Here’s what’s happening in the Smoky Mountains area around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in August, 2019. It’s the time that leads into the fall season, and also the time when the new Specials on cabins start happening, with as much as Half-Price Cabins available!
Image courtesy of the Balloon Festival
August 2-3. The summer season of Tunes and Tales street performance and live music on the streets of Gatlinburg comes to an end for another year, and the two final performances on Friday and Saturday evenings will feature the amazing young prodigy Emi Sunshine – a great favorite in these parts. It’s been a great summer this year in 2019 – check the Facebook page for lots of videos of the live performances this year.
August 3. The Tennessee Smokies Beerfest takes place on this Saturday afternoon at 4-8 pm, in Smokies Stadium just up the road in Kodak. Over 30 breweries are showing off their craft beers. The event is dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Young-Williams Animal Shelter.
August 4. Another summer season gives way to the fall festivals as Dollywood’s Summer Celebration celebrates its last day of 2019. Not to worry, there are many more events happening at that magical place.
August 9. Smokey the Bear is 75 years old! He’s been helping to prevent forest fires for all that time, and to celebrate a fun Party will happen at Mills Park in Gatlinburg, 1-7 pm. It’s FREE. from 1:00pm to 7:00pm, and includes face painting, bounce house and kids programs, as well as celebrities dropping by a,d cake-cutting and more. See Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday for details.
August 10. Yet another great program winds down, with the last weekend for 2019 of the Free Trolleys along Parkway in Gatlinburg. Hopping the trolley to catch the street music was a great way to spend the summer. There will be more!
POSTPONED. The annual Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival in Gatlinburg usually takes place around mid-August but it has been canceled for 2019. The founder, Cyndy Montgomery Reeves, is in serious medical condition, and at this point all we can do is pray and wait for more news to come from the organizers.
August 17. Over on the Quiet Side of the Smokies in Townsend, the Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival offers a chance between 3 and 9 pm to hang out with tethered balloons and an evening fireglow, along with (tethered) rides aloft, family-friendly activities, crafts, beer tent and wine tastings, food and music. Ticketed event.
August 23-24. Pigeon Forge is a big automobile-lovers town, and hundreds of Jeep owners meet up annually here for the Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion. Vendors, group drives, and lots of jeeps!
August 31. A whole month without any shopping? Fortunately Tanger Outlets is holding its Labor Day Weekend Sale on August 30 through September 2, and an End of Summer Block Party on Saturday, August 31 at 12-4pm. Live entertainment, fun and of course sales.
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If you’re here during August, or any other time, we have the cabin for you to stay in – check our Gatlinburg cabin rentals, our Pigeon Forge cabins, and our Wears Valley cabins out on the quiet side of the Smoky Mountains.
And remember that each cabin offers our Trip Cash book of Gatlinburg coupons and Pigeon Forge coupons – it’s worth over $700 with free tickets to some of the best attractions and happening places in the area!
And if you’re still looking for more fun ways to explore in your stay in the Smokies, check out our guide to Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains as well as our Smoky Mountains activities pages, and especially our guide to Things to Do in Gatlinburg With Kids. And keep up with current festivals and happenings with our Gatlinburg Events guide.
