Category: Events

If there is one thing that Gatlinburg is known for other than its thriving tourism economy, it’s the broad spectrum of arts & crafts that are produced by the town’s local artisans. Here, local artists even have their own community and put on such big events as the 2013 Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Now this isn’t the town’s first go-round with such shows, Gatlinburg is known nationwide for its numerous arts and crafts shows, but a few specific shows like the one that occurs every year at Easter, stand out above the rest. The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show takes place, as you guessed it, Easter weekend (March 28-30). You’ll see some of the finest artisans from the area demonstrating their craft and selling their wares.

The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show is FREE to the public and features all local artists. You won’t find that to be the case at any other arts and crafts festivals you may encounter. If you’re wanting to capture the true essence of the Smokies in the form of a gift, or just something special to remember your trip by, this show is a must-see. Put on by members of the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts community – one of the oldest of its kind in the country made up entirely of artisans, its become widely renowned for its uniqueness when it comes to the types of crafts on display. A number of the artists in the community are second, third, and even fourth-generation artists, their trades inherited and passed down among their family members.

After you visit the Convention Center, feel free to visit the 8-mile loop trail that makes up the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community located just three miles from downtown Gatlinburg on Highway 321 N or East Parkway. Here, you can visit with over 100 artists and craftsmen in their shops, listen to their stories, and pick up a few tips as well.

What kinds of Smoky Mountain-inspired arts and crafts appeal to you? Whatever it may be, you won’t want to miss this show!

Aaaaaaarrrrgh! Beware of pirates if you come to town in March. They’re nice pirates though, and it’s for a good cause. It’s all for the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, Inc. And it’s their 5th annual Pirate’s Ball fundraiser at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

If you’ve ever wanted to be a pirate, what better of an event to let your hooks, err hair down. It all takes place March 11. As mentioned, the fundraiser benefits the Good Shepherd Center, a non-profit residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally- challenged adolescents from ages 13 to 21.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is the perfect place to host a gathering of pirates. Unique exhibits like the attraction’s underwater tunnels, sharks, and the ability to pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs in the stingray pool, are just a few of the aquarium’s big selling points and makes it a great spot to hold a fundraiser. And let’s not forget the penguins that live at the aquarium on Penguin beach. They’re so fun. They also feature a great coral reef exhibit, so be sure to stop a see that. Kids can play in the Discovery center. There’s always something for everyone, even pirates.

The Pirate’s Ball will feature food, drinks, dancing, and live entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your camera to this event, there will be plenty of opportunities to snap great shots of you and your pirate friends. Be sure to bring your “pirate accent,” appetite and your sense of adventure and fun.

If you’re going to be coming in from out of town, a Gatlinburg cabin rental is the perfect place to stay. Enjoy the Aquarium by night, and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains by day. There is so much to see and do in Gatlinburg, so bring some outdoor clothes as well and make the event a great little vacation.

The Pirate Ball turns Gatlinburg into a tropical paradise every year with live music, dancing, food and drink. For more information, call 865-774-7684.

Mark your calendars for this year’s Gatlinburg Improv Fest at Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre March 8-9. It will feature a number of improvisation groups and instructors participating in a series of shows and classes over the two days of the event.

If you are a fan of stand-up and improv comedy, you might want to check out Improv Fest, March 8-9. The Gatlinburg Improv Fest is a festival for improv comedians and comedian groups to come and hone their craft. At the Gatlinburg event, there will be instructors giving classes to up and coming and inspiring improv performers, along with performers doing shows for spectators. The event will be held at the renowned Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre. The headline event, Chase Padgett’s “Six Guitars” act, will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 8, and again on Saturday March 9, at the same time.

We understand some of you may have no clue what improv comedy is; we were also in your shoes not so long ago. We will do our best to give you a brief explanation so you can understand just how entertaining the Gatlinburg Improv Fest has the potential to be. In short, improv comedy is comedy “on the fly,” comedy in response to the environment. There is little to no scripting in improv comedy, and if done well, it is absolutely hilarious.

The multiple-award winning “Six Guitars” by Chase Padgett features Padgett taking on the personality of six different guitar players, each with their own voice, personality, and guitar-playing style. The result is a knee-slapping performance guaranteed to bring tears of laughter from the audience’s eyes.

Show times will be at announced for Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.

For more information, email gatlinburgimprovfest@gmail.com or call (865) 325-9712.

One of the more rewarding events you can experience in Gatlinburg are the Winter Special Olympics that occur every January at Ober Gatlinburg. It’s a great way to not only enjoy all the amenities offered at Ober, but also a way to cheer on some of the most deserving athletes you’ll ever meet.

