Moonshine Will Start Flowing in Gatlinburg July 2nd.

Tennessee Moonshine will be available legally for the first time when Ole Smoky Distillery opens for business in Ole Smoky Holler at 903 Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg. The distillery will have a grand opening celebration on Friday, July 2 and will offer free tours, free samples of moonshine to adults over 21, and moonshine for sale.

Ole Smoky will offer a number of moonshine products: original unaged corn whiskey moonshine, apple pie moonshine, sweet tea moonshine, and peach moonshine. Moonshine cherries will be available for purchase during the holiday season. The Ole Smoky recipes are the product of the hard work and experience of local families who have made moonshine in the mountains for over a century. Dave Pickerell, who served as the Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark for over 15 years, assisted with the refinement of the recipes in order to ensure a superior mountain – made moonshine.

A highlight of the facility is the authentic working moonshine still where visitors will learn the science of the distilling process as well as the history and lore of moonshining in East Tennessee. Ole Smoky is the only distillery in the state dedicated to moonshine products. Proprietors Joe Baker, Tony Breeden and Cory Cottongim place a particular emphasis on celebrating their mountain heritage as well as the historical significance of the moonshine craft in sustaining families during hard economic times of the early 20th century.

“Moonshine played an integral role in the daily lives of families in this region,” said Baker. “Too often, people rely on the stereotype of a backwards old man making a cheap, dangerous product. In truth, a lot of good people made and sold moonshine in order to feed and clothe their families. Without moonshine, many mountain families would not have survived.”

Ole Smoky is the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee, and is currently one of only four distilleries operating in the state. Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel received their licenses before Prohibition, and Prichards Rum opened their Tennessee facility in 1999.

Pigeon Forge Host the 19th Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival

Truth may be in short supply, but humor and great entertainment will be in abundance in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for a three-day talkfest in June.

June 10-12 are the dates for the 19th annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival, one of many stops on Pigeon Forge’s year-round calendar of special events.

The festival, one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events” for June, features performers including a Harvard-educated storyteller whose alter ego is a moose, a Kentuckian who got in trouble even as a third-grader for stretching the truth and an East Tennessean who invented a musical instrument made from a toilet seat.

“Storytelling, especially Appalachian storytelling, has a great heritage, and our festival celebrates that tradition to the hilt,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

In addition to hearing professional storytellers, you’ll also hear from area storytellers who are members of the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Association and from young storytellers who have been invited from across the U.S.

You’ll also be able to attend storytelling workshops. In the workshops, you can simply observe how master storytellers pass on their skills, or you can dive right in and start developing your own talents.

This year’s featured storytellers:

Willie Claflin – Willy’s from California now, but he grew up in New Hampshire, which might explain why he travels with Maynard Moose. Maynard, you see, is the last known teller of Mother Moose Tales. Claflin, who has been a headliner at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn., says his off-stage fame comes for “helping save endangered squeaking rubber animals.” His latest recording is “The Goat Whisperer.” Claflin’s the one with Harvard on his resume.

Mary Hamilton – Mary is a daughter of the Bluegrass State who tells Kentucky tales, world folk and fairy tales, legends “and even some true stories.” She’s widely known for teaching the storytelling art to teachers, librarians and speakers, and she’s appeared at festivals from Florida to Oregon. She obviously didn’t take to heart her third-grade teacher’s admonitions to always tell the truth.

Mountain Man Bob – Mountain Man Bob is Bob Phillips from Jonesborough, Tenn. He invented a musical instrument, the modie-harp, which you’ll quickly see is an unusual second use for a toilet seat and lid. Mountain Man Bob tells tales of his own invention, plus some rooted in Appalachian lore. He said he takes pride in the fact that all of his stories are true, “based on the remote possibility that there exists a slim chance of possible fact.”

The young storytellers at the Pigeon Forge festival are participants in the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. At least 15 students from various states are invited to perform. There are categories for grammar school, middle school and high school storytellers, plus a category for duos or groups.

All programs of the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival will be at the Grand Majestic Theater. Tickets are $10 per day, or $25 for the weekend. The schedule offers morning workshops and afternoon and evening performances all three days. Late-night sessions with a $5 donation benefit the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association.

Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge’s website or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

“Saddle Up!” Festival Brings Cowboy Poetry, Western Music and Chuckwagon Grub

Cowboy poets, western singers and chuckwagon cooks are just over the horizon from Pigeon Forge, Tenn., preparing for the 10th celebration of Saddle Up!, a perhaps unexpected celebration of cowboy ways east of the Mississippi River.

Saddle Up!, Feb. 25-28, 2010, is the last major component of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, a four-month season of activities that started in November. The entire Winterfest celebration is on the American Bus Association’s list of the Top 100 Events in North America.

Like stars over a clear prairie sky, the entertainment lineup sparkles with Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, R.W. Hampton, Dave Stamey, Ray Doyle and Jeff Gore. Two western swing dances will get guests showing off their best two-stepping techniques.

The pop culture side of the cowboy life will be featured through appearances by James Drury and other stars of “The Virginian,” the 1962-1971 hit TV Western. “The Virginian,” the first 90-minute Western, told the story of the fictional Shiloh Ranch near Medicine Bow, Wyo.

Autograph sessions and question-and-answer opportunities are planned with Drury, Roberta Shore, Gary Clarke and Randy Boone. Drury appeared throughout the series.

A competitive chuckwagon cookoff is another Saddle Up! highlight. Teams of chuckwagon cooks will prepare an authentic trail hand lunch for guests’ enjoyment—and the critical evaluation of judges.

