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)

The Appalachian Trail

There might be no backcountry spot, no trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as hiked or sought after as the Appalachian Trail. In all, just a hair over 71 miles run through the Great Smoky Mountains. That’s just a fraction of its total: 2,143 miles. It’s a destination for many coming in to Sevierville every year and a point of emphasis for local nature lovers, of which there are many.

You’ll find the trail’s highest peak located in the national park, Clingman’s Dome (6,643 feet). There are just so many marvels of the Smokies to be found along the AT. Tree species are in high count for those naturalists in all of us. Rock facings that will leave even the most well-traveled of geologists in awe and wildflowers the likes of which are seen on magazine covers and books.

If you’re looking for a spot a little less crowded than most of the trail, head over to the northern side before venturing to sections like that between Newfound Gap and Charlies Bunion.

The Appalachian Trail is the only trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that’s marked by white blazes on trees or rocks, just look for the white streaks of paint and you’ve found one. Therefore, you’ve come to a portion of the AT.

For safety purposes, plan out your trip on AT before setting out, and keep a few other things in mind while planning, like preparing yourself mentally for the trip, making sure someone knows your route and where you’re going, caring a trail map and using it, taking a cellphone for precautionary measures, and being aware of those on the trail around you. Those suggestions, and some common sense can go a long ways in making sure your trip is a memorable one.

The Appalachian Trail is managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, state agencies too numerous to list and volunteers that number in the thousands. Annually, over 6,000 volunteers contribute more than 195,000 hours toward protecting, helping maintain, and marketing the Appalachian Trail. The AT is calling, happy hiking!

Robert Tino Gallery

The Robert Tino Gallery is located in Sevierville, Tennessee. One of the best parts about visiting the gallery is that it’s located in an antique home. The home was built in 1844 and is on the Register of Historic Places. Built by John Andes in the 1800s, the home has had two owners, the Andes family and the Denton family.  Robert Tino’s wife, Mary John Denton Tino is the granddaughter of the Denton that bought the home.  In the 1990s, the home was converted into a gallery, housing original Robert Tino artwork and, of course, limited edition Robert Tino prints.  Now, the gallery stands as a monument to a time gone by and one of the premier water-colorists in the Smoky Mountains area.

About Robert Tino’s Work

Robert Tino has been conveying his love for the Smoky Mountains for more then 20 years.  Starting out in watercolor and moving on to oils, he was a student of the University of Tennessee and has used countless techniques including one called gouache, an opaque technique used with the transparency of watercolors to create his signature watercolors that express the various moods of the mountains. Branching out into oils, Robert found another way to bring his impressions of the mountains to his ever-growing audience.  And in recent years, the realist painter has branched out into abstraction. His abstract works, with brilliant hues of primary colors, have opened up a new audience to this amazing painter and have broadened his appeal to his existing audience and collectors of his works.

Robert Tino’s Community Service

Robert A. Tino and his wife Mary John love the Smoky Mountains. They not only love the area and the people that flock to it year after year, but they also give back to their community. Over the years they have given part of the proceeds from the sell of Robert’s works of art to East Tennessee Children Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains. Stop by their gallery and spend some time with an amazing artist by viewing Robert Tino prints and his original artwork. Plus, you’ll get to spend some time in history itself in a structure that is more then 150 years old! This art gallery will have you falling in love with the Smoky Mountains all over again.

To visit, or to contact about purchasing Robert Tino art or Robert Tino prints:

Robert Tino Gallery
812 Old Douglas Dam Road
Sevierville, TN
865-453-6315
www.robertatinogallery.com

Buddy’s Bar-B-Q

Even though it is a part of a chain, Buddy’s Bar-B-Q in Sevierville may have some of the best BBQ to be found in the city limits of Sevierville.  Fresh BBQ, a killer sauce and of course wonderful sides make Buddy’s a place to stop if you are looking for a quick, good meal.  They also offer family packs that are great take for a picnic in the National Park and they even have a deal going with the movie theater that sits directly behind them on Winfield Dunn Parkway.

