Special Events - Smoky Mountains - March 2010
Calendar of Events Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge - Sevierville - Cherokee - Townsend - Maggie Valley
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
Year 'Round
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
March 8-14
North American Country Music Awards
Held at the Country Tonite Theatre. Call 1-800-792-4308 for ticket information.
March 11 - June 7
Gatlinburg SpringFest
During the three-month Springfest celebration that begins in early March and continues into the second week of June, visitors witness Gatlinburg’s transformation into spring when the city’s streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants.
March 11 - June 7
Sevierville's Smoky Mountain Springfest
Enjoy spring decorations, mountain wildflowers and plenty of great events during Smoky Mountain Springfest. For more information call 1-888-SEVIERVILLE (738-4378) or www.VisitSevierville.com.
March 10-14
16th Annual "A Mountain Quiltfest"
A Mountain Quiltfest, with annual attendance of more than 20,000 visitors, celebrates its 16th year. Quilters and crafters from across the U.S. gather for more than 70 classes and seminars, an expanded vendor mall and a quilt show featuring more than 300 quilted items.
Quilts will be on display in both the Smoky Mountain Convention Center and the Music Road Hotel Convention Center.
www.mountainquiltfest.com
March 15 - June 5
Annual Smoky Mountain Springfest
Experience SpringFest, one of the finest Pigeon Forge festivals in the Smoky Mountains! This springtime celebration is packed full of fun for nearly three months. No other Pigeon Forge festivals allow you to witness the vibrant flowers, dogwoods, red buds and other spring trees blooming across the Smoky Mountains. SpringFest isn’t just for sightseeing. You’ll be able to see some of the area's finest Appalachian crafters and artisans, listen to mountain music and enjoy a variety of other activities.
March 20
East TN Children’s Hospital - Cutest Little Baby Face
Belz Outlets; For more information call (865) 453-7316.
March 16-22
Southern Gospel Music Fanfare
Smoky Mountain Convention Center; For more information call (205) 662-4826.
March 13
Holly and Shamrock Parade - St. Nicholas Meets St. Patrick - in downtown Gatlinburg
St. Nicholas & St. Patrick – Together At Last! For the first time these two Saints will meet and march together in the first Holly & Shamrock Parade in the nation. And what would a parade be without bands? And we have a great one. The All Santa Band will be playing for your entertainment, as well as high school bands, pipe and drum corps and some very unique musical groups. And talk about sleighs! The parade will have everything from carriages to the famous Cyber Sleigh! As with all of Santa’s parades there will be lots of floats from some of the biggest entertainment venues and resorts in Gatlinburg. See holly with shamrocks, elves and leprechauns, winter saying hello to spring, and of course, red and green everywhere as you have never seen it before!
www.hollyandshamrock.com
March 13
The Diner Rats 2nd Annual Shamrock Saturday Cruisin' for Food
Bring canned or boxed non-perishable food for Sevier County Food Ministries or Wears Valley Ranch. Cruise begins at noon at Smokies Stadium and proceeds to The Diner, rain or shine. (865) 908-1904 www.thediner.biz
March 14
Celebrate Santa
Santa Claus is coming to Gatlinburg! In fact, hundreds of them, with Mrs. Clauses, elves and the reindeer, too.
From March 14 through 16, the major convention of real and designer bearded Santas will meet to commiserate and learn more about their craft. Join hundreds of Santa Clauses and Mrs. Clauses as they gather at the Convention Center for their 2010 convention, trade show and gala. Real-bearded and designer-bearded Santas and even those who have never donned the red suit (but think they might like to) are welcome, regardless of experience, affiliation or interest.
Both Santas and Mrs. Clauses will also have serious classes that will advise them of such things as wardrobe techniques and how to be an effective part of Santa’s appearances and visits. Reindeer Owners will also be meeting to discuss their season. It will look a lot like Christmas in March as attendees participate in workshops, exhibits, entertainment, vendors showcases and even a parade fill the agenda.
There will also be a Holly & Shamrock Gala on Tuesday evening.
This year’s event is closely tied with the upcoming epic motion picture, Nicholas of Myra, the story on the life and times of St. Nicholas. Writer/director, Gerald Hartke, and lead actor, Matthew Mesler, are Grand Marshals of the Holly & Shamrock Parade at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 13.
The public has the opportunity to attend the Santa Showcase on the main floor of the Gatlinburg Convention Center on Tuesday, March 16 as well as other events, including a fashion show and tube races at Ober Gatlinburg. For more information, visit www.celebratesantafestival.com and click on the For The Public tab.
