself out by preparing a huge meal. It will be much more fun for everyone to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. If you’re looking for some fun activities to help you out with that, these activities are perfect and are even open during the week of Thanksgiving.

Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge

As one of the most popular shows in Pigeon Forge, the Dixie Stampede has years of great showmanship under its belt. Come and experience the fun and excitement of 32 horses and their riders doing tricks and competing for your entertainment. You can cheer on your favorites as you enjoy a delicious Southern-style meal of chicken, homemade biscuits, and other treats. This is one show you must not miss during your time in the area!

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

With the cold weather outside, you will want to enjoy some warm indoor entertainment while you visit. Make sure to stop by Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies where you can explore the underwater world of marine creatures. This aquarium has over 10,000 marine animals for you to see and learn about during your visit. You will see sharks, sting rays, and even a coral reef as you walk through the aquarium. You will also get the chance to touch some of these astounding creatures at the touch tank!

Magic Beyond Belief

Add a little bit of Smoky Mountain magic to your vacation with Magic Beyond Belief. This fun magic show gives you the dazzling entertainment and illusions of Terry Evanswood. As winner of the Merlin award, Terry has a reputation for putting on unbelievable magic shows. Watch as he works with everything from a 400-pound white tiger to his pet dog to create stunning illusions. With his variety of magic tricks and his incredible showmanship, this magician puts on a show you will always remember!

Experience a Winter Wonderland at Titanic in Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge

Every Friday and Saturday evening, visitors to Titanic in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area will be transported to a Winter Wonderland when machines set up in the parking lot make it appear as though it is snowing. This exciting event is a part of Titanic’s Christmas in a Winter Wonderland which has been dedicated to celebrating the lives of the passengers of the ship. The festivities will continue from now until January 1st, so head on down to Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge to be a part of the excitement!

It may be chilly outside, but it’s warm inside at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. This aquarium is the perfect place to have some fun and keep nice and warm during your time in the area, and it allows you to experience nature even when it’s too cold to be outdoors. This aquarium has over 10,000 aquatic animals for you to see and learn about. You will see great exhibits like Shark Lagoon, Touch a Ray Bay, and the Coral Reef during your visit. You can even get something to eat at Feeding Frenzy and watch sting rays swim in their aquarium nearby. It’s a fun adventure for the whole family.

Of course, when you’re in Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge, you can’t miss out on seeing one of their exciting shows. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a family favorite that gives everyone a look at the popular Biblical tale of Joseph. Fantastic costumes, specialized lighting, and delightful music and dance routines make this show unforgettable while the story of a man tested to his limits and rewarded enthralls everyone who watches. It’s a great way to have a memorable evening during your getaway.

Winterfest Sets the Stage for a Christmas Celebration in Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge

With the holiday season approaching, Pigeon Forge has been busy with preparations for the many exciting Christmas shows and activities the area is known for. November 9th, the area will start off the holiday festivities with the area’s 21st Annual Winterfest Kickoff. Games, music, food, and craft vendors will be spread throughout the area helping everyone to have fun and enjoy the beginning of the season. The most exciting part of Winterfest happens in the evening after it gets dark. A switch is flipped to light over 5 million twinkling Christmas lights. The light displays are all over town, so you can spend several evenings exploring them while you’re in the area.

While you’re in Pigeon Forge for Winterfest, make sure to visit the Dixie Stampede to see their Christmas show. The Dixie Stampede Christmas show is a spectacular event that features a live nativity scene, evergreens, poinsettias, beautiful holiday costumes, and time-honored classic Christmas music. The show itself is as spirited as ever with a competition between the North Pole and the South Pole helping to make the holiday show an exciting one. Even Santa Clause gets in on the action in this Christmas extravaganza!

Don’t forget the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show and their special presentation Black Bear Christmas Spectacular. This holiday show takes you on an enchanting journey with the black bears to find out the true meaning of Christmas. Their adventure will take you from Santa’s Workshop all the way to New York City and finally to a live Nativity scene. It’s a delightful tale that captures the hearts of people of all ages year after year.

