Gatlinburg Rings In the New Year With a Unique Style

Gatlinburg will welcome the arrival of 2010 in unique style with its 22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show at the Space Needle late Thursday night, December 31.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2010, the Space Needle area will shine with a red glow from the surrounding rooftops at the beginning of a music program which includes selected songs followed by a choreographed fireworks show produced by Pyro-Shows of LaFollette, Tennessee.

Leading up to midnight, live entertainment and music delivered by local favorite Kevin McGuire will be headquartered on the balcony of the Gatlinburg Convention Center at the Historic Nature Trail/Airport Road entrance. Performers will entertain the crowd prior to midnight at the free public event, with party favors provided by Mr. Tablecloth available near the base of the Space Needle.

“It has become a tradition for families from across America to come back to celebrate the New Year here in Gatlinburg,” said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager. “We expect to have another big crowd to help us usher in 2010 with their family and friends.”

The highlight of the evening is the ball drop from the Space Needle, signifying the old year is over and a new one has begun. Then music encouraging crowd participation and the fireworks show off the 342-foot structure will welcome the New Year in dazzling style.

The entire city of Gatlinburg celebrates New Year’s Eve in a big way with many restaurants and attractions offering special celebrations.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies offers a “Dance With the Sharks” party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. A ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, champagne toast, fireworks viewing from Aquarium Plaza, and two dance floors, one with an 8-piece band, the other with a DJ. Kids arrangements and programs are also available.

Popular hotspots like Blaine’s Restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Lineberger’s Seafood Company and T.G.I. Friday’s are right in the middle of the fireworks area below the Space Needle and offer varying packages which may include music, buffets and a champagne toast.

For information on other New Year’s parties and activities as well as lodging and dining options, please call the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce at 800/568-4748, or visit their website.

Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday is a Great Reason to Visit the Smoky Mountains

There aren’t many opportunities that allow you to take a weekend getaway AND save money, but on the weekend of August 7^th through 9^th you will have your chance. That’s when Tennessee will have it’s fourth annual Sales Tax Holiday.

The holiday begins Friday, August 7 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 9 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less, a savings of nearly 10 percent on exempt items. Visit www.tntaxholiday.com for more information on the holiday. The Tennessee Department of Revenue also assists consumers via e-mail, Salestax.Holiday@TN.gov, and through its toll-free statewide telephone hot line, (800) 342-1003.

For years people have flocked to the outlet malls and shops in the Smoky Mountain area for their vast selection of name brands at famously low prices. Thousands every year make the trip to the area for the bargain shopping alone. Most of the merchants will running special Sales Tax Holiday and Back to School sales during the weekend to make the savings even greater.

“During tough economic times, this tax-saving initiative provides savings for Tennessee shoppers and a much needed boost for Tennessee retailers,” said Tennessee Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “We are hopeful that all Tennessee shoppers will enjoy the immediate relief of the 2009 Sales Tax Holiday.”

Travel cost to the Smokies will be lower than last year. Gas prices are much lower than the Summer of 2008 prices. The hotels, cabin rentals, campgrounds and condo rentals will also have plenty of affordable lodging options for all the bargain shoppers coming into the Smoky Mountains for the Sales Tax Holiday. You can stay in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and other parts of the area and still be close to the best shopping options.

All things considered, the average family that is outfitting the kids for school could save enough to cover the cost of the trip and still have money left over to take in area attractions. In a down economy the Sales Tax Holiday, the bargain outlets and affordable lodging can make the summer go out on positive note.

Midnight Parade, River Regatta and Fireworks: The 4th of July Gatlinburg Style

For the 34^th consecutive year, Gatlinburg kicks off America’s Independence Day celebration with the nation’s first parade, which leads off at 12 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators and features a special tribute to our four branches of military service among the many highlights.

In recognition of the 75^th Anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the birthday of our Country on July 4, the City of Gatlinburg will recreate the September 2, 1940, Presidential Motorcade of Franklin D. Roosevelt as it traveled through Gatlinburg on its way to Newfound Gap. There, perched high above a throng of onlookers, FDR officially dedicated the Park while standing with one foot in North Carolina and one foot in Tennessee.

The mobile reenactment will lead the 34^th Annual 4^th of July Midnight Parade, Presented by Land O’ Lakes Half & Half, at 12:01 a.m. in front of 100,000 patriotic spectators in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 4^th, 2009. The Presidential Motorcade will be reproduced in vintage style with period automobiles and costuming as along with vintage motorcycles to escort the motorcade. Stretching more than a mile in length, over 100 units will make their way through Gatlinburg, showcasing many elaborately decorated floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and a large contingent of our armed services men & women.

