Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales 2009

One of the highlight events of the summer for Gatlinburg TN is Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales. This year’s Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales will start on June 12 and end August 8. During those dates you can catch local performers riding into downtown Gatlinburg TN via horse drawn carriages. The actors will ride into town in the evenings dressed in full costume. Their dress will reflect the time period of the 1800’s, the century in which most of their stories date back to. The performers will start into town at 5pm and will leave around 10pm. If you’re walking along the strip during those times try to find a performer and listen to their stories.

There will be at least 8 performers along the strip telling stories, singing songs, performing magic tricks, dancing and much more. Some of their stories date back to the 1800’s and some are from when Gatlinburg started to become a tourist town and the Smoky Mountain National Park was dedicated. Those dancing, singing and doing magic tricks might invite you to perform with them! Watch as they entertain you and once they tell their story, sing their song or show you a trick walk a little farther down the Parkway and you’ll see another performer. Even Zeno the Gatlinburg bear will be strutting his stuff along the Parkway. The kids will love to see him and take pictures. Say hello if you see him!

From June 12-26 the performers will only come into town on Friday and Saturday nights. After June 26th the sidewalks will become their playing grounds at 5pm every evening until August 8th when there last performance is scheduled. If you’ll be in Gatlinburg this summer make sure you get to downtown Gatlinburg and walk along the strip and listen or watch as they perform for you. They’ll give you a good laugh. Thee best part about all this is that they perform for free! All you have to do is be walking down the strip while they’re there! If you just so happen to be walking along the strip during their “show” times then be sure you stop and watch or listen. They’ll be walking along the Parkway and stop at a crowd of people, they have no set performing areas.

Browse our site for more information about lodging and available Gatlinburg cabins.

Family Fest in the Smokies

If you’ll be in Gatlinburg TN between May 23-25 a great event to attend is Family Fest in the Smokies. This family centered Southern gospel event is a highly anticipated event. They have been doing Family Fest for 18 years and will be celebrating this year at the W.L. Mills Conference Center in downtown Gatlinburg TN. This event is brought to you by Bill and Gloria Gaither and is great for all ages!

This 3 days event starts on Friday, May 23, with services at 7 pm. Saturday and Sunday’s services will be at 10am and 6pm each day. There will being singing and speakers spreading the God’s message through music and worships. Talented singers such as the Gaither Vocal Band, Gordon Mote, Lynda Randie, Janet Paschall, and Jeff and Sherri Easter will be there along with several others! Be sure you listen to the messages from Steve Brown and Paul Young while you’re there as well!

Bill and Gloria Gaither, along with all their talented friends, invite you to join them for this year’s Family Fest in the Smokies. This year’s Family Fest is expected to draw in approximately 4,500 people. Tickets can be purchased in advance for this event or you can purchase tickets at the entrance. Be sure you make it to one of their services if not all of them. Schedule a visit to Family Fest on your trip to the Smokies and Gatlinburg TN.

Old Timer's Day 2009

Many elderly residents from Gatlinburg TN are gathering together on June 6 to reminiscence on the days when Gatlinburg was still a “sleepy town”. They will tell you stories of how Gatlinburg came to be a tourist town and when the National Park was dedicated. Nobody can tell a story like someone who actually lived it!

“Old Timer’s Day” celebrates those who have been in Gatlinburg long enough to see it evolve into what it is today. The Pi Beta Phi School started this event to bring everyone together to share stories and sing or make crafts together. These people grew up on the land where there are now amusements and watched as Gatlinburg grew and tourists started visiting. Their stories will take you back 75 years when Gatlinburg was a farming town and not many people had even heard of it. They watched as childhood friends moved away and buildings moved in. Many can recount when the National Park was dedicated.

The elderly people will meet at the Inn at Gatlinburg. Stop in for a visit and listen to the stories they have. They’ll answer many of your questions and tell you things you wouldn’t be able to hear from many people that live in the area now. The stories are very interesting! Some even have pictures to show you. Their memories are great and will their stories will leave you wanting more. Visit Gatlinburg to hear the stories of how it grew into the tourist town it is today.