What To Do In Gatlinburg In 2013

Gatlinburg, TN offers the Southern hospitality of a small town nestled at the foothills of The Great Smoky Mountain National Par k combined with a wide area attractions, dinning options, and annual festivals. If you are looking for what to do in Gatlinburg in 2013 the following is highlights of events and festivals that may be of interest.

The Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales runs from June 23 through August 10 and features street performances commemorating local artisans and the area’s history dating back to 1800. The family orientated event provides interactive education and entertainment as costumed performers offer music, dance and story telling events. Every night in the center of town, performers gather to entertain the crowd. Meet historical characters, hear bluegrass music and see authentic dancing that includes clogging. Audience participation is highly encouraged. The event also offers live demonstrations of artisans creating traditional mountain instruments.

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair takes place in the local convention center from July 19 through July 28 in 2013. Over 150 booths offer some of the region’s finest handcrafted works of art. Artisans provide live demonstrations of their craft, answer questions and sell their unique treasures. Guests also have the opportunity of enjoying local foods and stomp their feet along with the music provided by local country and bluegrass musicians.

The Fast Cars N Mason Jars Moonshine Festival celebrates the Appalachian traditions of moonshine and auto racing. From September 26 to 28, 2013 the community comes together to celebrate the local heritage. Learn about the history of making moonshine that originated with Irish immigrants. Running moonshine combined with the need for fast cars developed during Prohibition and continued in friendly local competitions that determined who had the fastest stock car. Taste the wares made at local distilleries and watch the races for a weekend of fun.

Gatlinburg celebrates the holidays with a number of light displays from November 7 through January 26. The Trolley Ride of Lights provides locals and visitors with the chance to view the spectacular Winter Magic displays that begin on the downtown parkway and continue on the River Road and nearby highway. At a cost of almost two million dollars, the exhibit features everything from local animals and habitats to dancing fountains, snowmen and rocking horses.

The Gatlinburg Winter Magic also includes a Tunes and Tales event that runs every evening from the last week of November until the third week of December. Enjoy a variety of music that includes barbershop quartets and Victorian dressed carolers strolling down the parkway while offering everyone’s favorite holiday songs. Step back in time to a traditional Dickens era Christmas complete with horse drawn carriages. The event kicks off with a Festival of Trees and the opening performance of the Nutcracker Sweet at the Gatlinburg Conference Center.