DOLLY PARADE Dollywood, 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Early April 1-800-DOLLYWOOD Country music legend Dolly Parton herself serves as Grand Marshall of the Dolly Parade, which officially kicks off the season at Dollywood theme park with colorful floats and marching bands. Other annual events held at Dollywood include the Dollywood Festival of Nations in April, KidsFest in the summer, Harvest Celebration in September and Smoky Mountain Christmas starting in November.
DOLLYWOOD'S FESTIVAL OF NATIONS Dollywood, 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Early April to Mid-May 1-800-DOLLYWOOD An international celebration, Dollywood’s Festival of Nations offers live entertainment, culture exhibits and great food. "Celebrate Ireland" made its debut at Dollywood's Festival of Nations in 2007. Other annual events held at Dollywood include the Dolly Parade in April, KidsFest in the summer, Harvest Celebration in September and Smoky Mountain Christmas starting in November.
EASTER ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW Gatlinburg Convention Center, Gatlinburg, Tennessee Third Weekend in April 1-800-565-7330 Founded in 1937, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community has evolved into the largest organization of independent artisans in the United States. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community presents 3 annual craft shows: Easter Arts & Crafts Show, Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show and Christmas Arts & Crafts Show. All shows are held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in downtown Gatlinburg. Admission is free.
GATLINBURG FLOWER FEST
Downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Late April through Late June
865-436-0500
In addition to the beautiful spring flowers that fill the streets of downtown Gatlinburg, this laid-back festival offers craft displays and live entertainment.
RIB FEST
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Third Weekend in April
865-436-0500
Rib Fest at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies boasts award-winning ribs from some of Gatlinburg’s finest barbecue restaurants, as well as live entertainment.
SPRING WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Third Week in April 865-436-7318 Celebrate the arrival of spring during the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a week-long festival that includes nature hikes, escorted motor tours, lectures and workshops.
SPRINGFEST Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville, Tennessee Early March to Early June 865-436-0500, 865-453-8574
A countywide, 3-month festival that welcomes the arrival of spring, this popular event includes a craft show and other special events throughout Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.
TENNESSEE SMOKIES BASEBALL
Smokies Stadium, 3540 Line Drive, Kodak, TN
Early April to Early September 865-286-2300 For a night of fun, affordable family entertainment, Tennessee Smokies baseball can’t be beat! A Class AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Tennessee Smokies compete in the Southern League of Professional Baseball against the likes of the Chattanooga Lookouts, Greenville Braves, Carolina Mudcats and Jacksonville Suns. The state-of-the-art Tennessee Smokies Stadium, which opened in 2000, features 6,000 seats, a grass berm around most of the outfield and a full-service restaurant called the Double Play Café. The Tennessee Smokies play their home games in Kodak, which lies just Northwest of Sevierville (Exit 407 off of Interstate 40).
TOWNSEND IN THE SMOKIES SPRING FESTIVAL & OLD TIMERS DAY Various Venues, Townsend, TN Last 2 Weekends in April 865-448-6134, 1-800-525-6834 Celebrate the rich heritage of the Smokies with live bluegrass, arts & crafts, storytelling, wildflower walks and a barbecue cookoff during the Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival & Old Timers Day.
