Smoky Mountain Springfest

Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Springfest begins in early March and goes to June 7 throughout the Smoky Mountain region.

This year spring just can’t seem to get here fast enough.

That’s why Sevierville is ready to get things started going in that direction. Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Springfest celebration begins mid March and continues through June 7. People can witness the town’s transformation into spring when the streets are lined with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, bougainvilleas, and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers that will be seen throughout town.

Marked as the beginning of springtime in the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Springfest is a 3 month celebration packed with events like the Mountain Quiltfest, Great Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Show, the Dollywood Parade, Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, Ribfest & Wings, the Spring Grand Rod Run, Bloomin BBQ & Bluegrass Festival, the Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games, and many more.

As you can see, Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is just one of many exciting events. From shopping events to baseball games to car shows and helicopter events, Smoky Mountain Springfest will be in full bloom in Sevierville.

Outside Sevierville, on Easter morning, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 16th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 6 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins at 6:30 a.m. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.

Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show April 4-7.

The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque will fill the air as folks roll up sleeves and dive in to sample their secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from vendors from all over the Southeast on Thursday, April 26 at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings. This festive street party features live entertainment, lots of fun and barbeque ribs and wings on the open grill just for your tasting.

The 64th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage & Greener Living Expo, set to run April 25-29, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the University of Tennessee Botany Department, this five-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the wonderful season of spring in the Smokies.

The Knoxville RV Super Show in Sevierville

This year’s Knoxville RV Super Show in Sevierville is packed with star power, and we’re not just talking about all the brand spankin’ new RVs and campers on the floor at the convention center. Event-goers will have a chance to meet and talk with Greg Remsburg of the Discovery Channel’s popular show “Gold Rush”, and Paul Bedard from the Animal Planet’s “Gator Boys”.

This year’s show is going to be something special. Though it’s called The Knoxville RV Show, it’s actually put on in Sevierville, TN at the state-of-the-art Sevierville Events Center. Top dealers in Tennessee will be on hand with RVs stretching over a mile long, all under one roof. And when we’re talking about RVs, we’re talking about travel trailers, motorhomes, fifth wheels, toy haulers and so much more. Everything you’re looking for if you’re in the market for a new RV will be in one location for 3 entire days. There’s no need to go anywhere else. All the new 2013 models will be on display and all the 2012 models will be marked down to some of the best prices you’re likely to find on the retail market.

Not looking for an RV, but some accessories? The Knoxville RV Super Show leaves no stone unturned. All the brand name vendors will be there from camp grounds to generators to parts. And don’t forget about Paul Bedard from Animal Planets “Gator Boys” as well as Greg Remsburg from Discovery Channel’s “Gold Rush”, they’ll be serving as celebrity hosts as well.

As part of the show’s theme, there will be a NASCAR Experience for all the event-goers to participate in. This FREE interactive feature complete with a full size NASCAR Vehicle, racing simulator, dueling dragster simulator and full size tire changing station, will be set up all weekend so that everyone can get a feel for how the big boys work in the show. There’s not much they don’t cover at the 2013 Knoxville RV Show.

If you’re looking for suggestions, start in the middle aisle and work your way out. Also, over $5,000 in retail prizes will be given away during the show. You have to register to win at the show and be present to collect your prize. Prizes are given away every hour on the hour after the show begins each day. Only one entry per day and no duplicates entries are allowed.

So come on out of the wintery weather and into the 2013 Knoxville RV Show, January 11–13, at the Sevierville Events Center in Sevierville, TN. There is plenty of food, beer, and entertainment as well as RVs as far as the eye can see inside.

2013 Sevierville Calendar of Events

January

Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Winterfest (January 1 – February 28) – See millions of twinkling holiday lights throughout the Great Smoky Mountains area.

Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium (January 1 – 6) – Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium –The Winterfest attraction features hundreds of thousands of synchronized LED lights dancing to music in a drive-through attraction one and a half miles long. This Sevierville Winterfest attraction will last through January 6.

Knoxville RV Super Show (January 11-13) – The Knoxville RV Show will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration (January 23) – Choirs, speakers and more at the First Baptist Church, Sevierville. (865) 428-2212.

February

Rose Glen Literary Festival (February 25) – Lectures and book signings from Sevier County authors and those who have written books about Sevier County during this day-long event held at Walters State Community College. (865) 453-6411.

March

Southeastern Select Alpaca Show (March 2-3) – The Southeastern Select Alpaca Show will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Smoky Mountain Springfest (Mid March-June 7) – Enjoy spring decorations, mountain wildflowers and plenty of great events during Smoky Mountain Springfest.

April

Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Entry Postmark Deadline (April 12) – Sing one of the 3,000 songs written by Sevierville’s hometown girl, Dolly Parton in your own style. Entry deadline is April 12, 2013. Go to www.BloominBBQ.com for complete details!

