Winterfest in Sevierville

Winterfest commences in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN on Nov. 7.

Fall in the Smokies is an incredible time of year not only to visit the Smoky Mountains, but to take part in all of the fall events happening not only in Sevierville, but in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg too. The sights, sounds, and smells are so unique this time of the year. They provide a wonderful look into the world of Appalachian life past and present. As fall turns into winter, though, many visitors wonder what there is to do in Sevierville. Well, look no further than Sevierville Winterfest – Nov. 7 through Feb. 29.

This incredible series of events held yearly throughout Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg has received honors from the likes of the American Bus Association as being one of the top events in the entire country, much less the Southeast! But don’t take our word for it, come see it for yourself. Pack up the car and bring the family to Sevierville, TN for the weekend, a week, or even the entire month! You’ll soon see why Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Winterfest is an incredibly popular event. Continue reading “Winterfest in Sevierville”

Smoky Mountain Knife Works events

Smoky Mountain Knife Works hosts numerous events throughout the year from appearances by outdoor celebrities to brand rep events.

Mykel Hawke and his wife Ruth England Hawke at Smoky Mountain Knife Works.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a haven for nature lovers the world over. And over the years, various businesses have set up in the area to address the needs people wanting to get back to nature and explore the vast expanse of the Smokies. One of those businesses, Smoky Mountain Knife Works, has developed quite a following over the years and has become a pre-destination before visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Knife collectors to campers needing that perfect pocket knife flow through the doors on a daily basis to pick out the perfect blade, but it doesn’t stop there. Smoky Mountain Knife Works works hard to get people involved not only in the knife world, but the outdoor world as well with a series of special events held at their Kodak, Tn business each month. To close out 2012, Smoky Mountain Knife Works has three big events planned including:

  1. Rep Weekend (Friday, October 12 at 9 am) – Join Smoky Mountain Knife Works as they welcome a number of national brand name Knife representatives.
  2. Gunny is coming to SMKW! (Saturday, October 20 at 1 pm) – R. Lee Ermey from such renowned films as Full Metal Jacket will be in our retail showroom.
  3. Black Friday event (Friday, November 23 from 10 am to 1 pm) – Details to come.

These three events come on the heels of a year that saw Smoky Mountain Knife Works host such great events as a recent appearance by survival expert Les Stroud, pro Bassmaster fisherman Bill Lowen, Mykel Hawke from the hit television series Man, Woman, Wild and One Man Army on the Discovery Channel, Case Knives, Remington Cutlery, and the Zippo Collector’s Club. If you’re a knife collector, or just a plain outdoorsman, that’s a schedule you can really sink your teeth into. From product knowledge to just general outdoor skills, it’s all there with little left out.

As a company, Smoky Mountain Knife Works is one of the largest retail establishments in the area (more than 80,000 square feet), ranking right up there with Bass Pro and the Nantahala Outdoor Center. And it’s more than just knives, it’s knife accessories and kitchenware, an expansive collection of trophy wildlife, indoor waterfalls, and Native American artifacts.

Smoky Mountain Knife Works also houses the National Knife Museum, located upstairs above the showroom area as you walk through the front doors. The exhibits have been gathered from the knife makers themselves and you will be able to view not only the knives but examples of the original advertising pieces that have become a true part of Americana. The museum covers the progress of the knife from early man using stone tools through the change to steel and beyond.

Fall Events in Sevierville

There’s so much to do in Sevierville, Tn this fall we had to make a list.

Fall in Sevierville, TN is one of the most popular times during the year to visit the area. It’s one of the most picturesque settings around with the leaves changing color in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the crisp, cool air, and the variety of events in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

So, you’re coming in from out of town for a day or two, or you’ve decided a weekend getaway is more your style. You ask, well, what is there to do? Lots, from the annual Sevier County Fair which runs the first week of September (4-9) to the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival which features all sorts of events and crafting displays depicting autumn in the Smoky Mountains, there’s always something for every age group in the fall.