I think that the thing that makes Buddy’s Bar-B-Q unique is the fact that each location is allowed to choice their own sauces.  This gives you a little different experience at each and every location.  At the Buddy’s in Sevierville, Bill Yett, the man that bought the franchise spent numerous months on the road, tasting BBQ and tasting sauces to find the exact one that he wanted for his location in Sevierville.  And though the Yetts no longer own the shop in Sevierville, the sauce is still just as good as always.  They have a mild version and a spicy version of their sauce.  Both of these are sweet southern style bbq sauces, none of that Carolina vinegar sauce here and both are out of this world.  When added to the tender bbq’d meats that they serve, Buddy’s produces plates of food and sandwiches of such a succulent nature that they have to be tasted to be believed.

Due to its location, Buddy’s has also made a deal with the movie theater behind them, Reel Movies on the Parkway, so that you can enjoy their food and take in a movie for one low price.  You stop by Buddy’s for dinner, pick up the certificate for your discounted movie tickets and then you are ready to go.  Scarf down some BBQ and drive just a few feet to park at the theater and take in a show.

Or maybe you are wanting to get out in the great outdoors and have a picnic.  Well, Buddy’s can help you with that as well.  Get a family pack that feeds 5 or that feeds 10 and take to the backcountry.  The meal includes meat and buns to feed 5 or 10, two large sides for the 5, more for the feeds 10 option, plates and silverware.  It all comes in a box so that it is easy to carry.  This is the quickest way to get a picnic started in the Smokies.

Give Buddy’s a try the next time you are in Sevierville.  Whether you are staying in Sevierville or just passing through, grab some bbq and head to the mountains.  I think you will find that the flavors of the bbq match the beauty of the outdoors.

Buddy’s Bar-B-Q
705 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Sevierville, TN
865-428-5001
www.buddysbarbq .com

Salvation Army makes a big difference in Sevierville’s Christmas season.

With all the symbolism that comes with the Christmas season, it can be argued that few carry as much weight and touch as many people as the Salvation Army. That’s especially true in Sevierville and has been for years.

Fill the Truck for Local Kids is a nation-wide program, but all clothing and toys gathered at the Sevierville Walmart will go to Sevier County children.

“The important thing is the toys stay in Sevier County,” said officials with the local chapter of the Salvation Army.

Along with Fill the Truck, The Salvation Army is currently accepting donations with its annual Red Kettle Campaign, where volunteers ring bells outside 18 area stores to encourage shoppers to drop donations into their red kettles.

The campaign, which began around Thanksgiving and will end Christmas Eve, is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and has been since it was created 122 years ago.

Another holiday program The Salvation Army sponsors is the Angel Tree Program, where the organization identifies families in need and sets them up with sponsors to provide gifts, primarily clothes, for the angel of the family — a child of 12 years or younger.

Fill the Truck is designed to supplement the Angel Tree Program. The wish is to provide sponsors for 750 angels this year.

“We would love for people to sponsor angels, and if they have two hours to spare, give us a call to ring some bells,” said officials. “Again, the money stays in the county.”

Harrisburg Covered Bridge

The Harrisburg Covered Bridge in Sevier County, located just off Old State Highway 35, spans the East Fork of the Little Pigeon River.

The Harrisburg community has maintained a bridge at this locale since the mid-1800s. Once known as the McNutts Bridge before washing away in 1875, and committee was formed by the county and local citizens contributed to its replacement. The Harrisburg community provided the wood and labor for the replacement structure. The county donated $25 and $50 was raised privately.

Elbert Stephenson Early was hired by the county to build a covered bridge as several members of his family moved to the Harrisburg area of Sevier County in the 1870s. Many of them were skilled carpenters, millwrights, and engineers. They built Murphy Chapel and several residences in the area. In 1877, Elbert Early purchased half interest in the Newport Mill, adjacent to the Harrisburg Covered Bridge.

In the late 1800s, the Harrisburg community grew, and with its several mills, blacksmith shops, a school, a doctor, and a post office, prospered. However, in 1915 the county built a new road that bypassed Harrisburg and the community disappeared.

Over the years, Sevier County has actively maintained the bridge, keeping it open for traffic as many other covered bridges were replaced. In 1952, Bill Baker and a county road crew stabilized the bridge which included the placement of a concrete pier at the center of the truss. As a result, this span functioned as two timber stringers. By the 1970s, the bridge was deteriorated and facing possible demolition when the Great Smokies Chapter and the Spencer Clack Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) raised funds to repair and maintain the bridge as well as seeking listing for it on the National Register of Historic Places. The Harrisburg Covered Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 for its significance as a rare surviving example of a covered timber truss bridge.