March 20
Smoky Mountain Thunder Motorcycle & Car Show
Sevier Co. Fairgrounds (865) 654-1851
March 21
East TN Children’s Hospital - Cutest Little Baby Face
Belz Outlets; For more information call (865) 453-7316
March 26-27
Corvette Expo & Auction
Sevierville Events Center 865-687-830
www.corvetteexpo.com
March 26-28
Gatlinburg Screenfest
The festival will feature independent films and filmmakers from all over the nation. This event is open to the public. Screenfest will kick off the event with a free networking party starting Friday night at 6pm in Duck Blind lounge. There will be free screenings of last years’ winners Saturday morning and we will be accepting donations for the American Red Cross. Saturday night around 530pm Talent Trek Agency will be doing a free workshop for people interested in working in the film industry. Sunday evening will conclude with an awards ceremony. Screenings of this years’ selections will be continuing throughout the festival starting Friday night and ending Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the screenings can be purchased at www.gatlinburgscreenfest.com
March 31 - April 3
Arts & Crafts Community Show
Arts and crafts have long held a deep association with the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Nowhere else in the South will you find a richer heritage of fine craftsmanship than in Gatlinburg. Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, established in 1937, is the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Located on an eight-mile loop at the northeast edge of Gatlinburg, the Community proudly preserves the craft heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains year-round. This area offers you the best in a wide range of craft shops, including pottery, woodcarving, candlemaking, quilting, weaving, broommaking, and painting, among many other fine art forms.
www.gatlinburgcrafts.com
March 28
Ramp It Up! Festival
Venue: Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This festival highlights two mountain delicacies – trout and wild, pungent onion/garlic-like ramps. The event is held in conjunction with the official opening of the North Carolina trout season on the Qualla Boundry. The festival includes music, the Chief’s Horseshoe Competition, and a trout and ramps feast! This event is a “Top 20 event” as determined by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS).
March 27
Cherokee KOA Fishing Tournament
Venue: Cherokee KOA Campground/Oconaluftee River Islands Park. 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: KOA Campground; 828-497-2511
March 27
Second Annual Vietnam Veterans Parade & Ceremony 2010
New to our event schedule is the Second Annual Vietnam Veterans Parade & Ceremony 2010, and it's the first of its kind in Cherokee. Parade line up begins at 8:45 a.m. The parade rolls out of the Cherokee Bear Zoo traffic light at 9:30 a.m. and will wind its way through the town of Cherokee along Hwy. 441N, Tsa-La-Gi Road where it ends at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. A very special celebration of Vietnam Veterans will take place at 1 p.m. after the Ramp It Up! Festival at the Fair Grounds.
We ask for support participation by way of floats and people in military or traditional dress who wish to ride or walk. Contact us for more information about how to participate.
Contact: Derrell Maxwell (828) 488-5870 or
Frank Cucumber (828) 497-2732
March 27 - April 26
Dollywood's Festival of Nations
Dollywood’s Festival of Nations presents the most captivating entertainment from around the world during this monthlong celebration of music, dance, food and art.
In 2010, Dollywood celebrates its 25th anniversary with great new shows during the Festival of Nations. Festival of Nations showcases the rhythms of the world with DRUM!, featuring 20 dancers, musicians, singers and drummers; the South American rhythms of Jallmay; and Invaders, an esemble steel orchestra. Back by popular demand, Imaginé presented by Le Grand Cirque, will premier its cast of international acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns and high wire artists amaze audiences with their athletic ability, lavish costumes, dynamic lighting, mesmerizing music and breathtaking feats.
More on Festival of Nations
March 27
Music of the Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosts its 5th annual “Music of the Mountains” festival on Saturday, March 27, in partnership with the City of Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains Association. This year’s festival features a series of free performances by various artists during the day at the Park’s Sugarlands Visitor Center followed by a special evening performance headlined by local performer Jimbo Whaley at W. L. Mills Conference Center. Tickets
“Music of the Mountains” is a celebration of musical traditions of the southern Appalachian Mountains, showcasing the evolution of mountain music over time. The festival is one of several special events the Park has developed to tell the story of the people who lived here prior to the Park’s establishment in 1934. “Musical expression was and still is often a part of daily life in the southern mountains, and mountain music is tied to Smokies history like no other part of our culture,” said Kent Cave, North District Supervisory Park Ranger.
The event starts at 10 a.m. with an array of traditional musical performances at the Sugarlands Visitor Center Theater. Seating in the theater at Sugarlands Visitor Center is limited to 160 persons per concert, and is on a “first come, first served” basis.
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