Smoky Mountain Events Calendar

GATLINBURG

Ober Gatlinburg Daily Ski Report

February 1-28
Gatlinburg Winterfest Illumination and Decoration Contest
Local businesses get into the spirit of winter by decorating for the season and compete in different categories, making Gatlinburg a "Fantasy of Lights."

February 1-28
15th Annual Gatlinburg Winterfest
The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. Special lighting displays added in January for "Smoky Mountain Romance" through February.

February 1-28
Night Magic Skiing
Monday - Friday (non-holidays), 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Ober Gatlinburg. For more information please call (865) 436-5423.

January 2 - December 31
Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg
"Ghostwalk of Gatlinburg" is a walking night-time tour of Gatlinburg's most historic and "haunted" places which takes about one hour, and is approximately one mile in length. The walk is lantern-led and guided by a local storyteller dressed in costume. "Ghostwalk" is not a haunted-house tour. It is a storytelling experience with a twist of murder and mayhem. We get your attention, but we don't chase you around with chainsaws. The stories feature a combination of local legends, history, superstition, folk tales and fiction. The tour's purpose is to revisit many historic and forgotten stories of murder and chaos that took place during the past 100 years in Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tours leave nightly at 9, 10:30 and midnight. Reservations required. 865-556-0674
www.ghostwalkofgatlinburg.com

February 8
Southern Exposure Competitions
Ober Gatlinburg, 12:30pm-6pm.
12:30 PM - Skiing & Snowboard Competition
2:30 PM - Skiing and Snowboard Jumping
4:00 PM - Award Medals for Competition
5:00 PM - Cardboard Sled Classic Derby

Benefitting Helen Ross McNabb Center.
Contact Kelly Hodges at 865-329-9119 for Entry Form and Rules. Limited to 45 Sleds. The public is welcome to come up and view all activities (free of charge except for tram and/or parking fees).

TOWNSEND

February 7-10
Winter Heritage Festival
A celebration of the history, people, and traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Download Brochure

This festival takes places at several venues in Townsend, TN and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The event is an in-depth look into the rich heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cades Cove community, and it is designed to celebrate the culture, history, natural beauty, and heritage of the area. Through classes, tours, exhibits, music, hikes, and demonstrations, visitors can experience:

• Stories of mountain life and families of the Smokies
• Logging and railroad days
• Illustrated talks and displays about people and the land
• History, stories, music, and plant lore of the Cherokee Indians
• Mountain music and crafts
• Cades Cove guided walks
• Creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Cades Cove Military History
• Displays from family archives and old fashioned portraits at Townsend Visitor Center
• Exhibits at the Heritage Museum, Little River Railroad Museum, Thompson Brown House, Blount County Historic Trust, and Art Exhibit at Mountain Sage Gallery

Schedule:
Thursday, February 7, 2008
6:00pm--9:00pm Kick-off Reception and entertainment at the Dancing Bear Lodge:
Heavy Hors D'Oeuvres, (fee charged) for reservations, call 865-448-0044
(programs only, free)

Friday, February 8, 2008: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m-talks, walks, music, and tours:

Some of the highlights include a Music Heritage Program with Lisa Free, lunchtime program on "Hiking the Smokies" with Sue Jenkins, "Fire Towers of the Smokies" talk by Charles Maynard, "Geology of White Oak Sinks" with Harry Moore, plus walking tours in Cades Cove, music at Tremont, and Cade Cove Preservation Association illustrated talks at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center

In the evening, Townsend area restaurants are featured at "A Taste of Townsend".

Saturday, February 9, 2008: 9 a.m. to 5: p.m.-talks, walks, art, demonstrations, music, Cherokee history:

A few of the highlights include "Drawing History" workshop with Andrea Wilson, "Cades Cove Military History" with Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham, "Wild Edibles of the Smokies", Ila Hatter, Logging and Railroad History and walks, "Cades Cove Photography" with Bill Lea, Cherokee Storytelling and music, plus a wide variety of sessions on the special places and families of Cades Cove.

