The Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival will light up the Smokies on Saturday August 18, 2018. Beginning at 3 p.m. and culminating with a spectacular glowing extravaganza, the second annual Great Smoky Mountain Balloon Festival is scheduled at The Townsend Visitors Center at 7006 SE. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, Tennessee.

Although the balloons will not be launched, short tethered rides (weather permitting) will be available. A short-aside here; hot air balloons cannot fly in rain because the heat from inside the balloon would cause the rain water to boil thus melting the balloon – not an adventure you want to encounter. Rides are scheduled from 6 pm – 8 pm and last approximately 5 -7 minutes rising to a height of about 30 feet. Tickets, for ages 8 and above, are $20 per person.

Visitors will also enjoy an up close look at the colorful and often whimsical balloons, the mechanism involved in launching them, and the huge wicker passenger baskets.

Balloons which glow for more than an hour, beginning about 8pm and lasting until 9:30pm, will provide a dramatic focal point for Tennessee’s famed sunsets. If inclement weather occurs, balloonist will perform a candlestick glow.

No outside food or beverages are permitted but there will be plenty of food vendors to satisfy every palate. A craft beer tent will offer a variety of regional brews and Nine Lakes Wine Country Wine Tasting is scheduled from 3pm-9pm. Tickets for the wine sampling (which includes a commemorative wine glass and wine tote) are $10. Wines will also be available for purchase by the bottle or case during the event. The wine garden opens at 3 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Additional family friendly activities include live entertainment, arts and craft vendors; face painting; Eurobungy; a rock climbing wall; a trackless train, and a fun-filled water balloon war for the more intrepid.

Bring your camera-take your best shot and enter the GSM Hot Air Balloon Photo contest. Photos can be submitted to KMitchel@blountpartnership.com and should be accompanied by your name, phone number and a brief description of where it was taken.

Parking passes may be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com for $20 and guarantees a parking spot. Cost to park on the day of the event is $25. There is no handicap parking but shuttles will be provided for anyone needing assistance. The parking lot opens at 2:30 p.m.

This is a rain or shine event and parking passes are non-refundable. Pets are welcomed but must be leashed and poop bags are required. Be warned: inflating balloons is a noisy process and may frighten four-legged friends.

Pigeon Forge Welcome Home Veterans Parade

Pigeon Forge Welcome Home Veterans Parade. Join the fun in Pigeon Forge and salute America’s military veterans at The Veterans Homecoming Parade on Saturday, August 18th at 9:00 a.m.

The parade route will proceed along the parkway in the shadow of Mount LeConte and the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Floats of all kinds will follow the Grand Marshall up the parkway. Visitors can expect to see vintage and modern military vehicles and patriotic motorcycle clubs, Shriners mini Mustang club, marching bands, ROTC cadets and more.

This event is one of the many great things to do during the month long celebration of freedom. The Veterans Homecoming Parade will travel northbound on the Parkway from traffic light #8 (Dollywood Lane) and wrapping up at traffic light #5 (Jake Thomas Road).

“The City of Pigeon Forge has a long history of honoring our nations many brave veterans and that will continue on into the future,” says Butch Helton, Special Events Manager for the City of Pigeon Forge.

For more information call 1-800-251-9100.

The HeySmokies patriots created this fun video of the Welcome Home Veterans Parade.

Grainger County Tomato Festival

Grainger County Tomato Festival is going to be a delicious way to spend a summer weekend! This Smoky Mountain event was organized in 1992 to promote world famous Grainger County Tomatoes. The mission is to promote all Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato, and to promote local artists, authors, talent, and craftsmen.

Many special events have been added this year making the festival one of the largest free festivals in East Tennessee.  Parade magazine named the Tomato Festival one of the top ten festivals in the USA. This family friendly event is alcohol free and attendees are expected to use good southern manners. The annual event is the last weekend in July in Rutledge,Tennessee.

Pets are welcome at the Tomato Fest but remember it occurs in late July and it will be HOT. There will be watering stations and misting tents on the festival grounds to help you and your furry friend keep cool.  Remember to pick up after your pets and deposit their love in the nearest garbage can.

The annual art contest will get your creative juices flowing. If you wish to enter the contest bring your entries to the elementary school on Friday July 27th by 3:30 ready to hang unless it is 3D. There are several categories to enter for both children and adults. Please limit three per artist. Be sure to fill out the provided tags to identify your piece when dropping it off. Judging will be at the end of the day and the winners will be displayed Saturday.

The 4th annual Concert Series is headlined by none other than Trace Adkins! The show will be held on the middle school football field Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Admission to the show is the nice price – FREE!

Charles the pig will be attending the festival and rooting around for a good time! Charles is the miraculous survivor of The Great Smoky Mountains Wildfire. Charles will be selling his books, art work, stuffed animals and what ever else he decides to make to help raise money for his family to rebuild their home. You can keep up with Charles and see how his family is doing on his Facebook page, Charles The Pig.

​Story telling is a Tennessee tradition and Harry Bumgardner, a member of the Sons of the Revolution, will be on hand spinning a tale or two.  Harry knows everything a man needs to know about the early history of America and loves to share his knowledge. His mesmerizing tales are a favorite with young folks! In addition to telling stories he will demonstrate his flint lock rifle. After spending time with Harry be sure and visit the long hunter’s camp located near the Living History area.

