Stargazing Event at Purchase Knob on June 3rd at Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center

Kick off the summer season of fun and join us for the Purchase Knob Star Gaze on Friday, June 3, 2016 at the Appalachian Highlands Learning Center at Purchase Knob in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! If you’re a Neil deGrasse Tyson wannabe, or just a fan of the heavens, then this is the event for you!

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has partnered with the Asheville Astronomy Club to offer the Purchase Knob Star Gaze program on Friday, June 3, 2016 at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center. The program is free; space is limited so reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling the Appalachian Highlands Science Center at 828-926-6251. This event fills up quickly but if you miss your chance you can be added to the waiting list for cancellations and the next scheduled stargazing event.

Sunset will occur at 8:42 p.m. so plan to arrive before dark to enjoy the view and a presentation on what to look for in June’s night skies. Dark and remote Purchase Knob is the ideal location for the Asheville Astronomy Club to set up awesome telescopes for viewing the galaxy, globular clusters, planets, and more! At 5,086 ft. elevation, the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center offers a 260 degree view to the southeast that is not marred by power lines or other obstructions. Here are directions to the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Knob in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

PLANNING TIP: Participants can expect cold temperatures at the high altitude of Purchase Knob so dress appropriately. It will be dark at the event so bring a flashlight covered with red cellophane. Why red cellophane? Find out why and other star gazing etiquette here. Be sure to bring a comfy lawn chair and blanket to enjoy the nighttime show.

In case the observing portion of this event is cancelled due to inclement weather, there will be a Star Gaze at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County, NC on June 4, 2016. This event will be free and open to the public with no registration required. Since this star gaze is contingent upon the Purchase Knob event, check with the Astronomy Club of Asheville’s website for weather, road conditions, and other information regarding entry to the Grassland Mountain Observatory.

Dolly’s New Lumberjack Adventure Celebrates the Spirit of the Appalachian People

Dolly Parton’s newest venture in Pigeon Forge, Lumberjack Adventure Dinner & Show, celebrated its grand opening on Friday, May 20, 2016 and HeySmokies was there to see Dolly, adorably dressed in buffalo plaid, as she welcomed the packed theater for the VIP premier. Dolly’s New Lumberjack Adventure is billed as a Fun Feast Adventure and it is indeed all that and more. Here’s the HeySmokies review on the new Lumberjack Adventure experience!

With a $25 million renovation, the former Lumberjack Feud building now houses state-of-art lighting and sound technology, aerial rigging, and a new kitchen…all that makes for a whole new dinner show adventure in the Smokies!

The Dinner Part of the Show
Before we delve into the show itself, we must talk about the food. When Lumberjack Adventure proclaims to serve a Hearty Lumberjack Feast; well, they aren’t kidding! You will want to come hungry and we can bet you will still need a carry-out bag. Your friendly server (ours was Colton and he was fantastic) first brings out fresh, crunchy coleslaw and a warm, buttery biscuit. Served next is, get this, three pieces of fried chicken! And it is excellent; and at HeySmokies we know our fried chicken! You’re also served a hearty helping of moist and tasty smokehouse pulled pork. Other campfire fixings include homestyle mashed potatoes with sawmill (white) gravy and roasted corn on the cob. Unlimited Pepsi products, iced tea, and lemonade are available drinks. By the time coffee came with our dessert, we were so stuffed that it had to go into the carry-out bag! Our Lumberjack Adventure specialty dessert was a peach pastry, reheated later that evening and still flaky and delicious. (Vegetarian and gluten-free meals can be served on request.)

Pigeon Forge has come a long way in recent years, and the fact that at Dolly Parton’s Lumberjack Adventure you can purchase an alcoholic drink from your seat during the show and at the bar in the lobby beforehand, is a progressive step and certainly doesn’t take away from the family-friendly atmosphere. After all, moonshine was part of everyday life for the early settlers in the Smoky Mountains.

“I knew it was equally important for us to make sure the meal tasted great and helped tell the story. Dinner is really a major part of the show at Lumberjack Adventure, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sitting down together to eat with friends and family truly is one of the most important parts of the day,” says Dolly (dollyparton.com)

And Now For the Show
The executive producer of the show is Dolly herself and she also wrote the song, “Something More” which helps tell the story of the romance between young lovers of contentious families, the McGregors and the Wheelers, in the Smoky Mountains. The show could be best described as a Hillbilly Cirque de Soleil. The 18 cast members are comprised of collegiate gymnasts, circus performers, and aerial acrobats that will amaze you with their axe juggling, trampoline jumping, tumbling, and high-flying antics that are all weaved into part of the story. There’s lots of laughs throughout the show and we don’t want to spoil them by saying too much here; however, suffice it to say they’ll “dill your pickle!”