Saturday, February 9, evening at The Barn Event Center of the Smokies:

Mike Clemmer, dulcimer music
Star-gazing with the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society
Catered supper by Miss Lily's
Bo Taylor, Native American Culture program
Sunday, February 10, 2008-At the Richmont Inn: "The Walker Sisters", with Robin Goddard and Harp Music with Jennifer Love. At the Valley View Lodge: "Precious Memories--A Cades Cove Homecoming" panel discussion.

PIGEON FORGE

February 1-15
Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights (Groups Only)
Funtime Trolley Station @ Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge.

February 7-9
17th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival
Hailing from West Virginia, California, New York and points between, the list of performers showcases a variety of storytelling styles. Tellers scheduled to perform include Waddie Mitchell, a cowboy poet and storyteller from Nevada; Bil Lepp, five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest.

Carmen Agra Deedy, an author and storyteller born in Havana, Cuba, shares stories steeped in the riches of both Latin American and Southern culture. Mitch Weiss and Martha Hamilton, an award-winning husband and wife team, are known for their work in teaching the art of storytelling.

Willy Claflin has a number of award-winning recordings and has been featured at storytelling festivals around the world.

The festival also features the National Youth Storytelling Showcase presented in partnership with the National Storytelling Network. The Showcase will feature performers age 17 and younger from across the nation, vying for the title of Grand Torchbearer.

Old Mill Haunts ‘n’ Haints Tales return with evening offerings of family-friendly ghost stories.

Storytelling concerts and workshops will take place at American Jukebox Theater. Day passes for Storytelling activities (excluding Haunts ‘n’ Haints) are $10 for ages 18 and older, free to ages 17 and younger. Weekend passes are $25. Haunts ‘n’ Haints tickets are $5 per person. All tickets will be available at 1-866-430-8422.

February 21-24
8th Annual Saddle Up! Celebration
Pigeon Forge. Various Venues. Events begin at the Music Road Convention Center with the Vendor Mall, 9am-5pm (free event).

Wylie & the Wild West have performed on stages around the world, fronted by yodeler, rancher and world-famous “Yahoo-er” Wylie Gustafson. Sons of the San Joaquin are a trio of singers who share their love of western history and sweet harmony.

Yvonne Hollenbeck is one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West, while Jean Prescott has been honored by the State of Texas for contributing to the preservation of Texas music and history.

In addition to singing cowboy music, Jeff Gore is a rancher and the founder of Jeff Gore Ministries. Sourdough Slim combines singing, yodeling and comedy with accompaniment on accordion, ukulele and more!

Chris Isaacs and Kent Rollins will lend their storytelling talents and be the head wranglers of a Dutch Oven Cooking Competition.

A Cowboy Symphony returns for a second year on Thursday, Feb. 21, and will feature the Sons of the San Joaquin at Country Tonite Theatre.

Additional Saddle Up! activities include a Saturday night Western Swing Dance to the music of Wylie & the Wild West; and Sunday morning Cowboy Church followed by an authentic chuckwagon lunch.

Concert venues are Country Tonite Theatre and American Jukebox Theater. The dance will be at Pigeon Forge Middle School, and Cowboy Church will take place at Stages West.

Weekend passes, excluding the Cowboy Symphony, are $50 plus tax. Day passes are $30 plus tax. Tickets for Cowboy Symphony are $20 plus tax. Ages 17 and younger are admitted free.

Weekend passes and Cowboy Symphony tickets will be available in advance at Country Tonite Theatre, 1-800-792-4308, or onsite on Thursday, Feb. 21. Day passes for Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be available onsite at American Jukebox Theater.

Admission to the dance is $5 per person age 18 and older (17 and younger are admitted free) with proceeds benefiting the Pigeon Forge Middle School. Cowboy Church is free and will be followed by the chuckwagon lunch where a $5 minimum donation will benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.

During Saddle Up!, on Feb. 21-23, visitors also can enjoy the Chuckwagon Jamboree at Fiddlers’ Feast in Pigeon Forge, with dinner show performances by the Colorado Wranglers, Roy Rogers Jr. and the High Riders. Information and tickets are available at 888-908-3327.

Saddle Up! has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.