Thistle Britches Cabin Blog

Pigeon Forge Events and Smoky Mountain Events, Calendar, Festivals, and Parades
When visiting Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains look at PigeonForge.com’s Calendar of Events. Search for events, festivals, events and shows in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Cosby and Townsend. Live comedy and entertainment, car shows, parades, crafts exhibits and displays, sidewalk shopping sales, fairs, Winterfest, Springfest and Harvestfest with this complete Pigeon Forge Events calendar.

January February March
April May June
July August September
October November December

November 2007

3- Dec 30 Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival (Operating days vary. Closed 11/22, 12/24, 12/25). -Pigeon Forge, TN.
6 Sevierville’s Winterfest Kick Off: Music, Lights & Magic. Free food, local entertainment, kids’ games and fireworks, then Smoky Mountain Winterfest’s first lights are turned on in Sevierville. Call 1-888-738-4378. –Sevierville, TN.
7 18th Annual Winterfest Kick-Off & Chili Cook-Off Gatlinburg’s lights are turned on with a competitive chili contest, fireworks and entertainment. - Downtown Gatlinburg, TN
8 18th Annual Pigeon Forge Winterfest Kickoff, Patriot Park -Pigeon Forge, TN.
9-30 Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights at Patriot Park. For more information and ticket pricing, call (865) 453-6444 for reservations. -Pigeon Forge, TN.
11 Gatlinburg’s 5th Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration. Gatlinburg honors America’s veterans with a musical tribute at Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza. –Gatlinburg, TN.
16 Ronnie Milsap at the Country Tonite Theatre -Pigeon Forge, TN.
17 Tellabration Pigeon Forge Community Center. -Pigeon Forge, TN.
18 Pigeon Forge Community Chorus
Smoky Mountain Jubilee Theater. -Pigeon Forge, TN.
20-Dec. 2 Shadrix Trio Christmas Special 1-800-223-670 . -Pigeon Forge, TN.
22-25 Tanger Outlet Early Bird After Thanksgiving Sale & Extended Hours. Mall will be open from 8:00am to 10:00pm and some stores will be open all night at Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet Center (865) 453-1053. –Sevierville, TN.
23-25 Arts & Crafts Community. Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show. Artisans of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community show their works for sale at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Free admission. Visit www.artsandcraftscommunity.com for more information. –Gatlinburg, TN.
December 2007

3-28 Pigeon Forge Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights. Fun Time Trolley Station at Patriot Park, 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (except Dec. 25); $5.00. Call (865)453-6444 for reservations. -Pigeon Forge, TN.
8 Dec 8 Sevierville’s 45th Annual Christmas Parade For more information, 1-888-SEVIERVILLE (738-4378). –Sevierville, TN.
31 Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Fireworks Show includes a street party, a midnight fireworks show, music, and free party favors. -Gatlinburg, TN.
January 2008

1-31 Pigeon Forge Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights. Fun Time Trolley Station at Patriot Park, 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (except Dec. 25); $5.00. Call (865)453-6444 for reservations. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

12-19 18th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week - Explore the scenery and natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains through workshops, lectures, and guided hikes during this eight-day event. -Gatlinburg, TN.
12-16 Appalachia Fest - A celebration of traditional mountain music with David Holt and Dr. Ralph Stanley at Country Tonite Theatre. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

February 2008

1-28 Pigeon Forge Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights. Fun Time Trolley Station at Patriot Park, 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri. (except Dec. 25); $5.00. Call (865)453-6444 for reservations. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

7-9 17th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival - This event brings some of America’s finest storytellers to Pigeon Forge. Whether it’s folklore told in a theater setting or spine-tingling ghost stories exchanged on a late night trolley ride, storytellers hold audiences in the palm of their hands! -Pigeon Forge, TN.

21-24 8th Annual Saddle Up Celebration! - West meets Southeast during one of the fastest-growing events in Pigeon Forge. Saddle Up shows how the west was fun with poetry, Western music, dancing, and songwriter workshops. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

March 2008

12 - June 8 6th Annual Pigeon Forge Springfest - Springfest welcomes three whole months of festivities including the Dolly Parade. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

12-16 14th Annual A Mountain Quiltfest - Participants can learn the latest techniques and quilting secrets during classes and lectures conducted by some of the nation’s top quilting experts. Quilts of all shapes, sizes and colors are on display, and quilt show participants compete for cash prizes. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

28 - May 5 Dollywood’s Festival of Nations - The south’s largest international festival featuring more than 200 performers celebrating music, dance, art and food. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