A working blacksmith will be on hand where you can learn what it is like to make your own tools at the forge. The blacksmith will be returning for the 8th consecutive year. He is the owner of Homegrown Forge, and makes many unique items including railroad spike knives, equipment for outdoor cooking and more. He will be working under the big tree in the Living History. He is always happy to answer questions about blacksmithing.

The infamous Tomato War is a must for every festival attendee! Choose sides, grab a bushel and get it on! This crowd pleaser is bound to satisfy your hankerin’ for maters. This year The Tomato Wars is a fund raiser for God’s Planet for Haiti.
 God’s Planet for Haiti (GP4H) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Maryville, Tennessee and received a charter from the State of Tennessee in March of 2010. GP4H is also recognized in Haiti as an international non-profit organization.

Cades Cove Loop Lope

Cades Cove Loop Lope

Cades Cove Loop Lope is a Great Smoky Mountain Special Event! The Cades Cove Foot Race (AKA – the Cades Cove Loop Lope) hosted by Friends of the Smokies and the Knoxville Track Club is scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2018. This exciting race was originally billed as a one time event at it’s inauguration in 2010. Since then it has grown in popularity. Participation is limited to 750 total runners and all participants will be awarded a t-shirt and finishers medallion.

“We are very excited to bring this race back to such a beautiful part of our national park,” says Jim Hart, Friends of the Smokies president. “This is a unique way to experience the splendor of the Cove and raise money to protect it for future generations at the same time.“

Friends of the Smokies will provide more than $90,000 for historic preservation and wildlife management programs in Cades Cove and a total of $1.4 million for other critical park projects.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash remarked the race marks an opportunity to connect with the next generation of public lands stewards who are active in our national parks.

“We are pleased to work with the Friends to offer this opportunity that supports the park and encourages people to use the park for fitness,” said Superintendent Cash. “The park provides an incredible setting for people to improve mind, body, and spirit.”

Registration begin July 17, 2018 at RunSignup.com. Participants can choose between the 3.1 mile (5K) or the 10-mile loop routes. Each race is $75.00 to enter.

Dollywood Season Of Showstoppers

Dollywood Season Of Showstoppers in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Stars shine bright in Dollywood during the 2018 Season of Showstoppers.
Dollywood’s 33rd season kicked off with an amazing array of entertainment entitled “Season of Showstoppers” that includes extravagant fireworks and extended park hours.

Named by Amusement Today’s Golden ticket Award for Best Theme Park Entertainment for the past nine years, Dollywood is upping the ante to win for the 10th straight year with an additional $1 million investment in this season’s productions which offer exciting new acts for season pass holders or those opting to purchase the new multi-day ticket.

The year began March 17-April 9 with a Festival of Nations that honored the traditional music, dance and food and crafts from countries across the globe. It continued with Spring Mix Music series April 11-29 that spotlighted classic country talent. The park’s popular Barbecue & Bluegrass was held May 25- June 10, and scheduled more that 350 concerts during the festival.

The Summer Celebration, June 16-Aug. 5, highlights the newly extended park hours10 a.m-10.p.m., nightly fireworks and exciting new entertainment. The all new Nighttime Experience showcases some of Dollywood’s best daytime performers who bring their interpretations of today’s hottest hits in an evening production scheduled from July 25-Aug. 8, and the extended park hours provides an opportunity for families to also enjoy Dollywood’s world-class rides well into the night.

Additional attractions included America’s got Talent finalists, iLuminate, performing June 16-July 4. This inventive group features electrified glow-in-the-dark costumes and dynamic dance routines and illusions. iLuminate has toured the world from Egypt to Malaysia, and appeared on such shows as Dancing with the Stars, X-Factor and Ellen. The group has also performed with such stars as Christina Aguilera and The Black Eyed Peas.

From July 7-July 24, DRUMline Live! brings synchronized music based on the hit 2002 movie, Drumline. DRUMline Live runs in Celebrity Theater June 16-July 4. The evenings climax with an amazing fireworks extravaganza set to lively music.
One of the more unusual offerings is speed painter Ricardo Barazza and his impressive PaintJam, which runs for the entire summer celebration. Barazza uses his amazing talents to create stunning works of art on a spinning 380 degree canvas while dancing and “moving to the grooving.”

Dollywood’s Harvest Festival, presented by Humana Sept. 28-Nov.3., includes an expansion of the favorite Great Pumpkin LumiNights and also features the largest Southern gospel event in America. More than 600 performances by award-winning southern gospel acts takes place during the festival and thousands of carved pumpkins will illuminate the evening with an eerie glow. Visitors will also enjoy the artistry of visiting crafters from across the country and also have a chance to sample the harvest-themed food items from Dollywood’s award winning food teams.

Christmas is special at Dollywood, honored as the Best Christmas Event at any theme park worldwide, where more than four million holiday lights and nostalgic performances provide a holiday atmosphere that is perfect for your family. Dolly’s Parade of Many Colors and traditional shows like It’s a Wonderful Life and Christmas in the Smokies are guaranteed to put your entire family in the holiday spirit!

For more information on Dollywood’s Summer Celebration, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD, or go to DOLLYWOOD.

Check out our great video of Dolly’s speed painter Ricardo Barazza below!