May

TuTu Glitz’s on Tour (May 11) – TuTu Glitz’s on Tour will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass Festival (May 17-18) – The largest event in Sevierville! BLUEGRASS ALBUM BAND REUNION PERFORMANCE Saturday May 18! Tennessee State Championship Barbeque Cook-Off, FREE bluegrass concerts from rising stars and bluegreass legends, kids games, great food and authentic mountain crafts. Admission is FREE. ******* FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR! For more information contact the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce 1-888-889-7415 or visit www.BloominBBQ.com

Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals (May 18) – Vocal competition honoring the songwriting of Sevierville’s hometown girl, Dolly Parton. Finalists sing one of 3,000 songs written by Parton in the style of their choosing (rock, rap, country, pop, ect.) Entry deadline is April 12, 2013. www.BloominBBQ.com

June

Parker’s Greatest Knife Show (June 13-15) – Large-scale collectable knife show at the Sevierville Convention Center. Open to the public call (453) 892-0448 or go to www.bulldogknives.org

House-Hasson Hardware Dealer Market (June 21-22) – House-Hasson Hardware Dealer Market will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Rising Star Talent Competition (June 25-28) – Rising Star Talent Competition will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

July

Anime Southeast Convention (July 12-14) – The Anime Southeast Convention will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center, for more information go to www.animesoutheast.com

August

Mickey Gilley in Concert (August 24) – Located at the Country Tonite Theater. Call (865) 453-2003 or visit www.firstclassconcerts.com for more information.

September

Sevier County Fair (September 4-9)

October

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (October 1-31) – Enjoy the sites, sounds and smells of a Smoky Mountain Harvest. Leaf looking, special events, shows, shopping and attractions make this a great time of year to visit Sevierville.

November

International Gift Exposition in the Smokies (November 5-9) – The International Gift Exposition in the Smokies will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Smoky Mountain Winterfest (November 12-February 28, 2014) – Enjoy millions of twinkling lights throughout the Great Smoky Mountain area.

Winterfest in 3D, Glasses Available (November 12-February 28, 2014) – Winterfest in 3D glasses are available at the Sevierville Visitor Center on Hwy 66 for $1 while supplies last. These glasses help you see Winterfest in a whole new light as every point of light shifts into a snowflake.

Sevierville’s Winterfest Kick Off Music, Lights & Magic (November 12) – Free food, local entertainment, kids’ games and fireworks make this event fun for everyone! The evening wraps up with “flipping the switch” on the area’s first Winterfest lights.

December

Sevierville’s 51st Annual Christmas Parade (December 7) – A traditional hometown parade with baton twirlers, pageant winners, marching bands and floats leading up to the appearance of Santa Claus! Parade begins at 11 am and can best be viewed on Forks of the River Parkway and Court Ave. in historic downtown Sevierville, TN.

Parker’s Greatest Knife Show (December 12-14) – Large-scale collectable knife show at the Sevierville Convention Center. Event open to the public. (423) 892-0448 or go to www.bulldogknives.com

Santa Hustle Half Marathon & 5K (December 15)

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland opens at Smokies Stadium on November 11.

Just in time for the Smoky Mountain holiday season, Shadrack Watersports and RV will bring their Christmas Wonderland to Smokies Stadium in Sevierville, Tennessee during the 2012-13 Winterfest Celebration.

The lighting spectacular, which kicks off November 9 and runs through January 6, is one of America’s largest drive-through, fully computerized LED light shows. Hundreds of thousands of lights are included in this perfectly synchronized show filled with holiday tunes done by the Shadrack crew themselves.

Like at other Shadrack Wonderland sites of the past, this will be a drive-through event nearly one mile in length and running approximately 20 minutes. “Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium presented by Shadrack will be a great addition to Sevierville’s Winterfest Celebration this year,” said Amanda Marr, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director. “There are already millions of people who come to our area during Winterfest but having a new attraction like Christmas Wonderland will give those visitors something new and exciting for this year as well.”

New this year is Santa’s Village with a petting zoo, pony and camel rides, photos with Santa, a Christmas tree lot, and festive refreshments including hot cocoa, apple cider, funnel cakes, Christmas cookies, pizza, and kettle corn.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium will continue through January 6, 2013. Hours of operation are 6-10 pm daily. Admission is $20 per car (excluding Holidays and Dec. 20-23), $35 per Activity Van / Mini Bus, $75 per tour or school bus. Rates include tax. Proceeds will benefit area charities. For more information, call (423) 652-0120. Located at the Smokies Stadium – 3540 Line Drive – Kodak, TN 37764. www.shadrack.com

Santa Hustle Smokies Half Marathon

Inaugural Santa Hustle Half-Marathon and 5K Run and Walk at Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Resort in Sevierville, TN. The race will take place on Sunday, December 9 at 8 am.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to compete in a marathon wearing a Santa hat and beard? This year, Adrenaline Sports Management presents the Inaugural Santa Hustle Half-Marathon and 5K Run and Walk at Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Resort in Sevierville, TN. The race will take place on Sunday, December 9 at 8 am.