General Lee Cars Gather in Gatlinburg for The Hazzard Run

If you loved the Dukes of Hazzard television series, you have not forgotten the beloved General Lee car. This car has only gained popularity since the television series as people all over the nation viewed it in the Dukes of Hazzard movie. Now, you can see a gathering of General Lees in one place during The Hazzard Run event and decide which car most closely fits the car you remember from the series and movie in Gatlinburg. In addition to the cars, there will also be some stars at the event. Ben Jones, the man who played Cooter Davenport, and Rick Hurst, who you all know as Deputy Cletus Hogg, will also be at the event to sign autographs. This fun event takes place October 9th and 10th and is free of charge to all who are interested in participating.

If reminiscing about the Dukes of Hazzard gives you the urge to do some crazy driving and reach some fast speeds in your car like they did in the show and movie, do it legally and stop by Speedzone Go Cart Racing. At Speedzone, you can go as fast as you’d like in one of their go carts. With four different race tracks to choose from, you can decide which racing adventure you want before satisfying your need for speed!

When you’re done at Speedzone, get ready for a new adventure with Zipline at Five Oaks. Your adventure begins with a trip to the top of a platform high above the ground where you will be strapped to a stainless steel zip line by your harness. Once you’re securely fastened, you get to jump in the air and fly down the zip line. With speeds up to fifty miles per hour, you’re bound to get a thrilling ride you won’t forget. It’s the perfect adventure to finish off a Dukes of Hazzard weekend in a style even they would envy!

Fly High and Enjoy Fall Foliage in Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge, TN

Spend your next vacation enjoying the beauty of nature from a bird’s eye view with an aerial tram ride or helicopter tour of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area. With the fall season starting up, there’s no better time to visit the Smoky Mountains and view the vibrant colors of autumn leaves. Stunning views of the area from the sky will give you the perfect opportunity to take some incredible photographs, so you can the beauty of the Smoky Mountains in the fall home with you.

Gatlinburg Sky Lift

The Gatlinburg Sky Lift is one of the aerial tram rides that you must not miss during your visit. The sky lift works much like the lifts that transport snow skiers to the top of the mountains, so you get unobstructed views of the surrounding area including downtown Gatlinburg, Little Pigeon River, and the Smoky Mountains. With such incredible views spread out below, you won’t be able to resist taking some picture to take the beauty home with you!

Helicopter Rides in the Smokies

Take your pick of one of the incredible tours provided by Helicopter Rides in the Smokies, and be prepared for an awesome adventure high above the Smoky Mountains. Your tour time can range anywhere from 4 minutes to 40 minutes, so every schedule, no matter how busy, will work with a helicopter tour. The thrill of seeing the beauty of fall colors covering the Smoky Mountains combined with the excitement of the helicopter ride will keep you entertained every second of your tour. Don’t forget to bring your camera, so you can take pictures of the lovely scenery that you fly over!

Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram

Another unique and fun way to get panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains is a ride on the Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tram. The tram transports you up the mountain to many of the area’s activities. Large windows on the tram allow you to get some breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains that you can’t get anywhere else. This is another great opportunity for some pictures of the area that you can take home with you. Since each of these three experiences give you different views, you’re going to take an incredible array of lovely photographs home with you!

Winter Magic and Chili Cook-off Event Offers Hot Winter Fun in Cold Weather

As the air gets cooler, spicy foods like chili become more appealing. Stop by the city of Gatlinburg and find your favorite chili of all time at the Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cook-off. This special fall event takes place November 10th and features a dazzling LED lights program, live music from talented artists in the area, and lots of chili. There is also a hot chili eating contest during the evening, so come prepared for the challenge if you think you can beat the heat and outeat the other contestants. It’s a night in Gatlinburg that exemplifies the charm and friendliness the area is known for.

While you’re in the area, make sure to see some of the area’s other great attractions with the Blue Ridge Activity Pass. This pass gives you admission to over 30 attractions including the Biltmore Estate, Chimney Rock Park, and Smoky Mountain Jet Boats. Your pass also includes savings on dining, shopping, and additional attractions. It’s a pass that saves you money and allows you to get a variety of fun activities for your vacation.

You can’t visit the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area without taking in one of their legendary shows. The Dixie Stampede is a classic family favorite in the area. This dinner and show combination features delicious Southern-style foods like rotisserie chicken and corn on the cob as well as a thrilling show. Horses and their trick riders will compete in the arena while you get to cheer them on. Nobody is left out of the excitement with this dinner show!

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