Below are just some of the main events and occurrences sure to draw people into Sevierville and the Smokies this fall:

Fall Displays Throughout Town, and of course, in the mountains – Each year, numerous downtown Sevierville businesses as well as those along Winfield Dunn and Dolly Parton Parkway create displays featuring various fall scenes including cornstalks, pumpkins, scarecrows, flowers, gourds, and more. You’re also only a short 15-20 minute drive, depending on traffic, from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its gorgeous fall foliage. Have your camera ready if you’re here in October because the reds, oranges, and yellows are unlike anywhere else in the southeast.

Sevier County Fair – Whether it’s the rides, the cotton candy, the tractor pulls, or the Friday night ‘rasslin’ matches, the Sevier County Fair is a unique event that brings about childhood memories and creates new ones every year. Come for the annual “Fairest of the Fair”, check out the prize cattle and dairy entrants, and cheer on the fastest turtle…. It’s something different each night at the Sevier County Fair, this year Labor Day week  September 3-8 at the Sevier County Fairgrounds.

Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival – Some of the country’s best Bluegrass musicians descend upon Kodak, Tn for this three-day long bluegrass festival. This year, the festival runs Sept. 13-15. Some of the major talent scheduled to perform include Jimbo Whaley & The Greenbrier, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Balsam Range, and The Lonesome River Band. This is a festival where many Dumplin Valley Bluegrass lovers spend the weekend camping on site in tents and RVs. Visit dumplinvalleybluegrass.com for more information. Continue reading “Fall Events in Sevierville”

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (October 1-31)

The annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a wonderful time to visit Sevierville, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Between the crisp air, leaves changing color, and the smell of campfires, it’s probably THE time to be in the Smokies. There is simply no other time like fall here. If you have never experienced it or have only visited Sevierville during the spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! I suggest getting your bags packed and cruising on down right now to visit Sevierville before October 31!

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival in GatlinburgThe annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a wonderful time to visit Sevierville, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. Between the crisp air, leaves changing color, and the smell of campfires, it’s probably THE time to be in the Smokies. There is simply no other time like fall here. If you have never experienced it or have only visited Sevierville during the spring or summer, then you don’t know what you’re missing! I suggest getting your bags packed and cruising on down right now to visit Sevierville before October 31!

The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival is a staple of fall in Smokies that includes the towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. The event kicks off on October 1 and will last through October 31. It’s basically a celebration of autumn and many local businesses take part. There will be an assortment of “fall displays” throughout each town with pumpkins, scarecrows, stacks of hay, cornstalks, and all sorts of other fall decorations. Traditional Appalachian music can be heard in Sevierville, along with bluegrass and gospel. Artisans from the artistic community whose expertise include; basket weaving, candle making, pottery, quilting, dolls, scrimshaw, jewelry, leather, fine photography, art, stained glass, and much much more. This isn’t a “made in (insert foreign country here)” festival…no sir…this is a genuine, made in the Smoky Mountains by good ‘ole country folks crafts and artwork! You’ll get to meet and talk to the artists face-to-face, which you don’t get at many local festivals. Each year, so many festival-goers come back and visit the same shops in order to add to their collection of unique pottery, jewelry, art, etc. It’s a festival unlike anything outside the Smokies.

Sevierville Orvis to Offer FREE Fly Fishing Classes

Free fly fishing classes will be offered at Orvis in Sevierville from July to September 2012.

Ever see those Smoky Mountain pictures of people holding up huge trout in some secluded stream and wish that were you? Well, here’s your chance. If you’ve ever wanted to learn fly fishing from some of the most experienced anglers in the Smokies, from July through September, Orvis in Sevierville, TN is offering free fly fishing lessons through their retail store.

These free classes, Fly Fishing 101 and 201, are aimed at getting even more people introduced to the sport of fly fishing. These classes are a great way for families to interact with one another and make new friends in the area who also love fly fishing.

“The past two years’ success of Fly Fishing 101 is truly amazing and encouraging,” said Tom Rosenbauer, marketing director of The Orvis Company. “Based on the success of the program, we’ve been delighted to welcome many thousands of novice and advancing students to the joys of fly fishing through Fly Fishing 101 and 201. Our goal is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to come learn more about the fascination of fly fishing. The classes are unique opportunities to enjoy a new sport and the success of the program speaks volumes to what folks are seeking in terms of healthy outdoor recreational activities for themselves and their families.”