As soon as the street is closed late on July 3, the parade route comes alive with pre-parade entertainers that begin the excitement of what is to follow. Marching bands, colorful floats and helium balloons will navigate the streets, with over 100 entries of all types scheduled to appear.

“This will be one of the most patriotic and colorful midnight parades that the City of Gatlinburg has ever produced,” according to Special Events Manager George Hawkins, who organized the first Gatlinburg 4^th of July parade in 1976 in celebration of America’s Bicentennial.

“We are very excited about the entire weekend of events, which will include a four-day festival highlighting our armed services!”

Gatlinburg’s popular River Raft Regatta takes place at noon on Saturday, July 4^th, beginning at the Christus Gardens bridge on River Road and ending at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies bridge in downtown Gatlinburg. This unmanned river raft race will be hosted by the United States Navy and is open to anything floatable except balls and plastic eggs. In the past, families have entered boats made out of matchsticks, floating rocks, as well as little rubber ducks. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the race beginning promptly at noon. Support for the River Raft Regatta is provided by the Gatlinburg Recreation Department.

Then, just an hour after sundown, the Fourth’s Grand Finale occurs on the streets of downtown Gatlinburg with a fireworks extravaganza visible all along the Parkway from Applebee’s to the Sky Lift starting about 10 p.m. Lasting almost 20 minutes in duration, the sights and sounds of “the rocket’s red glare” will fill the sky as a fitting tribute to this day of celebrating freedom.

Natural Beauty and Variety Make Gatlinburg The South’s Top Wedding Destination

There’s a reason why the title “Wedding Capital of the South” has been bestowed upon the Gatlinburg area. When you imagine a place filled with as much romance as the misty valleys and sun-dappled peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, you realize why so many people come to the Smokies each year just to get married or attend a wedding. It’s the second-most popular place in America to tie the knot, trailing only Las Vegas, Nevada.

Destination weddings have become wildly popular, and Gatlinburg offers the prospective bridal couple everything they need for their perfect day. Selection is unparalleled, with 13 unique wedding chapels to satisfy anyone’s tastes. There are rustic log chapels, southern Colonial chapels, Victorian chapels, mountaintop chapels, and quaint Storefront chapels. Chapels range from elegant to cupid-cute, while ceremony styles range from hillbilly-simple to the most stylish and regal. And, Gatlinburg’s Hard Rock Café even offers its own version with Rock ‘n Roll weddings; the only one in the world to do so.

If the families are coming in for the wedding, you may want to select a cabin or chalet that offers four to a dozen bedrooms. If you need accommodations for each member of your wedding party, consider the coziness a bed and breakfast inn. If you love the excitement of downtown, there are hotels, motels, and condos within easy walking distance to anywhere you want to be. And don’t worry – every lodging type can fulfill the special accommodation needs of you, the honeymooners!

A charming mountain town, Gatlinburg’s popularity is contagious throughout America. Gatlinburg’s cool mountain air and warm mountain folks appeal to people of all ages and types, from nature lovers to thrill seekers to sentimental romantics. Perhaps that’s why Gatlinburg is the perennial choice as ”Number One Weekend Getaway” by visitors from all walks of life.

Gatlinburg is a great place for newlyweds, but couples and families love it as well. In fact, most of those who visit Gatlinburg have been here before, because somewhere between the first ride and the last hike, they realize they’re having the best time of their lives. Gatlinburg is a town you’ll want to stroll through, or catch a trolley if you prefer. Hundreds of shops, galleries, attractions and restaurants await you, but the adventure doesn’t end there. Everywhere you turn, you’ll see the majestic peaks of the Smokies, vibrant colors and choral echoes of the season’s flora and wildlife, and you’ll hear the distinctive background sounds of a nearby stream. Whether you’re here for two days or a week, with your entire family or just the two of you, Gatlinburg will be a resort retreat you’ll remember for a lifetime.

From the “something for everyone” aspect of this fun mountain town to the allure of the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is the perfect family tradition, and the perfect place to begin your new life together.

Gatlinburg To Host It’s 8th Annual Ribfest & Wings Street Fair

Ribfest & Wings is moving to the Gatlinburg Parkway for a full-fledged Street Fair on Thursday, April 23.

Gatlinburg’s 8th Annual Ribfest & Wings festival will feature extended hours (4 to 10 p.m., with food sampling starting at 6) and loads of atmosphere as the Parkway transforms into a Street Fair between Traffic Light 6 and Riverside Motor Inn/Reagan Terrace Mall.