Visitors are encouraged to come cheer on our Tennessee Special Olympics athletes as they compete for the gold and earn medals at their annual Winter Games. The two-day sports festival features events including snow skiing, ice skating and snowboarding.

Over 140 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding and Speed Skating in divisions based on age and ability.  The traditional lighting of the Special Olympics flame will take place on Monday morning at 9am on top of Ober Gatlinburg. The medal ceremony will begin at 2pm on Tuesday.

Special Olympic athletes have a real passion for what they do and live up to their highest potentials both on the field and off. Not only are the Special Olympics about competing with one another for medals and prizes, but it is also about having fun, meeting new friends, becoming part of a team and learning new skills along the way. Children and adults are urged to train for the Tennessee Winter Special Olympics which offer three different events to compete in.

Whether you have friends and family that are competing in the Tennessee Winter Special Olympics or are simply visiting the area, this is an amazing event to attend. There is a tram available at the bottom of the mountain that can take guests up to Ober Gatlinburg. Watch competitions in Speed Skating, Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding at different levels from beginner to advanced and see which athletes go home with the gold during the 2013 season.

Gatlinburg really does have the market cornered when it comes to holiday arts & crafts show. And that’s in large part due to Gatlinburg’s thriving arts & crafts community. Next up on the docket is the Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show scheduled to take place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center November 26 – December 2.

Want to find that perfect Christmas gift for the person hardest to shop for on your list? The Gatlinburg Christmas Arts and Crafts Show has the finest collection of local and national craftspeople each year. Shop the best collection of Christmas holiday crafts you’re bound to see this year. Plan on attending this craft show. Mark  it on your calendar and be at the Gatlinburg Convention Center the week of November 26.

Let the Christmas Crafts Show be your Christmas shopping answer. Find that piece of jewelry or that perfect holiday decoration for your home here from November 26 – December 2. Meet the crafters, get tips and ask them questions. Crafters are a tight-knit group. They also know one another pretty well. So, if you think you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask anyone there and usually they can point you in the right direction.

Expect to see over 200 different crafters at the event. It seems like every year more and more people are wanting to participate. From paintings to wood works, it’s all here. Tables are full of merchandise and the crafters are as talented as they are knowledgeable about their items. Again, take the time to get to know the people and you’ll have a greater acceptance for the craft and make your purchase all that more rewarding. You won’t find a greater group of people anywhere in the country than the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. They live it, breath it, and love to talk about it.

The crafts and art are the main draw of the show but there is always some kind of entertainment throughout the day, food to enjoy and demonstrations from a range of talented artists. Hey, you may walk up to someone finishing a perfectly turned piece of pottery, or finishing the final brush strokes on a brand new painting. Take in the show for a bit of Christmas shopping, expanding your knowledge about the crafts, shaking hands with a group of new friends or just attending one of the best events in the Southeast you are sure find something unique at the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts show..

Doors open at 10 am and admission to the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show in FREE. For additional information call (800) 568-4748 or visit our website at www.gatlinburgcrafts.com.

For those of you with small children who still want them to experience all the fun and frivolity of Halloween, Gatlinburg has the perfect event planned for you. Their 5th Annual Trick or Treat Kickoff Carnival is slated to be held on Wednesday, October 31 from noon to 5 p.m. at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. It’s fun for kids of all ages. There will be contests, inflatables including a bounce house, games, costumed characters, food vendors and lots of CANDY! If it’s anything like in years past, it will be a memorable, fun night for the kids and you as well.

Gatlinburg started its Trick or Treat Carnival five years ago because there a number of things Halloween-related that may be a little too frightening for the town’s younger residents. Therefore, something that eventually became  the Trick or Treat Kickoff Carnival would be a great option for the younger crowd. When kids get to the Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza Halloween afternoon, local businesses will be handing out candy and gifts in order to get the day started out right. There will be a number of costume contests, games and prizes, for everyone. So come dressed in your favorite get-up, costume, whatever.

This fantastic family Halloween day event is not just for the locals, any visiting children and their parents who want to take part in the fun are more than welcome to come participate in the contests, play in the inflatables, fill their bags with candy as well as participate in a pumpkin contest.

Trick or treat safety tips will be provided by the Gatlinburg Police Department and the Gatlinburg Fire Department will offer information on fire safety during the event, which attracted more than 1,200 children last year.

Proceeds from some activities will benefit the United Way of Sevier County. To volunteer or for more information, contact Chuck Winstead at 654-0766.