Volunteers with Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) will lead the event and offer free memberships to their organization for attendees. Trout Unlimited and the FFF are two of the top organizations in the fly fishing world and offer unlimited resources to its members.

For those unfamiliar with the class, Fly Fishing 101 will consist of two parts – an hour of casting instruction followed by an hour of rigging instruction. The majority of participants are first time fly fishers, so focusing on the basic angling skills is the step in learning the sport. Fly Fishing 201 classes take the student out in the stream, and it’s a lower instructor/student ratio. There, students are helped along to the next step of fly fishing which is fly fishing in local streams and rivers – a great place to catch your first fish.

Upon completion of the course, each student will receive a $25 coupon off any purchase of $50 or more and other coupons good toward Orvis gear. Attendees will also receive a certificate for a
FREE Trout Unlimited membership and a FREE membership to the Federation of Fly Fishers—a $70 value. That’s a total package valuation at over $150.

To get started in fly fishing and to make it more accessible to start in the sport, participants will also receive discounted offers on a fishing lanyard with tools and a beginner’s rod outfit—all the basics needed to hit the water after the class.

Event Dates:

Fly Fishing 101:
Saturdays: 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/04, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25, 9/01, 9/08, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29.

Wednesdays: 7/18, 7/25, 8/01, 8/08, 8/15, 8/22, 8/29, 9/05, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26.

Fly Fishing 201:
Saturday, 9/29

Sunday, 9/30

The Orvis company was founded in 1856 and pioneered the mail order industry in the United States. Orvis currently operates more than 80 retail stores in the U.S. and the U.K. including its Flagship store in Manchester, VT; and maintains a network of over 400 dealers worldwide. Orvis donates five percent of pre-tax profits each year to protecting nature. You can read more about Orvis on their website at www.orvis.com.

Local Orvis Store
Orvis Company Store, Sevierville
136 Apple Valley Road, Sevierville, TN 37862
865-774-4162
Kris Maurer, Manager
David Carson, Fishing Manager

(www.orvis.com/sevierville)

Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival

September brings a unique bluegrass festival to the Smoky Mountains. The Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival combines camping, bluegrass music, games and of course fun for a great show and people come early and stay late. The site is set up to host RVers so bring your rig to the show. This year June 11th through 13th Dumplin Valley will bring the best of Bluegrass to east Tennessee.

September brings a unique bluegrass festival to the Smoky Mountains. The Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival combines camping, bluegrass music, games and of course fun for a great show and people come early and stay late. The site is set up to host RVers so bring your rig to the show. This year September 13th through the 15th, Dumplin Valley will bring the best of Bluegrass to East Tennessee.

Located at 525 East Dumplin Valley Road in Kodak, Tennessee, this event center has plenty of room for camping in RVs, fellowshipping with friends and, of course, room for the concerts themselves. Starting Thursday, you’ll see performances from the likes of Paul Williams and The Victory Trio, Jimbo Whaley & The Greenbrier, and Lou Reid & Carolina. Friday, bands taking the festival stage include Little Roy and Lizzy, Monroeville, and Rhonda Vincent and The Rage.

Saturday usually brings in a bigger crowd for the weekend performances, and before it slips by, there is a potluck dinner scheduled for Wednesday, September 12 at the pavilion for all the campers coming in on Wednesday. Now, on with the week’s performances:

Thursday, September 13

Cordle, Jackson & Salley
Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
Lou Reid & Carolina
Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier

Friday, September 14

Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
The Little Roy & Lizzy Show
Balsam Range
The Crowe Brothers
Monroeville

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Gibson Brothers
Lonesome River Band
Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice
Jerry Butler & The Blu-J’s
Shadow Ridge

Along with the music and friendship, there may be ballgames, bubble wrap dancing and much more. You never really know what a bunch of bluegrass fans will do to pass the time. If you are a bluegrass fan you don’t have an option–you have to be there. There are very few times in the year when you have the ability to see this many groups all at one time.

A weekend pass for this event will run you $70 (in advance) – $85 dollars depending on when you purchase your ticket, either before-hand or at the gate. Day prices are as follows – Thursday: $20 (adv) $25 (gate), Friday: $25 (adv) $30 (gate), Saturday: $25 (adv) $30 (gate), children 12 & under get in FREE. These are great prices to see 14 bands and spend time with other people who share your interest. Check out their website: www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com for updated information. Check Smoky Mountain Lodging sources if you are coming for this event.

