Gatlinburg Beans & Cornbread Festival on Thursday, May 12th!

There’s nothing more comforting to a Southerner’s heart, and stomach, than a good ol’ bowl of beans and cornbread. And on Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. you can fill your bowl o’ comfort at the annual Gatlinburg Beans & Cornbread Festival! Presented by the Smokies’ own Bush Brothers & Company, the Festival is a cook-off competition among area restaurants, caterers and businesses to prepare the best traditional and new beans and cornbread recipes.

The Gatlinburg Beans & Cornbread Festival will be held downtown Gatlinburg on the Parkway between traffic lights #3 and #8. Entrance to the festival is free; an unlimited sampling spoon can be purchased for $10.

Entertainment for the festival will be provided by some of the musicians from the ever-popular Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales. And also back by popular demand is the display of antique engines which are rarely seen by the general public.

Join the City of Gatlinburg and Bush Beans & Company for a rootin’ tootin’ good time celebrating the food, music, culture and heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachia. For more information, call the Gatlinburg CVB at 800-588-1817 or 800-430-4148.

You can learn more about the special heritage and history of Bush Beans & Company in the Smoky Mountains at the Bush’s Visitor Center, General Store, and Cafe in nearby Chestnut Hill/Dandridge TN. Visit Bush’s Visitor Center for more information.

The Smokemont Experience in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smokemont Experience in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one that features an abundance of spring and summer wildflowers, and the pristine waters of the Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River. Bradley Fork is known for its healthy population of rainbow trout; and in the fall, fishing the Fork is especially rewarding when large brown trout make their way upstream from the River. Smokemont offers year-round camping, hiking trails and equestrian activities.

Smokemont is nestled at 2,200′ above sea level near the southern entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is flanked by Bradley Fork on its north and west side.

Year-Round Camping in Smokemont
With 142 campsites Smokemont Campground is large and great for families. The campground accommodates trailers up to 35′ and motor homes up to 40′. There are no water, sewer or electricity hook-ups and generator use is restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. A tent pad, picnic table, grill, and lantern pole are provided at each site. Restroom facilities provide flush toilets and cold water. Although there are no showers available at Smokemont, they are available at several campgrounds in Cherokee. Smokemont Campground reservations may be obtained at recreation.gov along with important information on firewood restrictions, etc. during season; otherwise, the campground is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to bring your bikes because the spacious campground is fun to bike, and that’s a good thing since bikes are off-limits on park trails.

Smokemont Campground is located 3.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC on Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) and 27 miles south of the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN.

Ober Gatlinburg’s Beth Roark and Sophie Train for the Color Me Mutt 5K in Sevierville on May 14th

It’s clear that the folks who live and work in Sevier County, TN are devoted to the well-being of our furry, four-legged friends. On the weekend that Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area and Amusement Park were preparing for their annual fundraiser, The Bone Zone Drop for Sevier County Humane Society, HeySmokies’ got the opportunity to catch up with Ober Gatlinburg’s Beth Roark who is also training with her miniature schnauzer Sophie for Pets Without Parents’ spring fundraiser, the Color Me Mutt 5K Run/Walk.

Beth and Sophie are a quite the pair. Beth graduated from Sevier County High School (several years after Dolly Parton) and has worked in the accounting/payroll department of Ober Gatlinburg for 18 years. As Beth puts it, “Sophie rescued me.” Beth tells the story of how a friend had some miniature schnauzer puppies and Beth just went to look at them one day. Then she describes the moment that Sophie hopped in her lap and made herself comfortable. Beth says there was just no turning back at that point.

Both Sophie and Beth have been training for the upcoming Color Me Mutt 5K at NASCAR SpeedPark in Sevierville on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 a.m. And both Sophie and Beth have had their ups and downs. Beth, with the help of Weight Watchers and support from friends, has recently lost 30 pounds. However, seven-year-old Sophie has recently been diagnosed with arthritis by her veterinarian and is undergoing treatment.

Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival at Dollywood May 13 – May 22! Enjoy Some Great BBQ and Roots Music!

Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival features award-winning BBQ along a banjo-load of some of best toe-tapping, good-time music in Appalachia! Just take a look at all the great bluegrass bands that will performing at Dollywood from May 13 – 22, 2016!

Friday, May 13
The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience with Special Guest Del McCoury
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Lonesome River Band

Saturday, May 14
Dale Ann Bradley
Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers
O’Connor Band Featuring Mark O’Connor

Sunday, May 15
Becky Buller
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Willis Clan

Monday, May 16
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle

Wednesday, May 18
The Bankesters
Dailey & Vincent
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Thursday, May 19
Dailey & Vincent
Kenny and Amanda Smith Band
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Friday, May 20
Blue Highway
The Steeldrivers

Flower & Garden Show and Sale at Sevier County Fairgrounds on April 23rd

It’s time for the 12th Annual Master Gardener Flower & Garden Show and Sale on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Sevier County Fairgrounds from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

If you want to learn about gardening in East Tennessee, this is the place to be! The Sevier County Area Master Gardeners Association and the University of Tennessee Extension Service host this day-long event to kick off the planting season. The Master Gardener Flower & Garden Show and Sale features a vendor marketplace for lawn and garden equipment and supplies, plants of all kinds, and more!

In addition to the opportunity to purchase ornamental plants, herbs, and fruit and veggie starts, Master Gardeners will offer educational sessions on how to attract butterflies and bees to your garden, beneficial insects in your garden, recycling, and the benefits of local food sources. You’ll also be able to tour the Master Gardeners’ Demonstration Garden.

The Kid’s Area will offer healthy snacks as well as some really cool garden-related crafts. This is a great opportunity to introduce children to the wonderful world of nature and gardening!

Admission to the Master Gardener Flower & Garden Show and Sale is $2.00 for adults with a non-perishable food item to be donated to Sevier County Food Ministry. Adult admission without donation is $3.00. Kids 12 and under are free! Proceeds from the Flower & Garden Show help support the SCAMGA’s community service programs including 4-H Club scholarships.

For more information, visit Sevier County Area Master Gardeners Association or call the Sevier County Extension Office at 865-453-3695.

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