In 1983, the bridge had deteriorated and faced closure, but the county renovated the bridge with new flooring and replaced some of the timber beams, allowing the bridge to remain open but posted it with a 3-ton weight limit.

Through a grant from the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program, Sevier County rehabilitated the Harrisburg Covered Bridge, extensively repairing the bridge in 2004. It was reopened for traffic, with a 15-ton weight limit later that same year.

The French Broad River

The French Broad River is one of the two rivers that combines to form the Tennessee River.  This river that starts in Western North Carolina has been a huge influence on the economic advancement of the state of Tennessee and has had a huge impact on Sevierville itself.  These rambling waters have been celebrated for years and have provided plenty of recreation opportunities, from fishing to boating.

As the French Broad River begins its journey in Tennessee, it flows through Cocke County (next to Sevier County).  The Pigeon River and the Nolichucky both empty into the French Broad before the river meets Douglas Dam and forms Douglas Lake.  This lake, formed by the damming of the river was a TVA project and has form ed one of the best sports fishing lakes in Tennessee.  Dandridge, TN sits on the banks of the river and people visiting the Tennessee side of the Smokies find themselves drawn to Douglas Lake for its beauty and for the recreational opportunities that it offers.

Past the dam, the French Broad continues on its way and it is to the next 10 miles of the river that I would like to draw your attention.  This ten mile stretch of water might be one of the best flatwater kayaking and canoeing rivers in the state.  Using one of the public ramps right below the dam, if you time your trip with the times they are generating water, you can start your paddle down the river in style – with a push of water behind you.  The first 5 miles of this float will take you through the full range of of the French Broad from narrowing turns and twists where the water moves relatively fast to broad sections of flatwater where you have to paddle to go anywhere.  5 miles form the dam, you reach a take out under the Hwy 66 bridge near the Smoky Mountain Knife Works.  Stop here and plan for your trip back to your car or continue down the river for another 5 miles.

The second part of this 10 mile float starts with a set of rapids where the Little Pigeon River dumps into the French Broad.  These are barely class 1 rapids but they are fun to play in.  The river will again swell and narow as it winds around bend after bend.  You will start to see big crappie in the water and notice that the bank on the right hand side of the river is dotted with eagle nest here and there.  If you are lucky and take you time you might get to see some of the birds in action.  About 1 mile before the Ellis take out (10 miles from the dam) you will come to a small island with a class 2 rapid on one side of the island and a very shallow portion on the other side.  Right past the rapids are a great place to play in the water and enjoy the river.

If you continue on down the French Broad past the Ellis take out you will eventually run into the Holston.  It is at this point, that the Tennessee River is formed at the convulsion of these two rivers.  The Tennessee then continues on into Knoxville and heads south.  The French Broad is a great place to play int he water and take in the sights. Rent a canoe or a kayak and get out to the great outdoors.

Sevier County Farmers Co-Op

The Farmer’s Co-Op in Sevier County is a great all around co-op.  Co-Operatives like this one are a dying breed.  Full of everything you need to run a farm, get a tractor fixed and buy supplies for your animals (big and small), or maybe just come in to find those special items that fit the bill when you are shopping for that special someone, that someone that likes there hats in John Deere green and their work boots with a little camo on the side.

Farmer’s Co-Operatives were established during the early part of the 20th century.  The idea is that a co-operative would help farmers by providing the itesm that they needed to run their farms at a cheaper price.  Being a part of the co-op back in the day gave you the ability to buy your seeds on credit, get a tractor fixed when it broke down during harvest and a group of people, including the local extension agent to call on when you had questions.  The co-op provided literally everything that you needed to keep a farm running, to go from planting to harvest and back again.  Bins full of seed, aisles with feed on one side and tack on the other were the norm for people visiting the cop-op.  In Sevier County when so many of the people lived an agrarian lifestyle, before the economy changed with the influx of tourism, the co-op kept the people of Sevier County going.

