Fourth of July in Pigeon Forge

Patriot Park, for its wide open space, ease of location, and recognition of every sacrifice our American Armed Forces have made down through the years, is the obvious choice to host one of the most popular annual Independence Day celebrations in East Tennessee.

Patriot Park, which is accessible through Mainstay Suites through a 5 minute drive or the Pigeon Forge Trolley (of which Mainstay is a stop on that route) offers an expansive playground for families to run and play out in the summer sun. Next to it is the Little Pigeon River where some choose to take a dip. Surrounding the park is the Old Mill complex where you can find gorgeous artwork, antiques, arts and crafts, restaurants, a creamery, toys, books, pottery, and other gifts. Its a great place to escape if the heat starts baring down on you.

And more than anything else, before the fireworks start, people gather because year after year, Pigeon Forge has put on a series of incredible shows and performances on a large soundstage built specifically for Patriot Park. This year features performances by the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus, Homer Hart, The Temptations, John Berry, Sarah Darling, and the Classic Rock All-Stars. A good, great range of music pours from Patiot Park all day on Independence Day.

And then the Fireworks begin. 9:45 PM is the time (tentative) and you'll be enjoying the fireworks until after 10:00 PM. Far and wide the lights and pyros explode into the night sky and you'll be thinking about them the following morning too.

Now, lets say you weren't really wanting to be outside all day partying with some 5,000-10,000 and just wanted to enjoy a relaxing day until the fireworks started, that is an excellent alternative. The TV always has great movies on 7/4 and our pools and hot tubs and exercise room are always available to cater to a relaxing summer day until the big show starts. From there, you'll want to go to the Red Roof Mall (which you passed on your way to Mainstay), find a good spot out front and enjoy. Sure beats fighting traffic back and forth.

Visit mypigeonforge.com for more detailed information on the Patriot Park festivities and up to date information.

Springfest in the Smokies 2009

Spring has Sprung, finally. The warm weather finds an even warmer welcome here in the Smoky Mountains as the gray humps of the mountain revert to green, and a new slew of favorite activities return to large fanfare.

A brand new parade debuts in Gatlinburg and its pretty original to say the least. The Holly and Shamrock Parade starts at 4:30 PM St. Patty's Day. Ol' Santa Clause makes a surprise return to march down the streets of Gatlinburg alongside the perennial Irish favorites. That's right. Elves and Leprechauns... walking side by side in late March. This might be the only time you ever see such a monstrosity, so be sure not to miss it 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 17th! www.hollyandshamrock.com

On March 28th, The Music of the Mountains kicks off at the Sugarlands Visitor's Center. 2009 makes it year 5 for this anticipated celebration of our culture through song. It's a 7 hour festival, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and it features 45-minute and hour long sets by Lost Mill String Band, Tony Thomas, Dr. Ted Olson, Boogertown Gap, Matt Morelock and Brian Volmer and finally, Roger Howell and Friends. And then there is an extra performance by Jimbo Whaley at the W.L. Mills Conference Center in downtown Gatlinburg starting at 7:00 P.M. http://www.eventsgatlinburg.com/event_detail.aspx?id=32



Many, many, many Christians look forward to Easter, and just as many look forward to the Easter Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg. The tram leading to the service runs at 6:15 AM and the service starts at 7:00 AM with a full breakfast at the ski resort's restaurant. www.obergatlinburg.com

Then the big one hits, The 59th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is the big event in Gatlinburg's Springfest. The fact that this tradition is nearly into its 6th decade should give you credence into how much the Wildflower Pilgrimage means to this community. People return year after year simply because they weren't able to do everything the last! Over 100 exhibits and items and lectures and experts and guided hikes and anything remotely educational about the mountains will be available. www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org

Stay with us as we prepare for late Spring and early Summer events!

Kimble Rentals invites you to join us in the Spring

Its always a good time to visit Pigeon Forge, but Springtime comes with the added atmospheric shift from cold to comfortably warm. With everything coming alive again in the Spring, its a very positive, mellow and exciting season, and a great chance to relax with Kimble's Overnight Rentals.

