Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort to host 2nd Annual Recycling Games on March 1

Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Keep Sevier Beautiful are kicking off Keep America Beautiful’s flagship event, the Great American Cleanup, with their own 2nd Annual Recycling Games at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.

As part of this exciting event, Wilderness at the Smokies is offering special one-day tickets to their WildDome Waterpark for only $15 per person. You can splash and play from 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Ticket prices are for both adults and children ages 3 and over. Proceeds from the day will be donated to Keep Sevier Beautiful and the Sevier County Food Ministry.

The 2nd Annual Recycling Games will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and will offer fun and games for the whole family. The first 500 kids to sign up to participate in the games receive a special goody bag.

“Our goal is to bring fun opportunties for environmental education and positive behavior changes to a local level,  and to engage our community to take greater responsibility for our beautiful area,” says Keep Sevier Beautiful’s executive director Laura Howard.

Other sponsors for the event are Tanger Outlets in Sevierville, Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge, Food City, ALCOA, The Mountain Press, Pepsi, and the Sevier County Food Ministry Thrift Shop.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Recycling Games event visit www.facebook.com/events.

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Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort Opens New Slope “Yeti’s Run”

It’s been quite some time since Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort developed a new slope, so this season’s opening of the new Yeti’s Run has been quite welcome for skiers and snowboarders.

Yeti’s Run, an advanced rated slope, splits off to the east from the top of Black Lift. The new run is 635 feet long and 45 feet wide and allows for more options down the slope as it reconnects with Mogel Ridge, Grizzly or Upper Bear Run. Yeti’s Run, with 100% snowmaking capabilities,  is equipped with lights for skiing and snowboarding after dark and will allow more space for special events at the ski area.

This 2014-2015 season is Ober Gatlinburg’s 53rd year offering a variety of snow sports and other activities in the Great Smoky Mountains.

In addition to snow tubing in winter, you and your family can skate at Ober’s Indoor Ice Rink, experience the Wildlife Encounter, or have fun in the Arcade.

Summer offerings include an alpine slide, scenic chairlift, chair swing, water raft rides, mini-golf, and a maze. Opening this spring will be their new Mountain Coaster.

For more info on hours and rates, click here or call Ober Gatlinburg at 865-436-5423

Wilderness Wildlife Week Celebrates 25 Years of Sharing Great Smoky Mountains Heritage

January 24 – 31 at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge

“It has been our commitment to create an enjoyable yet enriching series of walks, talks and workshops, as well as informative exhibits that entertain while encouraging the participant to know more of the abundant opportunities that await the visitor to this beautifully diverse area,” says Beneath the Smoke gallery’s Ken Jenkins who is also known as the Father of Wilderness Wildlife Week.

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2nd Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration at The Island in Pigeon Forge


Get stranded on The Island in Pigeon Forge for an evening of great music and fun for the entire family!

Beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31 you can enjoy live music with a performance by Joe the Show. Welcomed to the mic next will be an awesome tribute showcase by the Live Rock n Roll Theater performers and then the headline act of Fairview Union.

Bring the kids for face painting and other free and fun activities while you count down the clock to the midnight fireworks extravaganza!

For more information, visit The Island in Pigeon Forge or call (865) 286-0119.

Arrowmont Souper Bowl XI Nov 20


Souper Bowl XI is November 20th!

Ah! There’s a chill in the air. You know what that means? It’s time to warm yourself up with a big bowl of delicious homemade soup and bread at the annual community event Souper Bowl XI at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg.

On November 20 at the dining hall on the campus of Arrowmont School of Arts in Crafts in Gatlinburg, enjoy lunch from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm or dinner from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm.

The event is an annual fundraiser for United Way of Sevier County and guests always look forward to adding another finely hand-crafted ceramic bowl to their collection. The bowls are crafted by Arrowmont instructors, resident artists, and studio assistants. Tickets for the event are $30 each.

Arrowmont is and educational center for contemporary arts and crafts for adults and children. The school offers weekend, one- and two-week workshops in a variety of visual arts media. From beginner to advance artists works in professional studios on the beautiful 14 acre campus in Gatlinburg. You can choose from a variety of classes such as drawing, photography, woodturning, fiber, ceramics, metals/jewelry, warm glass, books, paper, and mixed media.

The Artists-in-Residence program is a year-long learning endeavor for five lucky early-career artists. The public is welcome year-round to visit the campus and attend presentations that bring together artists, educators, and collectors.

While visiting Arrowmont, be sure to stop by the Arrowcraft shop. It’s one of six shops operated by the Southern Highland Craft Guild that offer fine regional crafts and on-site craft demonstrations. Arrowcraft was founded in 1926 by Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women and continues preserving the tradition of mountain arts and crafts.

For more info, visit Arrowmont or follow them on Facebook.