The Sevier County Fair, Sept. 2-7

The Sevier County Fair runs September 3-8 at the Sevier County Fairgrounds.

With September just around the corner, the local rites of fall are soon to follow. And for those of us that call the Smoky Mountains and the surrounding area home that means brightly colored leaves, footballs filling the the air and the time honored Sevier County Fair.

Like last year, the Sevier County Fair runs Labor Day week, September 2-7 at the Sevier County fairgrounds (754 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville, Tn), near the Wilderness Resort of the Smokies.

So, what’s in store for 2013 you ask? Plenty… to go along with all your favorite fair food, rides, competitions and attractions of years past. There will be a Dairy Show on Monday night and back by popular demand this year the Goat Show, running on Friday night.

The Fairest of the Fair – one of the most popular pageants in East Tennessee is back on Monday and Tuesday night at 6 pm. Tuesday at 7 pm, come see the turtle races. Wednesday the Open beef cattle show and the modified lawnmower races start things off followed by an ice cream eating contest.

As always, there will be a clown circus in the arena from Thursday on. On Friday night, the cornhole championships is sure to bring in spectators at 7 to see the area’s best beanbag tossers followed by storytelling. Then be sure to stick around for some great live entertainment as some of the area’s best wrestlers mix it up in the squared circle.

Saturday gates open at Noon and from there you head straight over to the dog show to see some of the area’s cutest pooches perform and compete for prizes. Follow that day’s events up with a talent show that night at 6:30 and you’re weekend is set.

Schedule of events:

All Week:

6 – 9 pm Nightly Entertainment and Demonstrations
6:30 pm Money Pole
Poultry Show – Poultry Barn
Scavenger Hunt – Exhibit Hall (see Information booth)
“Days Gone By” Children’s Play Area

 

Monday, Sept. 2 Tuesday, Sept. 3 *
3 pm Gates Open – Opening Ceremonies 5 pm Gates Open
6 pm Fairest of the Fair – Little Red Barn Theater 6 pm Fairest of the Fair – Little Red Barn Theater
6 pm Dairy & Cattle Show – Cattle Barn 6 pm Junior Beef Cattle Show – Cattle Barn
7 pm Turtle Race

* Tuesday is Canned Food Night. Each person who donates two (2) canned food items can purchase a $3.00 gate admission ticket. All donations will be given to the Sevier County Food Ministries.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 4 Thursday, Sept. 5 *
5 pm Gates Open 5 pm Gates Open
6 pm Open Beef Cattle Show – Cattle Barn 6 pm Junior & Open Sheep Show – Cattle Barn
6 pm Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest 6:30 pm Dixie Stampede Whoadeo
6 pm Modified Lawnmower Races – Arena 7 pm Storytelling by Bill Landry, “Heartland Series”
7 pm Ice Cream Eating Contest

* Thursday evening is sponsored by Food City & Dixie Stampede. Buy One/Get One Free Ride Wrist Band coupons from Food City can be used on Thursday.

 

Friday, Sept. 6 Saturday, Sept. 7 *
5 pm Gates Open 1 pm Gates Open
6 pm Goat Show – Cattle Barn 1 pm Interactive Farm – Cattle Barn
7 pm Corn Hole Championship – Arena 1 pm Dog Show – next to Cattle Barn
7 pm Storytelling by Sam Venable 6:30 pm Talent Show – Little Red Barn Theater
Grilling Demonstration and Samples 7 pm Tractor Games/Olympics – Arena
presented by Rel Maples Institute for
Culinary Arts
8 pm KFW Wrestling – next to Arena

* Saturday is Senior Day. Admission – $2.00 for adults 60+. All proceeds from Senior Day admissions will be donated to the Sevier County Senior Center.

September is for Classic Car Lovers in Sevierville

September is car month in Sevierville, TN with two very different classic car festivals – the Fall Grand Rod Run and the Shades of the Past Rod Run coming through town.

