Gatlinburg celebrates the fall season with one of its best foodie experiences, the Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff Presented by Bush’s® Chili Beans on Thursday, November 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. Festival-goers enjoy chili samplings from the area’s top restaurants, live musical performances, activities and much more with their ticket purchase to this family-friendly event. Near the festival’s end, chili vendors battle it out for the coveted People’s Choice, Best Booth Presentation and other categorical awards. Ticket booth entrance points will be located at 705 Parkway and River Road, and open before the event at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Children 5 years of age under enter for free. 2019 Chili Vendors: Anakeesta Sensible Concrete Works Alvin’s Kitchen Ober Gatlinburg Bush Brothers & Company Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery Courtyard by Marriott Gatlinburg Paula Deen Retail Store Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar Proof of the Pudding Delauder’s BBQ Pucker’s Sports Grill Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Landshark Bar & Grill Savannah Bee Company Loco Burro Fresh Mex Cantina Walters State Culinary Arts Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Pirates Voyage Dinner Show and Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud Looking for a special event or festival? Gatlinburg is the place to be. Whether you’re looking for arts and crafts shows, special concerts, food festivals, or holiday parades, Gatlinburg hosts a wide range of events in every season. Come join us for exciting celebrations throughout the year!

The celebration of fall also encompasses one of the southeast’s most popular events… the Annual Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair. From October 8 through 25, the Gatlinburg Convention Center blossoms into a multi-level mecca of the top craft people from all across the United States. Autumn’s brisk air signals all of nature to transform the Great Smoky Mountains from lush green to a majestic patchwork quilt of colors. A unique characteristic of the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair is the fact that artisans not only make their art available for viewing and sale, but also demonstrate their special talents and skills during this show, which is recognized as one of the top 20 events in the Southern U.S. by the Southeast Tourism Society. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Music shows are scheduled at 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. daily Entertainment is included in the admission cost. Group rates are available. For more information, call 865-436-7479 or visit website.

As winter fades and the colors of spring begin to sparkle throughout the Smokies, Gatlinburg blossoms into the center of all things botanical during Great Smoky Mountain Association’s 70th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage. From April 22-25... Learn More

234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Unique handcrafted gifts and products produced by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are placed on display and offered for sale April 8, 2020 - April 11, 2020... Learn More

Dollywood’s Festival of Nations displays the most captivating entertainment from around the world during celebration of music, dance, and art. March 14 to April 20th. . Learn More

One of our area’s most outstanding facilities is the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts which offers top-quality art instruction in many disciplines. It is a great place to meet new friends in a creative learning environment. You can also pair it with a stay at your favorite bed and breakfast. Wine Nights In 2020 the art school is offering wine nights. The classes are held from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and a glass of wine and materials are included in the course fee of $50. Here are some upcoming offerings: January 17: Woven for your Wall, Ceramic Decal Collage, Rings for All Occasions February 21: Weave and Wear It, Sculptural Painting, Print/Wine/Repeat March 13: Earrings: Cut to Patina, Wine and Wax, Painted Silks Short courses will be held February 24-26. The Monday to Wednesday classes also are held from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for a course fee of $90. Here are the offerings: Surfacing with A Smoothing Plane. Students will learn the fundamentals of using wooden and metal smoothing planes to obtain wood surfaces ready for finish. Nailed It: Tool Making for Clay. Ceramic learners will make their own forming, trimming, and decorating tools. Figure Sculpting. Sculptures will learn how to sculpt the human figure in a naturalistic way using a live model. The pieces will be fired and available for pickup a few weeks after the class. Appalachian Broom Making. Those who complete the class will leave with two different styles of brooms: a cobweb broom and a hearth sweeper. Complex Enameled Surfaces. From graphite, sugar firing, and retexturing techniques, students will add to their enameling skill sets. Framed Weaves: Constructing and Using Your Own Frame Loom. During this class, attendees will construct their own looms to fit their needs. Then they will make a wall hanging, bath mat, or other small piece on their new looms. Additional information on the 2020 classes may be found at http://www.arrowmont.org/classes