The co-op still benefits the farmers of the area.  It provides discounts on the goods they need to keep their family farms going, but it is much more then that as well.  The co-op is also a really great place to shop.  From farm clothing like Carhart jackets and work pants to boots, the co-op can be a great place for those people that like that country-look when they are buying clothes.  And if you have a  John Deer collector in your house, they have that merchandise for you as well.  And as far as supplies for your pets goes, the co-op might be one of the best pet stores in all of Sevier County.

And, if you need another reason to go to the co-op, think about the history of our country.  There are many towns that n longer have a co-op, there are many young people that have never been through the doors of a co-op and would have no idea what one is.  Take that young person in your life to the co-op.  Let them walk around the store, let them explore a store that was established for a different time in our country’s history.  Let them see how a different segment of our society lived and shop, let them shop at the co-op.

Sevier County Family Resouce Center makes Christmas better for area teens, but still needs donations.

What’s better during the Christmas season than giving back to those in need? Not much. It’s the true meaning of Christmas and places like the Sevier County Family Resource Center are a testament to that. Not only do they specialize in helping others, this holiday season they’ve pinpointed one group in particular: teenagers.

Instead of focusing on children 12 and other like many other worthwhile charitable organizations, the Sevier County Family Resource Center is lifting up teenagers this Christmas, a group than can sometimes get passed over during the holidays.

According to Center Director Kim Loveday, and sole employee of the Sevier County Family Resource Center, there are a lot of families with teenagers that could use the help this Christmas.

When Loveday first began working at the center, she deemed it more necessary to find people who would purchase things like clothing and personal hygiene items for teens instead of Christmas toys.

According to her, the center receives numerous calls this time of year from parents, grandparents, nurses, guidance counselors and school principals asking for clothing and hygiene items. The need has ballooned so much that whereas she helped 30 teens in her first year, her list has grown to almost 300 this year.

The Sevier County Family Resource Center is reliant solely on community donations and sponsors who feel the need to help during the year. One stat that was offered up about a sole teen is that $75 usually covers the cost of one’s clothing needs.

Loveday said that it’s not just providing them with clothes, it’s providing them with new, clean clothes which in turn improves their self esteem which is at a premium, especially during those formative years.

The Sevier County Family Resource Center is still looking for sponsors for a number of teenagers. If you’re interested in sponsoring one, contact Loveday at the family resource center at 865-428-7999 or by e-mail at sevierfamilyresource@yahoo.com.

Country Christmas & Collectibles

‘Tis the season…. the Christmas season, the shopping season, and everything else that goes along with the holiday season in Sevierville. So, if you’re looking to celebrate and shop, where’s a good place to snag some Christmas gifts and collectibles? None other than a Country Christmas & Collectibles in Kodak, Tn, just up the road from Sevierville.

Country Christmas & Collectibles is open 364 days a year for your Christmas purchasing pleasure. But they’re not open on Christmas. It’s actually the only day they’re closed the entire year.But every other day they’re all about Christmas, the holidays, and finding you the perfect Christmas-y gift, ornament, or collectible.

You’ll find the newest in Christmas trees, lighting, and outdoor displays at their Kodak store, ornaments beyond your wildest holiday dreams, nutcrackers of every kind and size, and miles and miles of ribbon and garland…. Enough to make your home a winter wonderland in the middle of summer.

A Country Christmas & Collectibles is 23,000 sq. ft. of pure holiday excitement. Christmas is everywhere here, some of it even 50% off (excluding collectibles), before Christmas. Don’t wait to get in on all the good deals after Christmas, come save RIGHT NOW at a Country Christmas & Collectibles. If for some reason you can’t make it to the store, shop on-line countrychristmasonline.com and peruse their goodies from the comforts of your own home. If the products don’t put you in the Christmas spirit, the prices will.

A Country Christmas & Collectibles employs an in-house designer that not only does the store’s grand displays, they can also custom design wreaths and centerpieces to fit your holiday decor.

A few of the other types of Christmas collectibles you’ll find at the store include a large assortment of Nativities, fiber optics, and silhouettes made of hot roll steel, fiber coated, then finished with a white enamel.

With over 23,000 Christmas-related items in house, you’re sure to find something to brighten your holidays, or someone else’s at a Country Christmas & Collectibles in Kodak, Tn.

Country Christmas & Collectibles
3044 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Kodak, TN 37764
(Highway 66 Near I-40, Exit 407)
(865) 933-9115, (888) 314-0173