This month, if it’s classic and muscle cars that really get your engine revved up, then Sevierville, Tn is the place to be. You’ve probably been to or heard of the monster car shows taking place in Pigeon Forge, TN and Sevierville during the month of September. Sevierville will see two HUGE events roll through town next month. The popular Shades of the Past and Grand Rod Run will be back on the Parkway this year. Meanwhile, the Forge Classic Car Show will not run this year as it has in past years in accordance with the Shades of the Past show Sept. 6-7 at the Sevierville Events Center.

What makes these Rod Runs so popular? For most, it’s a trip down memory lane back to time gone by. These fuel-injected pieces of chrome and steel make you reminisce back to your younger days. Days of parking at the ridge and drag racing at the docks. Car shows bring out the wide-eyed child in all of us. Just seeing the cars lined up and down the parkway takes you back to a simpler time. There’s also something about rubbing elbows with 100,000 people that share the same love for certain classic cars that you just can’t find anywhere else.

Gone are the days when an engine overhaul meant climbing into the car, getting your hands dirty, and napping under the hood. These days, if you’ve left you’re lap top at home you’re already behind schedule. Manage to drop a screwdriver in the engine and it’s probably lost till you roll over the next speed hump, or take the next switch back. Only a hammer, bondo, and paint were needed to fix these Chevies, Fords, Pontiacs and Dodges. Fiberglass and computers are now such a part of automobiles, it’s turned out a new generation of mechanics. It’s a wonder that car shows haven’t faded with the times, but it really shows that no matter the make or model, gearheads will always be gearheads. And gearheads love their cars…they’re passionate…and Sevierville, TN is the perfect backdrop to the Great Smoky Mountains to show off these chrome jewels.

Schedule of Sevierville Car Shows in September

The links for Shades of the Past and the Fall Grand Rod Run will take you to pages with entry forms, maps, and other info…so be sure to check them out! This list is taken from a Pigeon Forge Car Shows Schedule.

September 2013
6-7 Shades of the Past Rod Run XXV (more info)
National Parks Resort & Smoky River Ranch
http://www.shadesofthepast.com
12-15 Fall Grand Rod Run (more info)
Former Grand Hotel location
865-687-3976 or 800-251-4444 or 1-800-475-1188

The Grand Spring Rod Run

The Grand Spring Rod Run rolls through town in mid April on the way to Pigeon Forge.

Just because the Rod Run is held in Pigeon Forge every year doesn’t mean that Sevierville doesn’t take part in its own way. For all the parking along the parkway, there’s just as much driving on Main, gawking at chrome, and whistling on the road.

Sevierville should start seeing the classic cars roll through town on their way towards the Parkway in Pigeon Forge around April 10. The 2012 Grand Spring Rod Run is slated for April 12-15. From shiny, chromed-up, vintage models to the unique fixer-upper, there are cars to look at, cars to drool over and cars to buy. It’s a can’t miss event for every kind of gearhead.

Starting at traffic light No. 3 in Pigeon Forge and running almost all the way down the Parkway, cars are parked in every available parking space facing the road. Literally thousands of cars. You can see cars of every description, especially cherry, vintage, American steel: ’58 Corvettes parked next to Model Ts; a ’55 Bel-Air parked next to a ’38 Studebaker Bus. One of the nicest things is that the owners of these cars will be sitting near them. Look for the lawn chairs near the car and they can tell you everything from where they got it, to what they have done to it and with it.

Right behind the cars will be the vendors. Vendor booths, sponsor booths and demonstrations are just part of the weekend. From Hunter’s Custom Automotive to Ausley’s Chevelle, Camaro Central to ET Motorgear, all the big companies are there. Get the answers that may make your car pain your car passion, then head back to the strip.

Things get even more exciting at night. There is an almost constant parade of cars as the owners fire up their machines and cruise the strip. The rumbling up and down the streets of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville is continuous. Thousands of pounds of steel, chrome and glass doing what they were meant to do… cruise.

The Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run is the first of the big three car shows that literally take over the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge-Sevierville area every year. The other two car shows are Shades of the Past and the Fall Grand Rod Run. If you want to be a spectator, participant, or even a car show vendor then we have all of the information you need.