Unless you have been in the Smokies before in the late fall or winter, you might not realize that it is the perfect time to experience our amazing views. Winter temperatures are more than 50 degrees on about half of the winter days. Moderate temperatures coupled with low humidity make for comfortable hiking conditions! Higher elevations are cooler, so dress accordingly. Be sure to dress in layers and remember to wear a hat. A thermos of hot cocoa is a treat during your rest breaks on the trail! Grab a couple of sack lunches from the Inn and have a winter picnic while admiring the scenery. Here are some of our favorite winter hikes: The Laurel Falls trail is 2.6 miles round-trip and paved. If you are lucky enough to be here during a stretch of below-freezing weather, the frozen water fall creates a crystal castle. The freezing and thawing from warm days and cooler nights makes an incredible display of dripping ice. The hike to Andrews Bald is about 1.8 miles with 1,200 feet in elevation changes. The hike starts at the Clingmans Dome parking lot. When you get to the Andrews Bald area, you will have the chance to take in the winter views of the snowcapped peaks of the Smoky Mountains. Sparkling icicle formations can be seen at the Alum Cave Bluffs, about 2.3 miles from the start of the Alum Cave Trail. The hike through the old-growth forest is especially quiet and peaceful without the summertime crowds. The path goes from Newfound Gap Road to the top of Mount LeConte. You will see log bridges and stone stairways. Porters Creek Trail is a gravel road for the first mile or so. The trail then changes to a dirt trail and heads to Fern Falls. The hike to the Falls is about 4 miles, round-trip. You will cross log bridges and see some of the stone walls erected by this area’s original settlers. If you prefer to drive, Cades Cove is a favorite winter destination. The valley is a great place to observe wildlife, such as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and deer. The Visitor’s Center is open year-round and can help you plan your visit to the historic buildings in the area.

Loop Lope Registration is Now Open The Friends of the Smokies has announced that online registration for the 3rd annual Cades Cove Loop Lope is open. The race will be held on Sunday, November 3. Participation is limited to a total of 750 runners for the 5k or 10 mile event. The 10 mile race begins at 7:30 am and the 5k begins at 7:35 am. This is the only run taking place within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so it is a not-to-miss experience. Runners will enjoy the splendor of Cades Cove while raising funds to protect the park for future generations. Walkers, joggers, and individuals with strollers are welcome to participate. Please be aware that there is a low water crossing on the 5k course where a creek crosses the road. Both courses are certified by USATF. In addition to the two course options, there is also a Virtual Race option. This option allows runners to sign up to run the distance at the time and place of their choice and still support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Virtual runners will receive a t-shirt and a finisher’s medallion. Registration and additional information may be found at the organization’s website http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org You should know that Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed until 11 am on Sunday, November 3 due to the race. Cars without a vehicle pass will not be permitted past the Townsend Wye. Loop Lope Organized by Friends of the Smokies Friends of the Smokies is an official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The group has raised more than $65 million to support critical park programs in Tennessee and North Carolina. Generous support has been provided by sponsors, including: Fleet Feet Knoxville, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, DENSO, Rocky Top Tours, Townsend Gateway Inn, and Unlimited Training Systems.

November 1 - January 1 Head to Country Tonite Theatre this Christmas season, where the magic of Christmas comes alive through renditions of Christmas favorites, beautiful choreography, holiday sets and costumes. Along with your favorite cast, you’ll be able to enjoy guest appearances from special performers, including Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus and the Sugar Plum Fairy. When the toys come alive during “Where are you Christmas” you’ll be ready to book your tickets for the next year’s show as well. Christmas Show: Starting November 1st The Nutcracker: December 13th New Year’s Eve Show: December 31st at 9:45 PM