The closing event is Cowboy Church, a non-denominational service preceded by strong coffee and a chuckwagon breakfast.

Admission information: Concert day passes are $20 per day and $50 for the weekend (free through age 17). The chuckwagon cookoff lunch, chuckwagon breakfast and western swing dance are $5. Admission to “The Virginian” event is free.

African Black Footed Penguins Will Have New Home At Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has announced the opening of “Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse,” a new indoor/outdoor multi-million dollar habitat featuring a colony of African Black Footed Penguins. The exhibit is scheduled to open in March of 2010.

The 4,000-square-foot exhibit features a habitat that closely models the home of African Black Footed Penguins, also known as Jackass Penguins for the distinctive braying sounds they make. Naturalistic rockwork and plantings surrounded by more than 30,000 gallons of temperature-controlled saltwater depict the coastal island rookeries along the coast of South Africa.

“We are really happy and proud that we are able to debut this amazing exhibit during our 10th anniversary. We feel our “Penguin Playhouse” will soon become another iconic exhibit within the aquarium and will be at the top of must-see lists for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains,” said Ryan DeSear, manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Aquarium guests will be able to view the penguins from both above and below water level. Visitors will also be able to crawl through clear underwater acrylic tunnels and pop up on the penguins’ private beach to view the birds nose to beak. At the same time, as visitors crawl through the tunnels, penguins swimming above and below them will be able to get a good close-up of the human species.

The highly interactive habitat will have two wave machines and multiple spa jets that will create continual water movements, which in turn will create an inviting watery playground for the birds.

Ripley’s Vice President of Husbandry, Joe Choromanski, who helped create the exhibit, notes that “we have studied penguin exhibits from zoos and aquariums around the world, as well as their natural habitat, and we are building what we believe to be the most realistic, interactive and fun exhibit in existence.”

The penguins that will be calling Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies home have all been bred at other zoos and aquariums and are a part of the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. When these young birds reach breeding age, they too will contribute to the survival of this species in the wild.

The exhibit is the largest and costliest expansion ever at the aquarium, now celebrating its 10th year in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. More than 14 million visitors have visited the aquarium since its opening in December 2000.

The Aquarium of the Smokies is the second most attended attraction in Tennessee. For more information about the exhibit and the aquarium, you can check out the Aquarium’s website.

October is Full of Crafts in Pigeon Forge

Scores of talented artists and craftsmen seem to take a cue from Mother Nature when the leaves start changing colors in the Great Smoky Mountains and appear in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for two major autumn festivals.

Basket makers, carvers, painters and others are on hand for the Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Craft Festival and Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Celebration.

♦ The Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Crafts Festival (Oct. 1-30) is one of the region’s biggest crafts events, attracting almost 50 craftsmen, artists and exhibitors from more than a dozen states. It takes place under a giant red and white tent at Patriot Park. Rotarians volunteer their time to run the festival, and proceeds benefit many charities.

♦ Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Festival (Oct. 2-31) complements the theme park’s regular operation with an array of traditional and contemporary craftsmen and adds scores of free gospel music concerts to the entertainment lineup. Among the featured crafts are spinning, weaving, sorghum making, fiddle making, rug hooking and woodworking.

Both events take place against the backdrop of Pigeon Forge’s Harvestfest season, which continues through Oct. 31.

During Harvestfest, businesses throughout the city erect fanciful fall displays of hay bales, scarecrows, cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, mums and other symbols of the season.

The Pigeon Forge Travel Planner and information about all aspects of the city are available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100. The travel planner includes the Pigeon Forge Value Card, which offers more than $300 worth of discounts.

The Fall is Full Activities in Sevierville

Around Sevierville fall brings more than rich golden and red leaves to the Great Smoky Mountains – it also brings the annual Harvest Fest celebration.

Sevierville, a gateway town to the Great Smoky Mountains located right next door to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, is celebrating fall with six weeks of events, harvest decorations and fun things to do during Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (Sept. 18-Oct. 31). Many Harvest Festival events celebrate the season as well as popular and mountain culture.

Events like Great Smoky Mountain Auto Fest (Sept. 24-26) highlight classic cars while Robert Tino’s Smoky Mountain Homecoming (Oct. 3-4) focuses on the craftsman heritage of these mountains.

The Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival (Sept. 17-19) brings out some of the brightest entertainers to be inspired by these mountains.

Nearby Dollywood is also a Harvest Festival must-see with thrill rides, mountain music, craftsmen and harvest foods like pumpkin bread and hot apple cider.

And don’t forget the shopping! Sevierville is famous for its shopping – from high end outlets to treasure filled flea markets and everything in between. Check out Sevierville for a fall Girlfriends Getaway and enjoy shopping, spas and great dining. Of course, while you’re shopping you can still enjoy the beauty of Harvest Festival, since even storefronts are filled with harvest decorations. Businesses throughout Sevierville put out giant scarecrows, overflowing pumpkin displays and colorful floral arrangements…providing plenty of opportunities for fun photos with family and friends.

For even more fun, visit the attractions in Sevierville. From discovering adventure in the great outdoors at attractions like Wahoo Zipline and NASCAR SpeedPark to shopping till you drop at Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet Center and even enjoying a delicious harvest meal at great restaurants like The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, there is something unique to see around every corner in Sevierville. To experience the events, fun and discovery of Harvest Festival in the Great Smoky Mountains, go to www.VisitSevierville.com or call 1-888-SEVIERVILLE (738-4378).

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