Come out and enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities and a hot wing eating contest, each promising a lip-smackin’ good time! The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will also be part of the fun.

This year’s event features a mixture of entertainment, spiced up by the smooth Motown music of The Tams, the return of the Beat Daddys featuring their soulful rock ‘n roll blues, and the funky rhythm and blues of Dishwater Blonde on the main stage, supplemented by strolling musicians and a second stage featuring local favorites and familiar sounds of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales performers.

A panel will judge and award the best ribs or wings in seven categories. All vendors will be vying for the coveted “People’s Choice Award” chosen by popular vote.

Hot wing eating contests sponsored by All Sauced Up will take place at 5 p.m. and feature wings prepared in sauces such as “Blazing Bomb,” “Fire Pit Hell,” “Treacherous Tongue,” “Scorching Screaming” and “Next Day Disaster.” Prizes will be awarded to the “Hot Wing Eating Contest Champion of the Year.” See if you can handle it!

“We think this will be our best Ribfest & Wings extravaganza ever,” said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager for the Department of Tourism. “The Parkway is such an exciting and unique venue.”

An armband for Ribfest & Wings may be purchased for $12 (or $5 for kids) that allows sampling until 9 p.m. or as long as the ribs and wings last.

Confirmed vendors include Brass Lantern Grill, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Corkys BBQ, Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Bar, Fox & Parrott Tavern, Gatlinburg Elks Lodge, Gatlinburg Fire Dept, Gatlinburg Police Department, Hellbender Grill, Hoggs & Honey’s Saloon, Lineberger’s Seafood Restaurant, Ripley’s Aquarium of Smokies, Smoky’s Pub & Grub, and TGI Fridays,

To enter your recipe as a vendor and compete for awards in categories including restaurant, lodging, attraction, retail, financial institution, public safety and civic organization, call the Office of Special Events at 436-0506.

A portion of the proceeds benefit Gatlinburg Hospitality Association’s educational scholarship fund.

The 8th Annual Ribfest & Wings is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Star 102.1, Food City, Best Western Twin Islands Motel and Hard Rock Café.

For more information about Ribfest & Wings and other Gatlinburg Springfest events, visit Gatlinburg’s website or call 436-4178 for mountains of information.

Gatlinburg Trolley System Offers Vacation Convenience and Savings

Did you know that Gatlinburg’s Trolley System is the fifth largest mass transit system in the State of Tennessee? It originated in 1980 with only six trolleys, but the fleet has grown to 20-plus trolleys servicing approximately 50 miles of trolley routes. In 2008, nearly 800,000 patrons took advantage of riding rather than driving to their destination.

Gatlinburg’s fleet is fueled by a blend of B20 biodiesel, a 20-percent vegetable oil-based fuel product blended with 80 percent petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel has a sparkling track record of reducing engine wear and maintenance and increasing fuel economy while decreasing sulfur, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions.

Did you know that you can find Gatlinburg trolley locations in real time from a website? Funded by a grant, trolleys are monitored by a global positioning system, and the information is translated by the Intelligence Transportation System into estimated arrival time at eight popular trolley shelters, including the large information sign located at the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center located at Traffic Light #5 next to Ripley’s Aquarium. To view the location of Gatlinburg’s trolleys online.. A city map will appear. The box color indicates the trolley route color.

All Gatlinburg trolleys are handicap accessible. Exact change is required on all routes. Trolley coupon books valued at $5 make riding the trolleys even more convenient. For more information, contact the Mass Transit office at 865/436-3897 or visit any of the Gatlinburg Welcome Centers.

The Red Route runs through downtown Gatlinburg. The Blue Route serves the Free Park-N-Ride lot next to City Hall and offers access to shops, lodging and businesses on East Parkway. The Purple Route serves the Free Gatlinburg Park-N-Ride lot and Gatlinburg Welcome Center located on the Spur/Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Green Route services the Parkway and Convention Center areas as well as the south end of the Parkway. Fare for Red, Blue, Purple and Green Routes is 50 cents.

The Yellow Route (April through December) makes the entire eight-mile Arts & Crafts Community Loop once per hour. Fare is $1 all day with unlimited on/off accessibility. The Pink Route (April through December) allows convenient access to Dollywood. Fare is $1 each way. Serving the National Park, the Tan Route (June through October) departs from the Mass Transit Center. Fare is $2 round trip.

For several days in June, Gatlinburg trolleys make popular environmentally -friendly runs into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, providing trolley service to over 10,000 visitors viewing the natural light show of the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont.

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