Lumberjack Adventure is full of song and dance, and one number that we think will be a hit with the younger guests is this tall-tale of a Trip into the Enchanted Forest and a chance meeting with a Smoky Mountain Boo Hag:

The show offers a variety of music and themes to share the stories of the early mountaineers. The popular high-flying timber dogs are still part of the production as well as the competitive lumberjack sports of sawing, log rolling, axe throwing and pole climbing.

Tickets prices are $54.99 adults/$29.99 children for Preferred Seating (first four rows) and $49.99 adults/$24.99 children for Regular Seating. For more information and tickets call 844-322-4400 or visit LumberjackAdventure.com.

Be sure to arrive early for the show to visit The Trading Post were you can pan for gold and kids can become an authentic lumberjack, lumberjill or a lovely country maiden.

Smoky Mountain Farmers Markets Open Weekend of May 13th! Get Your Fresh On!

The first of the Smoky Mountain Farmers Markets are set to open the weekend of May 13, 2016 in Gatlinburg and Sevierville, TN! And we cannot wait to get our fresh on!

We’ll keep you updated as more markets open for the season!

Downtown Sevierville Farmers Market
Downtown Gazebo on Bruce Street
Fridays from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm
A special preview will be held on Friday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. with regular markets beginning on Friday, May 27 through September 30, 2016. In only its second year, the Downtown Sevierville Farmers Market has grown to over 30 vendors! For more information, visit Sevierville Commons Association on Facebook.

Gatlinburg Farmers Market
The Covered Bridge in Arts & Crafts Community
849 Glades Road
Saturdays from 8:30 am until 12:00 noon
Now in it’s 7th season, the Gatlinburg Farmers Market just gets better and better each year! And every second Saturday, the market hosts local musicians and other special events. Every fourth Saturday, kids will enjoy a special treasure hunt! The last market of the season will be Saturday, October 8. It’s fresh food, fun, and extra nice folks at the Gatlinburg Farmers Market! For more information, visit Gatlinburg Farmers Market.

Seymour Farmers Market
First Baptist Church of Seymour, Lower Level Parking Lot
11621 Chapman Highway, Seynour
Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon
Beginning Saturday, June 4, 2016 enjoy the fresh bounty of summer at the Seymour Farmers Market. This fresh market runs through Saturday, October 8, 2016. For more information, visit www.seymourfarmersmarket.org.

Sevier Farmers Co-op Market
Sevier Farmers Co-op Parking Lot
321 West Main Street, Sevierville
Wednesdays & Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12 noon
This is a simple market where local farmers gather weekly to sell their fresh produce. The market accepts cash. For more information, call 865-453-7101 or visit Sevier Farmers Co-op.

Book A Slice of Heaven! Moose Creek Crossing Cabins Rentals Offers Something for Everyone!

The phone’s ringing, the dog’s barking, the kids are fighting, and your boss has some questions about the proposal you worked all night to perfect. It’s past time to soak your weary soul in the peace and quiet of the Smoky Mountains. Chances are Moose Creek Crossing Cabin Rentals has a beautiful, comfortable accommodation to provide the perfect backdrop for a much needed respite.

At Moose Creek Crossing Cabin Rentals, choose from 80 quality cabin properties ranging in size from 1 to 7 bedrooms, many with sweeping mountain views in the Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg areas.

  • Maybe you want to escape with only your spouse in tow to a tucked away cabin that offers privacy, no view necessary, just the sweet mountain air and the promise of all that the area has to offer in entertainment just a few miles away.
  • Perhaps you envision getting away with a group of friends to hike, take pictures and roast marshmallows into the night, finally savoring the relationships the hustle and bustle of life have placed on the back burner.

Whatever your needs, Moose Creek Crossing’s owner Connie Stoutamire, who makes it her life’s work to provide “a quality, clean, affordable cabin” to the thousands of sojourners from life’s trenches who make their way to these gorgeous hills every year, is sure to have one available that you will love.

If bringing your dog is a MUST for a good time, Connie can hook you up! Several of the properties are pet-friendly! Amenities such as fully-equipped kitchens, large-screen televisions, high-speed internet and luxurious hot tubs mean that you can arrive frazzled and leave refreshed!

Continue reading…

Dolly Parade in Pigeon Forge Streaming Live on Facebook on May 6th!

For 31 years, Dolly Parton has come home to her beloved Smoky Mountains to herald in the spring season with her legions of fans. And for each of those 31 years, Dolly has wowed parade-goers with her specially themed float and matching outfit. This year will be no exception, as the American icon will ride atop a float for her brand-new show, Dolly Parton’s Lumberjack Adventure Dinner & Show! About 50,000 folks attend this special event each year, and this year everyone in cyber space can take part in the parade via Facebook!

The 31st Annual Dolly Parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. EST on Friday, May 6, 2016 in Pigeon Forge. The parade route begins at traffic light #6 on the Parkway and travels to traffic light #3. This will be the largest Dolly Parade ever and it’s expected to last about two hours!

Continue reading…