Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival - This three day festival is jam packed full of Bluegrass performers that will start playing at 9 a.m. and keep playing well on into the night.
Classic rock bands ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, TN. Tickets for the show are $46.50 for general admission, $67.50 for VIP seating. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m. and will be available at the Smokies Stadium box office, by calling (865) 656-4444,or by visiting knoxvilletickets.com.
Come and relax in the beautiful colors of fall and breathe in the fresh autumn air. There are many opportunities for participation in the arts and crafts festivals of Pigeon Forge. Visitors enjoy the activities available in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For a complete list of activities, view the PigeonForge.com calendar of events. Find a great vacation package, and plan your fall trip now.
Use this guide to find unique things to do in the Smoky Mountains that are off the beaten path, such as elk viewing or historic sites. Find in-depth information about everything from horseback riding to favorite destinations within the Smoky Mountains. Find out about local favorite restaurants like Alamo Steakhouse. During this eye-popping time of year known as Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival, you will not believe the spectacular autumn displays! Enjoy the crisp outdoors by attending Grand Fall Rod Run, hiking through the orange and red fall foliage of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, check out one of the new ziplines! PigeonForge.com staffers have reviewed and recommend Adventure Ziplines and also Adventure Park at Five Oaks. We also suggest taking a scenic drive or treating yourself to a show at one of the Pigeon Forge area theaters. Many visitors prefer Tony Roma's for theater dining in Pigeon Forge. It is delicious and centrally located to all Pigeon Forge shows. The Smoky Mountains put on a spectacular multicolored show of leaves. Warm days transition into cool evenings. This is the perfect time of year to treat yourself or your group to one of Pigeon Forge's many shows. There are attractions tailored for all ages, all different personalities. Use PigeonForge.com as your planning guide for Things To Do and ways to save in the Smoky Mountains. Of all the beautiful seasons in the Smoky Mountains, Fall is number one. The fall foliage and colors and displays become part of the autumn celebration throughout the Smoky Mountain region as Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival. Here in the city of Pigeon Forge, we like to call it "Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival."
Pigeon Forge is bright with vivid colors...not just from the fall leaves but from the dazzling display of neon signs and colorful attractions. You’re not quite sure what to think as you drive past castles and dinosaurs and Bavarian guest houses. You begin to ask yourself “Why am I seeing an Egyptian Tomb and the Titanic ocean vessel on the same street?” It can be overwhelming. “Did I just see a hot air balloon floating in the air above an upside-down mansion?” PigeonForge.com is the best guide to help you navigate this colorful puzzle of hotels, condos, and attractions.
Soon enough you begin to realize that this town is one giant four-lane highway of activities and theaters. There really is no other place like action-packed Pigeon Forge. It is such a fun and fascinating journey through the center of town on the main Parkway. You will be laughing and relaxing before you know it. Pigeon Forge looks like a circus wrapped in an enchilada that is deep fried then topped with a dollop of honky tonk.
Suddenly, you get the sensation that someone is staring down at you from above. You become aware of an enormous presence in the distance. Is it far away? Is it up close? You glance upward beyond the glow of the city and there it is...the beautiful Smoky Mountains — presiding over Pigeon Forge like a benevolent house mother watching over a playground of hyperactive juveniles. Your first step is acceptance. You must accept the fact that YOU are the hyperactive juvenile who enjoys relaxing and letting go of all cares as you view the spectacle of Pigeon Forge. “Did I just see a sign for Juicy Couture? Am I shopping in Beverly Hills or the Smoky Mountains?” You enjoy gawking at the giant red Comedy Barn. You roll down your window attempting to read the flashing Titanic sign. You find yourself intrigued by WonderWorks. What an off-kilter building. What could possibly be inside? “Note to self: Must-see-magic-show.”
