Monthly Archives: April 2016

Synchronous Fireflies 2016: Passes by Lottery

540x3604-2The lottery has begun for limited parking slots available to view the 2016 Synchronous Fireflies event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The lottery began at noon today, Friday, April 29, and will last through 8 pm EST, Monday, May 2.

On Tuesday, May 10, all applicants will be notified of the results of a random system that will award parking passes. The passes are non-transferable, and only one per household may apply. The viewing period is May 31 through June 7.

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Above the Rest Featured Gatlinburg Cabin

Now here’s a comfortable cabin, made just for hanging out in. It’s Above the Rest, a 1-bedroom cabin on the edge of Gatlinburg, tucked away in gentle terrain with trees all around and also magnificent views of the Smoky Mountains.

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Above the Rest is a perfect honeymoon or romantic getaway for a couple, but it sleeps 4 people in comfort, with 2 full bathrooms and showers, a queen sleeper downstairs in the living area, and king bedroom upstairs, with Jacuzzi and private deck.

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66th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, 2016

Springtime in the Smoky Mountains means the hour of the wildflower has arrived in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To celebrate, thousands of people from all over the world have come to the area to join in the annual 5-day Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, for a glimpse of magic.

The pilgrimage is from April 19-23, and offers more than 150 different classes, talks, evening programs, guided trail hikes, walks and even motorcades to all the best places to see the most wildflowers. Most events are by registration, with a few presentations open to the general public.

Image courtesy of Spring Wildflower Pilgrmiage

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2016 Spring Rod Run: A Pigeon Forge Party

rod4Pigeon Forge shows the world what a real American party looks like on this early weekend, Thursday through Saturday, April 14-17. It’s the 2016 Spring Rod Run, and the streets are awake all day and LATE into the night with a slow cruise of automobiles built mostly for muscle, and totally for style.

If you thought about trying to drive anywhere in town during this event, change your plans, or at least slow them down to a steady cruise in low gear. Traffic is dense during this street party, and parking can be tricky – your good walking shoes are your friend in this event, and with so much to gaze at, it’s the best way to get around anyway.

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2016 Spring Art Experience at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts

Images courtesy of Arrowmont

Images courtesy of Arrowmont

Gatlinburg’s internationally acclaimed Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is offering a chance to meet with history and learn new skills this weekend with its annual Spring Art Experience, held Thursday through Sunday, April 14-18, 2016.

The weekend program is a celebration of the school’s rich and long history, and includes 2 days of workshops in arts and crafts, a storytelling of the area’s history, Appalachian music, a wine tasting, and a Sunday brunch with a special program featuring this year’s artists in residence.

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Wine Fest 2016 at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts

Image courtesy of Wine Fest

Image courtesy of Wine Fest

Is wine-making an art or a craft? Vintners will tell you it’s both, and Smoky Mountain wine country mingles with the arts crowd this weekend in two events.

The 4th Annual Wine Fest at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts happens Saturday, April 9, 1-6 pm. This highly successful event features the different wines of 17 local wineries, accompanied by culinary masterworks from local chefs as pairings. The school’s own art is on display in its own marvelous galleries.

Meanwhile, on Friday, April 8, the Arts & Crafts Community celebrates the opening day of its Hands-On Gatlinburg 3-day festival by welcoming the evening Wine, Dine and Art Crawl – more smartly known as The Wine Tour. The Tour offers a taste of hors d’oeuvres at each of three Gatlinburg wineries.

Wine Fest

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Hands On Gatlinburg 2016: Create Your Own Arts and Crafts Treasures (With Expert Help)

Four hands on - image courtesy of Hands On Gatlinburg

Four hands on – image courtesy of Hands On Gatlinburg

Would you like to get expert personal instruction in creating your own work of art in the craft of your choice? This weekend is your time, as the renowned arts and crafts community of Gatlinburg starts a new venture, inviting the public into its studios and workshops to create the treasure of their very own making.

Hands On Gatlinburg is a 3-day weekend event, April 8-10, 2016, Friday through Sunday, with more than 15 different studios offering more than 40 classes of hands-on teaching and mentoring. Some of the classes are one-on-one, as in the case of glass-blowing, for example.

How about that? Now you can come to Gatlinburg and learn to blow a unique, custom glass object or ornament, almost all by yourself!

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