Cruisin’ the Parkway during the 2011 Spring Rod Run:

Pigeon Forge Spring Grand Rod Run Information:

When: April 12-15, 2012
Where: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

  • Participants:
    30 Days Before Event = $30
    Within 30 Days of Event = $40
  • Vendors:
    Outside Space (9×16) = $135
    Inside Space (10×10) = $155
    Sales Corral = $75

For more information about any of the Grand Rod Runs, contact:
MCS Promotions
865-687-3976
Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm EST

Hotels associated with the Pigeon Forge Rod Run:
(This is not a recommendation of these hotels…these are simply the places affiliated with the event. To see our recommendations, visit our list of the best hotels in Pigeon Forge)

Family Inns of America – West
3114 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
865-453-4905

Family Inns of America – East
3785 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-5573

Family Inns of America – North
3239 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-7151

Family Inns of America – South
4112 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-5549

Family Inns of America – Twin Malls
2647 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
865-429-2244 or 800-251-4444

Grand Inns of America
3206 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-0056 or 800-247-8282

Smoky Shadows Motel and Conference Center
4215 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-7155 or 800-282-2121

Again, For more information about the Spring Grand Rod Run or the Fall Grand Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, contact:
MCS Promotions
865-687-3976
Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm EST

For a list of all car shows in Pigeon Forge, be sure to check out our Pigeon Forge Car Show Schedule. You may also want to see our list of the best places to stay in Sevierville as well Sevierville cabin rentals. Also check out the best restaurants in Pigeon Forge and some of the finest Sevierville restaurants. Finally, if some shoppers are coming to town with you, score some points and give them our list of the best coupons for Pigeon Forge.

Have fun and enjoy the Spring Grand Rod Run 2012 in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee !

Writer Fred Brown Headlines the Rose Glen Literary Festival at Walters State in Sevierville

Fred Brown, co-author of “The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith,” headlines the Rose Glen Literary Festival

Fred Brown, co-author of “The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith,” will present a luncheon keynote speech during the second annual Rose Glen Literary Festival on Saturday, February 25 at Walters State Community College Sevier County Campus. The event will begin at 9am and conclude at 2pm with the luncheon taking place at noon.

Brown and his wife, novelist Jeanne McDonald, co-authored the book which follows three families who are prominent in the serpent handling faith. As a journalist, Brown spent 16 years following the faith and getting to know many who practice it in order to accurately tell their stories.

“Fred Brown has an unparalleled knowledge of East Tennessee and ability to relay a story,” says Sevierville Chamber special projects facilitator and event organizer Carroll McMahan. “I feel certain he will deliver a memorable address comparable to the outstanding remarks last year from Lyn Bales.”

A working journalist for 45 years, Brown is retired from The Knoxville News Sentinel and is a member of the Scripps Howard Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editor’s Malcolm Law Trophy for Feature Writing and the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship in Journalism at the University of Michigan.

Other confirmed writers for the Rose Glen Literary Festival include Robert Allen (retired FBI Agent) and Steve Watson (retired TBI agent) who are co-authors of “The Perry’s Camp Murders” as well as J.C. and Margaret McCauley, co-authors of “Growing Up in Cade’s Cove”.

Other authors include Greg Johnson (“Sanctuary”), Cathy Wilhem (“Inside the Darkness, a Walk Through Grief”), Ersa Rhea Smith (“Flying Bullets and the Resplendent Badge”), Emma Catlett and Glenna Julian (“Kodak Historical Cookbook”), Laura Long Martin (“A Beautiful View: Reflection on Bluff Mountain by Matriarch Marian Oates”), Veta King (“History of Pigeon Forge” and “Images of America, Pigeon Forge”), Lyn Bales (“Natural Histories” and “Ghost Birds”), Mary Phillips (“Booger: A Tall Tale”), Eric Ball (“Blue Mountain Mist Cookbook”), Donnie Lamon (“Riding to Newport”), Dr. Bruce Wheeler (“A Mountain City in the New South”), Jack Hodge, Arthur McDade (“Smoky Mountain Days” and “The Natural Arches of Big South Fork”) and Steve Cotham (“Great Smoky Mountains National Park”).

There is an $18 charge for attending the keynote luncheon, which includes a gourmet chicken pot pie lunch, a gift from The Old Mill Pottery and an opportunity to win door prizes. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. There is no fee to attend the other workshops during the day. To reserve your tickets, call Carroll McMahan at (865) 453-6411.