Returning for yet another year of strong family entertainment and memory-making is Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. Dolly herself is especially pleased for the park to reopen as it debuts a brand new show "Sha-Kon-O-Hey!", with eight songs written by the fabulous Parton, opening May 9th. Dollywood didn't always open its season with The Festival of the Nations, but now its hard to imagine anything else starting a great new year for the popular amusement park. Another new show in "Imagine: Le Grand Cirque" will be the center spotlight showcasing performers who represent 9 different countries. The return of unique sidewalk vendors, decorations and foods will be welcomed as well.

Visit http://www.dollywood.com/ for more details.

Many of the stores and specialized favorites return in the spring. The Old Mill complex will be fully open along with the many special music, clothing and art stores off the beaten path. http://www.old-mill.com/

Be sure to keep a close eye on Gatlinburg too, they have a whole slew of new stuff to enjoy. There's a new Spring parade featuring Santa Clause and St. Patrick (yeah, you heard that right), a brand new film festival, and more. http://www.eventsgatlinburg.com/

Spring's looking good for a vacation in the Smoky Mountains, so be sure to live it up at one of our gorgeous cabins and chalets.

Wilderness Wildlife Week

Those staying with Kimbles between January 10th and January 17th will get a real treat as Pigeon Forge brings back Wilderness Wildlife Week for its 19th year. This wildly popular event attracts a large number of nature lovers and fans of the Great Smoky Mountains. Experts from every corner of natural academia will be available to host nature walks, seminars, hikes, and lectures on Smoky Mountain history, animals and plants in the Smoky Mountains and programs designed for children.

All of Kimbles' cabins are located in Pigeon Forge, which should give you easier access to the Wilderness Wildlife headquarters at Music Road Hotel and Convention Center (303 Henderson Chapel Rd, just before Ruby Tuesday on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge). This event also features guided hikes through the Smoky Mountains, which range from easy to advanced. You must supply your own equipment and take the necessary preparations (food, clothes, water, etc.)

If you're returning to Pigeon Forge for this event in particular, now would be a good time to mention Kimbles' January special: Buy 2 Nights and get the 3rd night free (excluding the 16th-18th), that should give you more than enough time to enjoy one of Pigeon Forge's most popular annual events.

AppalachiaFest

January in PIgeon Forge comes alive during Wilderness Wildlife Week, AppalachiaFest is an evening of traditional mountain music held during Wilderness Wildlife Week and is an event worth traveling for. Kimble Rentals offers cabins at low rates midweek in January, check our rates and availabilty at www.kimblerentals.com. Three outstanding musicians will headline the 2009 event: Tim O'Brien, Dirk Powell, and Riley Baugus.O'Brien is a Grammy award winner and all three played parts on the "Cold Mountain" movie soundtrack.Rounding out the AppalachiaFest lineup is Boogertown Gap, a duo that performs old-time mountain, folk and Celtic Music. Kimble Vacation Cabins and condos are all located throughout Pigeon Forge and convenient to this event.Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 17 and younger. Tickets are available at 1-800-792-4308. The event is co-sponsored by WDVX radio in Knoxville, TN.The 3rd Annual AppalachiaFest is Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at Country Tonite Theatre. Learn more at mypigeonforge.com/music.

Saddle Up!

Do you long to revisit those good ole cowboy days of old? Pigeon Forge offers a perfect opportunity through their Saddle Up event. In addition to concert performances, where you'll hear the best in western music and cowboy poetry, Saddle Up! also features a Cowboy Symphony, the Old Mill Chuckwagon Cook-Off, a western swing dance and Cowboy Church.Appearing at Saddle Up! 2009 are musicians Wylie and The Wild West, the Quebe Sisters Band, Andy Wilkinson, Juni Fisher and Andy Hedges, along with cowboy poets/storytellers Paul Zarzyski, Kent Rollins and Jim Hawkins.The Cowboy Symphony includes a 45-piece orchestra performing with Wylie & the Wild West, who also will lend their talents to the Saturday Night dance.Chuckwagons from throughout the Southeast and beyond will compete for prizes in the second annual cook-off, sponsored by the Old Mill.Other Saddle Up! activities include the Slice of Pure Country Celebrity Breakfast and Sunday's Chuckwagon Lunch which follows Cowboy Church at Stages West.The 9th Annual Saddle Up! is Feb. 19-22, 2009. Learn more at mypigeonforge.com/saddleup Kimble Vacation Cabins and condos are all located throughout Pigeon Forge and convenient to this event.