This great, winter-themed Half-Marathon and 5K, will provide every participant with a FREE SANTA HAT, BEARD & CUSTOMIZED SHIRT to wear while running either 13.1 or 3.1 miles. Everyone will love the Holiday decorations, the Christmas music, and an After Party offering a buffet of food and plenty to drink.

Customized Long Sleeve Shirt & Goody Bag
All 5K Participants will receive a customized Santa Claus Long Sleeve Shirt & Special Goody Bag. All Half-Marathon Participants will recieve a customized Santa Claus Long Sleeve Dri-Fit Shirt and special Goody Bag.

Event Information

Entry Fees:
Half Marathon – $55.00 ($65.00 on 12/3)
5K – $35.00 ($40.00 on 12/3)

* All registrations are non-refundable and non-transferable Continue reading “Santa Hustle Smokies Half Marathon”

50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade

The 50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade is back this year with a number of favorites as well as new, unique entries.

The 50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade (Dec. 1) has it all this year – baton twirlers, marching bands, pageant winners and all kinds of floats. Of course, this is all leading up to the appearance of the parade’s Grand Marshal – Santa Claus!

This year, the parade will begin at 11 am. For those looking for a premium spot, the parade can best be viewed by finding a spot along Forks of the River Parkway and Court Avenue in historic downtown Sevierville.

Other entries include a 1949 Dodge wrecker that looks like “Tow Mater” from the Disney movie “Cars,” the General Lee showcar from the “Dukes of Hazzard,” Slugger & Diamond mascots from the Smokies, Bloomie the Pig, WIVK the Frog and U.S. Rep. Phil Roe.

The Sevierville Christmas Parade will wind through downtown Sevierville and feature a number of unique entries including the Lumberjack Feud – a float demonstrating the woodcutting skills of your everyday lumberjack. The Lumberjack Feud is a Smoky Mountain dinner show that pits two lumberjacking families against each other for the right to stay in the Smokies. Continue reading “50th Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade”

Sevierville’s Harvest Festival & Halloween Happenings

The annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is just one of a handful of events happening in October as Sevierville celebrates fall and the oncoming Halloween holiday.

October in the Smokies means a crisp, clean breeze, leaves beginning to change color, and the arts & crafts community really begins to come alive. Fall in the Smokies is a time of year like no other. If you have never experienced the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area during spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! Get to Sevierville before October 31 and before the colors disappear for another year!

The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a county-wide celebration that includes Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge. The event lasts through Halloween on October 31. It’s  a celebration of all things autumn and numerous local businesses in the Smokies participate. Throughout Sevier County you will find an assortment of “fall displays” with scarecrows, stacks of hay, pumpkins, cornstalks, and all sorts of other fall decorations aligning the streets, in business windows and around every corner.

In Sevierville, you will experience traditional Appalachian music along with gospel and bluegrass. Artisans with the local arts and crafts community share their wares and promote their talents which include; basket weaving, candle making, jewelry, quilting, pottery, doll making, leather, stained glass, scrimshaw, fine photography, various art works, and more. This isn’t a month long “made in (insert foreign country here)” tourist trap either… this is genuine, mountain-made, good ‘ole folks crafts and artwork! Here, you’re able to meet and talk to the artists face-to-face as they demonstrate their craft before your own eyes. Numerous visitors come back to the same shops every year to add to their collection of jewelry, pottery, art, etc. Nothing this unique and personal can be found anywhere else. It’s a Smoky Mountain tradition.

If you’re going to be in town closer to Halloween, head on up to BassPro in Kodak for their It’s The Great Pumpkin Halloween Event. From October 19-31, you’ll get a chance to shop for the latest in outdoor equipment while the family enjoys a number of Halloween festivities including: Continue reading “Sevierville’s Harvest Festival & Halloween Happenings”

Winterfest in 3D

Get your special 3D glasses and enjoy Sevierville’s Winterfest in an all new way – in 3D!

How about seeing Winterfest in Sevierville in 3D? Seeing millions of Christmas lights and snowflakes like they’re coming right at you. That’s something that will get the kids excited and looking forward to November in Sevierville.

