Most of the traditional annual events are coming back to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area of the Smoky Mountains in 2021, after a year that saw most of them postponed. Here’s what’s going on for Springtime 2021 in the Smokies.
Images courtesy of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
St. Patrick’s Day in the Smokies
Gatlinburg will be celebrating during the 17th through the 20th. The town goes green and crowns the event with Fireworks on Friday evening (the 19th) from the Space Needle. Meanwhile the Tunes and Tales players are on the streets of Gatlinburg, offering Celtic music in the spirit of the season, through those days.
Anakeesta brightens up the mountain with Irish-themed fun in its own matching 4-day celebration, with foods, activities, bagpipes and swag, all free admission.
Ober Gatlinburg has a special St Patrick’s Day celebration with live music, green beer and traditional menu items. And over at Gatlinburg Skylight Park, the suspension bridge is green all month and the 19th is their big celebration as they offer the perfect place to watch the fireworks.
In Pigeon Forge, it’s Irish month all March at the Titanic, commemorating the building of that ship in Ireland.And Dollywood opens on March 13 for the start of its 2021 season.
The Island celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on March 13th, with the famous fountains and wheel all dressed in green, and with live music and lots of specials in the restaurants.
Muscle cars fire up the month on Friday and Saturday, March 19-20, with the Corvette Expo, in tandem with the Horsepower and Hot Rods car show and swap meet. And this year they’re joined by a Chevelles Showdown. Not to be left out, Mustangs hit the limelight a week later., March 24-27, for the Ponies in the Smokies 2021 show.
On March 26-28 in Pigeon Forge the Chuck Wagon Cookoff Weekend & Competition offers mouthwatering food and live music in several venues.
And over by Townsend, in the Quiet Side of the Smokies, you can go Foraging For Cocktails on March 27, at the Little Arrow outdoor resort – expert guidance on edible plants in the wild that make fun garnishes for drinks.
Easter in the Smokies
The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show welcomes the new month on April 1 through the 4th in Gatlinburg. And the Spring Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament is back on April 3-4 weekend.
Easter kicks in with several Egg & Bunny events across the region. Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge has its annual Easter Egg Hunt free for kids on Saturday, April 3. And check out the traditional Breakfast or Brunch with the Easter Bunny at the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grille on that same day.
Ober Gatlinburg offers Easter Sunrise again on April 4th, early in the morning for Sunday worship – NOTE: it will be virtual again this year. And the Little Arrow over at Townsend offers an Easter Egg hunt that day.
Also in Townsend, later in the month on April 17, fisher folk can gather for some expert guidance on the many fabulous fishing waters of the Smoky Mountains in the Wild Trout Paradise event.
Meanwhile in Pigeon Forge, the town rocks April with its annual Spring Rod Run on April 15-17 – a town full of hot cars, chrome and elaborate paint jobs cruising the strip for the weekend street party.
Dollywood begins its season of festival with the Flower and Food Festival starting on April 23 and running through June 7.
For all these events and more, we’ll see pandemic protocols in place. Now that people have learned how to deal with personal safety, and event organizers have learned how to safeguard groups of people, it’s game on for springtime in the Smoky Mountains!
For details of all seasonal events, see these guides to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Townsend happenings.
And for more things to do in the area, any time of year, check out our guides to Things to Do In the Smoky Mountains, Smoky Mountains Activities and the all-important Things to Do In Gatlinburg With Kids. Also see our own listings of annual festivals in the area in our Gatlinburg Events guide.
And wherever you roam in the Smokies, you can find one of our cabins nearby to make your adventure base. See our Wears Valley cabins, as well as our Gatlinburg cabins and our Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.
