16. Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival begins in mid-September and runs to the end of October. During this period, you’ll see a number of craft fairs and music festivals throughout the county. The centerpiece is the countywide decorating contest in which area businesses, governments, and civic organizations adorn their buildings and grounds with traditional harvest decorations like hay, pumpkins, cornstalks, and gourds. Awards are given to winners in a number of different categories. With the exception of the Trout Tournament, all of the events included in this chapter for the remainder of September and October are considered to be official Harvest Festival Events by their respective host cities.
17. Smoky Mountain Fall Trout Tournament
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 661-3474
Description: This is the fall edition of a popular trout-fishing event that brings anglers of all ages to the shores of the Little Pigeon River. The September tourney takes place the last weekend of the month. See the write-up in the April section of this chapter for a more comprehensive overview.
18. Rotary Club Crafts Fair
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 453-8574, (800) 251-9100
Description: This arts-and-crafts event features dozens of local crafters as well as those from the Midwest and Southeast, displaying such skills as glassblowing, wood carving, and basket making. The festival takes place under a 200-foot tent at Patriot Park and runs for most of the month. Admission is free, but donations made during the festival benefit the many community projects sponsored by the Pigeon Forge Rotary Club throughout the year.
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
20. Winterfest Trolley Tours Of Light
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 453-6444, (865) 453-8574
Description: Starting on the Friday after Winterfest gets under way, you can see the lights of Pigeon Forge without the hassle of driving. Tours run through January and are offered to all who want to enjoy the city’s five million lights. Heated buses and informed hosts will guide you through the history of the displays. The cost of each trolley ride is $5 per person. The tours run Monday through Friday evenings until New Year’s Day and then Monday and Friday only through January. Tours depart the trolley office beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased beginning at noon on the day of your tour, and reservations are encouraged. (For more specifics about the Pigeon Forge trolley system, see the Getting Here, Getting Around chapter.)
21. Winterfest Trolley Rides Of Light
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 436-3897
Description: From early November until the end of January, these sightseeing trolleys offer spectacular views of Gatlinburg’s Winterfest light displays. Tours depart from the Trolley Center at traffic light #5 (near Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies) at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m. and cost $5 per person. In November and December, they run every night; in January, they run Saturday only. However, since tours don’t run on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a few other selected days, it’s best to verify specific times and dates. (For more information about Gatlinburg trolleys, see the Getting Here, Getting Around chapter.)
22. Gatlinburg’S Fantasy Of Lights Christmas Parade
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 436-4178
Description: Lighted floats, marching bands, giant helium balloons, and, of course, Santa Claus trek along the Parkway, basking in the glow of the city’s numerous Smoky Mountain Lights displays. The mile-and-a-half-long parade, which takes place the first Friday of the month, starts rolling at 7:30 p.m.
23. Christmas Parade
City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (865) 453-6411
Description: This Christmas parade makes its way along the Parkway and surrounding streets located in and around downtown Sevierville. You’ll see marching bands, twirlers, decorative floats, and, of course, ol’ Saint Nick himself. Parade spectators are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys that are taken up by Santa and his helpers as they make their way along the parade route. Donations go to Toys for Tots.