In a little more than 1 week Sevierville,Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will be transported back in time for just a little while.  Cars from the 30’s,40’s,50’s,60’s, and 70,s will occupy the parking lots and streets of Sevier County.  Enthusiasts from near and far will pour in to catch a glimpse of the past,  hoping to relive their glory days for just a brief moment in time. Shades of the past will usher in the festivities from Sept 10th-11th.  The Die Hard car enthusiasts will stay the whole week to attend the Grand Rod Run from the 16th-19th.

There are few things that bring people together like the love of music or the love of cars. Music makes people feel good inside and can set your troubles free for about 3 to 4 minutes. Women love their cars because they can see the beauty and elegance of design.  Men love their cars kind of like a hunter loves his best dog, He knows there are other dogs out there but his is a cut above the rest.

Next to Christmas July 4 is the best holiday of the year. Cook outs,boats, fireworks,friends,and family all rolled up into 1 wonderful celebration.  There is just something about Independence day that rings true from the youngest child to the oldest veteran. No matter where you are in the United States you can be sure that on July 4 there will be fireworks to let the world know that the great people of this land are truly free.

This year in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg the festivals will be held on July 3 and 4.  Pigeon Forge will have live music at Patriot park including Diamond Rio and local favorite Jimbo Whaley and Greenbriar.  Gatlinburg will  start their festival with a parade at 12 midnight Saturday night. The Gatlinburg Firework Finale will start at 10 p.m. downtown.

Thursday May 7th Pigeon Forge will play host to Dolly Parton and the Dollywood Parade.  There will be all sorts of local floats, local high school bands and high school bands from abroad. The streets will be buzzing with people of all ages waiting to see the hometown hero.  If you are not aware of who Dolly Parton is and what she has accomplished you have been living under a rock!

Dolly Parton in the eyes of East Tennessee is as famous as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Her giving and generosity is unmatched by any “modern day” actor or singer that you see on television today. Take it from the author of this blog, I personally received $500.00 just for graduating high school from Dolly herself.  My daughter received a book every month for the first year of her life because of the Dollywood foundation. Going to school with the Parton family was pretty awesome and envious at times. I remember being in class in primary school and one of the Parton cousins was out for 2 weeks.  I thought she was sick only to later find out that Dolly had taken the whole family to Disneyland(California) and then flown them on over to Hawaii for vacation.

People tend to make fun of Dolly because the way she talks and her flashy dress.  She is most famous for her out of porportion body parts and her duet with Kenny Rogers in the 80’s. I can tell you with 100% certainty that Dolly Parton is as real as the mountain stream that runs by our office.  “Dolly Parton” is not an act or a cheesy schtick like a wrestler would adapt to draw fans.  Simply put – “Dolly Parton is Dolly Parton” That is all she knows and all she wants to be. 

If your taste in music steers you clear of Dolly Parton and you wonder why she is such a phenomenon, just visit East Tennessee and ask a few questions. You will soon find out that money and fame is no match for love and family. Dolly Parton is a hero of epic proportions in Pigeon Forge,Sevierville,Gatlinburg and the Appalachain mountains.

Pigeon Forge Traffic – Alternate Route – If you are traveling into Gatlinburg and want to avoid the traffic – Traveling West to East you will want to pass exit 407 and go on to Exit 435 in Newport.  Stay right when exiting and this will put you onto Hwy 321. Travel 321 into Gatlinburg.

Traveling East to West you will need to exit off of I-40 at exit 435. At the end of the exit make a left across the interstate and this will lead you onto Hwy 321 into Gatlinburg. There will be signs leading the way into Gatlinburg.

The 34th Gatlinburg Christmas parade will be on Friday December the 4th this year. The superintendant of the park will be the Grand Marshall for this years parade. There will be classic cars and period dancing throughout the duration of the parade.

More than 100 parade entries, helium balloons and marching bands will line the streets for a great celebration. The parade will start at 7:30 and they are expecting about 80,000 people to attend.  Get a leg up on everyone with a Cabin or Chalet and ride the tram into downtown to watch the parade.

Gatlinburg officialy kicked winterfest into gear last night with the chili cookoff and Christmas lights last night. Pigeon Forge will be lighting up the Christmas spirit officialy tonight with fun festivities.  Chalet Village properties has about 6 units left for your mini vacation this weekend.  Call the office and ask about the remaining cabins and chalets and any vacation deals last minute.

The next 10 days are set to be weather friendly for any activity that you might want to explore.  A trip to Cades Cove would surely produce some deer or bear sightings.  A hike to Mount LeConte would be perfect with some of the greatest views on the East coast.

Remember the rock slide on I-40 if you are planning to come to the Gatlinburg area. You can always come through the National park starting in Cherokee. Be sure to check with the park service if incliment weather moves in for possilbe road closures.

The first week and weekend in November is shaping up to be the nicest week of the year.  The weather forecast is perfect for a fall getaway and a great Saturday for Tennessee Football. The Festivities start tonight with the Annual chili cookoff at 5:00 p.m. Grab a good heart warming bowl of chili and let the good times roll. Live music will be the background for the lighting of over 1 million Christmas lights throught the Heart of Gatlinburg.

Fire on the Mountain

If this doesn’t tell you why the traffic is so bad in Gatlinburg during October then nothing will.  This picture was taken between the 2nd and 3rd week of October this year.  Today is October 29th and the colors are still blazing around the base of the mountains and in Pigeon Forge.  There is not enough film in the world to take in all of the beauty of  The Great Smoky Mountains.  Everyday in October brings a different view.

Not sure of the Botanist name that gave this information but it seems to make sense.  The second week of October is the projected peak time for leaves between 5,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation.  Every one thousand feet you drop in elevation add 1 week for peak time.

Makes good sense because the higher up the mountain you go the cooler the weather gets. Cool weather is the catalyst for the changing process.

Having said that let me say this, Good luck with trying to time this process in East Tennessee. I have lived here all my life and if there is one thing for sure about our weather, it is for sure unpredictable.

The annual fireworks show is set for 10:00 p.m. in downtown Gatlinburg tonight July the 4th. The launch point will be right at the Space needle on airport road.

Chalet Village Properties wants to wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July.

For the next 2 weeks the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will play host to one of the worlds most unique events.  Hundreds of thousands of fireflies will light up the night sky all around in sync.  The Gatlinburg Trolley service will be picking up at the Sugarlands Visitor center from 6 to 9. The ride will only cost $1.00.  This is the only form of transportation to elkmont as attendance is expected to be high.

Chalet Village Properties is only 2 miles from the sugarlands visitor center.