Springfest in the Smokies!

Springfest is a celebration of spring as nature wakes-up after a winter’s sleep. The cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville hold events and activities to help visitors enjoy the change in the weather, the sunshine and the unfolding beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Gatlinburg holds a Trout Tournament, a Wine Festival, the Mountain Man March, the Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show, Easter Sunrise at Ober, Earth Week, Earth Day and the Gatlinburg Beans and Cornbread Festival. The city also hosts events during the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.

April 19-23, 2016, is the date of the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an annual 5-day event that offers professionally guided programs that explore the park’s rich diversity including wildflowers, ecology, culture, wildflowers and natural history. You will enjoy art classes, indoor seminars, nature walks, photographic tours and more. The events are held in different venues throughout the park and the city of Gatlinburg, and all events are held rain or shine. For more information visit http://www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/

Pigeon Forge is decorated with thousands of beautiful flowers and plants and they host the Mountain Quiltfest and the spring Pigeon Forge Rod Run. The Old Mill hosts Stringtime in the Smokies which features Appalachian crafters, musicians from the Smoky Mountains, antique farm equipment and old-fashioned games. Fun and food for all. Dollywood puts on the Festival of Nations and Dolly is the Grand Marshall for her parade down the Parkway.

The city of Sevierville and the Parks & Recreation staff take the opportunity to spruce up the area with the replanting of annual and perennial flowers and the placement of festive banners throughout the city. Sevierville also puts on the Bloomin BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in downtown Sevierville. Top bar-b-quers from around the country vie for top honors as locals and visitors sample their pork, chicken and beef bar-b-que, play games, shop for arts and crafts, and listen to top bluegrass groups perform on the Courthouse stage. http://www.bloominbbq.com/BloominSpringfest.aspx

Spring is also the time when red buds, dogwoods and other flowering trees burst into bloom, so the entire area is bright, blooming, colorful and alive with the sights, sounds and smells of good food, fun and fellowship in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.