April 2008

1-30 Dollywood’s Festival of Nations - The souths largest international festival featuring more than 200 performers celebrating music, dance, art and food. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

11 23rd Annual Dolly Parade - Marching bands, festive floats, entertainers, celebrities, and area businesses come together to welcome springtime to Pigeon Forge. Dolly Parton leads the parade, which officially opens a new season of entertainment in Pigeon Forge. The park celebrates its season opener the following day. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

17-19 Spring Grand Rod Run. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

May 2008

1-5 Dollywood’s Festival of Nations - The south’s largest international festival featuring more than 200 performers celebrating music, dance, art and food. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

June 2008

July 2008

4 18th Annual Patriot Festival - Celebrate Independence Day the Pigeon Forge way with an afternoon of food, fun and entertainment at Patriot Park. Activities include games for the kids and great concerts, all topped off by a spectacular fireworks display. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

August 2008

1-31 Celebrate Freedom! - Celebrate Freedom is a discount program for active military, the reserves, the National Guard, retired military personnel as well as military veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical services during the entire month of August. To receive this discount you must bring your ID to Pigeon Forge Welcome Center. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

8-10 5th Annual StringTime in the Smokies - Some of the country’s finest blugrass musicians pay tribute to the music to the Smoky Mountains with free concerts in Patriot Park. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

September 2008

4-6 Shades of the Past. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

11-13 Fall Grand Rod Run. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

14- Oct. 31 11th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival - During our 11th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival, you will find delightful displays constructed from pumpkins, cornstalks, mums and other fall flowers. And as always, there is sure to be plenty of music. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

October 2008

1-31 11th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival - During our 11th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival, you will find delightful displays constructed from pumpkins, cornstalks, mums and other fall flowers. And as always, there is sure to be plenty of music. -Pigeon Forge, TN.

Official Site

Schedule

All performances at 7:30 PM
Johnny Potash - Dick Clark’s American Bandstand House Entertainer

July:
July 22 - Creedence Clearwater Revisited
July 24 Eric Burdon & The Animals
July 27 Little Anthony & The Imperials
JUly 29 Survivor/Starship Starring Mickey Thomas

August:
8/1 Pam Tilis/ Mel Tillis
8/2 John Kay & Steppenwolf
8/3 “Weird Al” Yankovic
8/5 Sandi Patty
8/9 The Outlaws
8/10 Brenda Lee
8/15 Doobie Brothers
8/17 Air Supply
8/18 America
8/22 Beach Boys
8/24 Jo Dee Messina
8/31 Chubby Checker

Sept:
9/1 Clint Black
9/7 Blood Sweat & Tears with Special Guest Star Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night

We took a trip to Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky’s. This is a must visit spot! This is the highest point in the Smoky’s with a 360 degree 100 mile radius view. This is also the highest point on the Appalachan Trail.

Here are some snapshots of our trip:
View from the Parking Lot

View from the Observation Deck: (1/2 mile hike from the parking Deck)

Observation Deck at Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains

The following information is courtesy of http://clingmansdome.com:

At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the second highest point east of the Mississippi. Only North Carolina’s Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet) rises higher.

Clingmans Dome is a popular Park destination. Located along the state-line ridge, it is half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. The peak is accessible after driving Clingmans Dome Road from Newfound Gap, and then walking a steep half-mile trail. A paved trail leads to a 54-foot observation tower. The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome, marking the highest point along its 2,144 mile journey.

Vistas from Clingmans Dome are spectacular. On clear, pollution-free days, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states. However, air pollution limits average viewing distances to 22 miles. Despite this handicap, breathtaking scenes delight those ascending the tower. It is a great place for sunrises and sunsets.

Cloudy days, precipitation, and cold temperatures reveal the hostile environment atop Clingmans Dome. Proper preparation is essential for a good visit. Weather conditions atop Clingmans Dome change quickly. Snow can fall from anytime between September and May. Get a current weather forecast before heading to the tower.

The cool, wet conditions on Clingmans Dome’s summit make it a coniferous rainforest. Unfortunately, pests, disease, and environmental degradation threaten the unique and fragile spruce-fir forest. Dead trunks litter the area, and dying trees struggle to survive another year. Berries thrive in the open areas, and a young forest will replace the dying trees.

Although Clingmans Dome is open year-round, the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through April 1, and whenever weather conditions require. People can hike and cross-country ski on the road during the winter.