Not only is the 3D Winterfest experience a great way to get in the holiday spirit, it’s great fun! Before coming to Winterfest in Sevierville, stop by the Sevierville Visitor Center on Hwy 66 (1.5 miles from I-40 Exit 407). It’s there that you can purchase a pair of Winterfest in 3D glasses while supplies last for only $1. The glasses shift each point of light into a snowflake, and when you think of all the Christmas lights that went into making Sevierville Winterfest, that’s a lot of snowflakes.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium – one of busiest events of the season, is the perfect place to put the 3D glasses to the test. This one-mile drive through LED light experience is made up solely of Christmas lights. This year, Shadrack’s features even more opportunities for the kids. Get out of the car and enjoy an on-site petting zoo, camel as well as pony rides, a chance to get your photo taken with Santa Claus himself and a Christmas tree lot (after Thanksgiving) if you haven’t already picked out that perfect tree for your home.

Winterfest brings more people to Sevierville every year. And not only for the lights, but to do some Christmas shopping at the Tanger Outlet, take in one of the many area shows and visit their favorite attractions. The Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall will not only be decorated in its holiday best, sales and deals aplenty will flow through its nearly 150 name brand stores that include everything from Polo Ralph Lauren to Starbucks.

This year, Winterfest in Sevierville can also be brought home with you…. And we’re not talking about the 3D glasses. Stores like Country Christmas and Christmas Done Bright will sell Winterfest-style lighting displays and other custom displays. Come to Sevierville for Winterfest! It’s something you have to see – literally, to believe!

A Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival features tons of holiday events over a two-month period leading up to Christmas.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas has become an area event stretching over the course of two months and thousands of visitors to the Sevierville and Smoky Mountain region. It along with the various Winterfest events occurring throughout Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, make it one of the south’s largest holiday celebrations when you factor in the sheer amount of Christmas lighting and live shows that make up the two Smoky Mountains Christmas productions each year.

We’re talking Dollywood draped in over 4 million Christmas lights, which is really hard to fathom if you’ve never seen that many lights in one place. You’ll find that the Christmasy glow of 4 million lights is rather unique and inviting. Dolly Parton’s favorite show Christmas in the Smokies is back again this year. I mean, what would Dollywood be like if Christmas in the Smokies wasn’t included? Bring the kids, your family, and anyone else who wants to be awed by the Christmas season. The tunes are catchy and you’ll be singing them back to your car before you even know it.

If you’re in the mood for an 18-foot-tall Christmas tree, head on over to Santa’s workshop at some point and take in the tree as well as all the life size toys. From the dollhouse to what looks like an actual sailboat due to it’s sheer size, there’s something for every good little boy and girl sitting under this tree. You’ll also get to witness Santa and his helpers readying the last of the gifts as they prepare for their big night. Still, if you somehow miss Santa, you can also catch him in the Parade of Lights as he sits atop one of the main floats in the parade

Be sure to catch the following exciting events as well during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas: Continue reading “A Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood”

Sevierville First Baptist’s Judgement House

Judgement House is back at Sevierville Baptist Church this October.

Sevierville’s First Baptist Church Judgement House is back again this October to minister to the Smoky Mountain community. It’s a ministry that has changed hundreds of lives since Sevierville Baptist began the annual event in 2002.

This walk-through drama provides people with a yearly opportunity to view performers making serious life choices and see the consequences that take place because of those choices. It’s an eye-opening experience whether you’ve been before or this is your first time. Each year the performances change, so if you came last year, this year will be a totally different experience.

In years past, Judgement House has centered around the heaven vs. hell theme. People come at Halloween to experience more of the hell portion, though they might be surprised that the focus is just as great on the heavenly portion that Judgement House is about.

Many churches on the area put on Judgement houses, and most start up around Halloween. And for the most part it is part-haunted house, part-sermon, part-choice, part-consequences. What they’re all getting at is the choice of saving one self before it is too late and choosing the path toward righteousness. Judgement house-goers sometimes face questions about their own faith and people are there to help them find answers while encouraging them to accept the Christian way of life.

Judgement houses first came about at New Creation Evangelism in Clearwater, Fla., and were used as an evangelical tool for the church’s congregation. This was almost 30 years ago. Many ideas and practices that went into that first Judgement House have since changed.

Still, it hasn’t kept people from forming opinions on the practice, or from just being downright too scared to attend. Some contend that Judgement houses get a bad reputation as a hellish interpretation of life. Others think they go hand in hand with hell houses that tackle such issues as abortion and murder, often times in a very graphic nature. Not so with Sevierville First Baptist’s Judgement House. Though many fears become realized through each adaptation, it’s the ending of mercy and redemption being offered that sets the Sevierville First Baptist Church version apart.

Come see for yourself and make your own decision this year. Visit Sevierville First Baptist’s Judgement House and come away with a clearer picture of heaven and hell than you had before.

Seveirville First Baptist Church
317 Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: (865) 453-9001