Teenagers are thrilled to see the most extreme ziplines and bungee offerings. Families laugh together while enjoying a game of putt-putt. Everyone from hipsters to grandparents can be found filling the seats of the shows available in Pigeon Forge theaters. PigeonForge.com staff has reviewed and recommends Country Tonite Theatre and Smoky Mountain Opry. Families with kids and teens really go for Wonders of Magic located at WonderWorks. “Did our car just glide right by a full wedding procession with a lip-locked bride and groom?” Most people know that Las Vegas is the most popular destination in the world for getting married. The Smoky Mountains is the 2nd most popular destination! One quick drive down the main Parkway in Pigeon Forge, and visitors can see a few “zany” chapels with neon signs. The adorable little white chapels appeal to a vast number of visitors. Married couples enjoy renewing their vows in a casual chapel; they dress comfortably and celebrate with a nice meal at a local restaurant and a show at an area theater. Perhaps they mark their anniversary with a tattoo or a spa treatment at Smoky Mountain Salon and Spa. Pigeon Forge is widely known as a top location to take an affordable family vacation. Simply walking through Pigeon Forge shopping zones and browsing through the unique stores is a treat for all visitors. It doesn't cost anything to marvel at the spectacular storefront displays, as well as the flowers and over-the-top seasonal decorations throughout the town. Visitors delight the abundance of specialty candy stores. Browse through glass displays cases, and find a mouth-watering selection of hand crafted filled chocolates and carmels. Most Pigeon Forge restaurants are family friendly and affordable. PigeonForge.com staffers have reviewed family restaurants and recommend Log Cabin Pancake House and Mama's Farmhouse. Increasingly, families are opting to save money by staying in and enjoying their hotel amenities, letting the kids enjoy playgrounds and pools and ordering pizza from Big Daddy's Pizzeria. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a short scenic drive away with plenty of activities just for kids. PigeonForge.com staff recommends a few family friendly Smoky Mountain ideas in Kids Korner. Dads and uncles gaze at the abundance of Pigeon Forge car shows and cruise-ins. Some car shows are large, formal events with attendees from all over the world. Other car shows are small affairs with a dozen hot rods who decide to gather in the parking lot of a local restaurant. Autumn is a magical season in the Smoky Mountains, especially for anyone who possesses an artistic spirit. Venture a short drive beyond Pigeon Forge, and discover the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community, a place where local residents learned to carve and weave while working in galleries passed from generation to generation. It is a quiet historic setting deep in the woods just 3 miles from the hustle and bustle of downtown Gatlinburg, TN. Tucked away in the mountains, this community of artisans is also commonly referred to as “The Glades.” An 8-mile loop road guides visitors through a region where pioneer mountain families transformed natural elements into arts and crafts long before the founding of Great Smoky Mountains National Park...an era before tourism when Gatlinburg was commonly known by locals as "White Oak Flats." Today, this area of the mountains is the largest group of independent artists in North America. This is where hard-core collectors go for fine-art pottery, glass, and leatherworks. Twice per year, the artists band together and hold a week-long show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The event is entitled, "Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair," and visitors flock from all over the world to purchase and collect fine art paintings, prints, sculptures, quilts, pottery...the list goes on. Pigeon Forge is loaded with authentic pancake house dining. Travelers are amazed at the number of log cabins offering exquisite pancakes with fruit compotes, nuts or chocolate chips. They also fall in love with the country ham that is specifically produced in this East Tennessee region. Biscuits and gravy abound on every table, plus most places offer a huge variety of waffles and omelets. Most local pancake houses offer breakfast all day. In addition to traditional pancake offerings, most restaurants transition easily from breakfast to lunch. For example, Bennett's Bar-b-que offers all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffets with fried chicken, pork barbeque, homemade soups, and fresh salad bar. Everyone will find something they enjoy at Captain Jim's Seafood Buffet. Don't be put off by the term “buffet.” Captain Jim's offers an enticing array of the freshest seafood, plus there are some not-to-be-missed entrees for the non-seafood person in your group. The décor is new, and the servers are sweet and welcoming. Of course you will see experienced buffetgoers making a beeline for the bowl of cold shrimp, and yet, you will also see connoisseurs browsing the sumptuous dessert selections. You and your merry troupe of shopping buddies will discover many values in the gift shop.