Posts By: Tony Perez

About Tony Perez

I'm a people person, and I enjoy the atmosphere that working with Cabins Of The Smoky Mountains entails, interacting with different types of people and trying to relate to each one uniquely. From Michigan originally, I've been coming to the Smoky Mountains since I was a child, with family in Wears Valley. Summer fun for me is exploring the Cades Cove area, swimming in the creeks, and hiking Mount LeConte and many other trails. I love the Smoky Mountains.

What’s Happening in January in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

January in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area means special rates on cozy cabins, hot tubs and heated pools, snow sports on the mountain and winter hiking in the national park, as well as nightlife and festive lights in the towns, and the full enjoyment of winter in the Smoky Mountains, without the crowds and with nature looking beautiful as ever.

January is a prime time to look for cabin discounts, a shoulder season between the main holidays, offering specials including free nights and half-price getaways. Always check our Specials page for the latest breaking deals on cabins, and take advantage of the January pause to sneak in a getaway trip at low cost.

The lights stay on everywhere as the dazzling Winterfest light display throughout Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville last all through January. The SkyPark also offers the perfect viewing platform with its Lights Over Gatlinburg holiday event that lasts all through January, with the legendary SkyBridge all decked in lights.

Image courtesy of the SkyPark

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What’s Happening in December in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

December in the Smoky Mountains offers a perfect festive setting for the holiday season. The ever-scenic mountains are capped in white snow, the towns and local attractions are ablaze with millions of Christmas lights and animated displays, the theaters and shows present their seasonal programs, there’s live music on the streets and in the numerous venues, fabulous shopping opportunities, treats for kids, and Santa everywhere for photo ops. It’s a festive month.

So what’s happening in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding area this December?

Image courtesy of Gatlinburg

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What’s Happening in November in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

November in the Smokies is when thoughts turn to the winter festivities. While fall colors linger for a while before fading, millions of Christmas lights appear throughout the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the area, there’s live music on the street and winter bluegrass indoors, great gift shopping with new wares from our arts & crafts community, and snow tubing on the mountain.

Images courtesy of original sources

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What’s Happening in October in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

October in the Smoky Mountains is the prime season for stunning fall foliage, and no wonder that it’s also the top choice for couples tying the knot. As the holidays draw near, festive celebrations pop up throughout the region. By month’s end, the spooky season will make its presence known, but for now, the focus is all on the vibrant colors covering the trees.

Here’s the rundown of events happening in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area this October.

Fall Colors in the Smoky Mountains

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What To Do in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge in September

September is the month in which we can truly say that Fall is coming. It’s the time of harvest celebration and the turn of the seasons reflected in the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, and in this part of the Smoky Mountains it means bluegrass festivals, auto rallies, scarecrows and pumpkins, beer tasting and lots of food, fun and festivity.

Table of Contents

Image courtesy of Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival

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Large Cabin Rentals for Family Reunions, Retreats and Church Groups

Gatlinburg is an ideal location for a family reunion, church retreat or other large group outing. Our area offers a ton of activities and amenities perfect for groups.  We have nature activities in beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), fun activities in exciting Pigeon Forge, and enough entertainment options that everyone, from young children to grandparents, can find something enjoyable to do.
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What To Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in August 2024

August is a great month for mountain festivals.  First off, our annual hot air balloon festival is a local favorite.  Car lovers and choose between the Bronco Stampeded or the Jeep Invasion, both held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge.  Music lovers can attend the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival or – for a more lively scene featuring hard rock and heavy metal – The Mountain Music Festival.  It’s a diverse set of events with something to please everyone.

Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival

Dates: August 15-19, 2024
Location: Various venues in Gatlinburg

The Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival brings together some of the best songwriters in the country for a celebration of music and storytelling. This five-day festival features live performances, workshops, and meet-and-greet sessions with award-winning songwriters. Attendees can enjoy intimate acoustic sets in cozy venues throughout Gatlinburg, offering a unique opportunity to hear the stories behind the songs. The festival highlights the art of songwriting and provides a platform for emerging talents to showcase their work.

Website: https://www.gatlinburgsongwriters.com/

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What To Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in July 2024

The 4th of July holiday is the big attraction this month, with lots of celebrations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and nearby towns.  There’s so much to do, many holiday events even start on July 3rd!  

There’s also plenty to do all month long. From patriotic celebrations to unique festivals, here’s a roundup of special events that will captivate tourists. 

Gatlinburg's midnight 4th of July parade

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Back Roads and Shortcuts in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge get a lot of traffic, especially during the summer peak season.  Roads through Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be crowded.  Likewise, traffic along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge can be bumper-to-bumper on buys weekends.

That’s why it can be useful to know some of the alternative roads to take if the main routes are jammed.

We’re locals, so we know our way around and have developed some tricks to avoid clogged rounds during the busy season.

Here are some of our favorite shortcuts.

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