During the three-month Springfest celebration that begins in March and continues through the second week in June, visitors witness the Smoky Mountain area transformation into spring when city streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, lantanas, scaveolas and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers seen throughout the cities. Live entertainment can be found along sidewalks in downtown Gatlinburg, adding a festive flair to the time-honored Downtown Parkway stroll.
Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show Wednesday, April 12 through Saturday, April 15. On Easter morning, April 16, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg’s 9th Annual Easter Sunrise Service enhanced by the beauty of the Smokies. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 5:45 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.
The smell of hickory-smoked barbeque fills the air as folks roll up sleeves and dive in to sample their secret sauces on delectable ribs and wings from more than 30 vendors from all over the Southeast on Thursday, April 20 at Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings. This festive street party features live blues entertainment, lots of fun and barbeque ribs and wings on the open grill just for your tasting.
The 56th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Monday, April 24 through Sunday, April 30, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. Hosted by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the University of Tennessee Botany Department and the Gatlinburg Garden Club, this seven-day program offers more than 150 different hiking tours of trails ranging from easy to strenuous, exhibitions, demonstrations, classroom lectures and delightful motor excursions into the wonderful season of spring in the Smokies.
Spring events continue with Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games Grand Parade on Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. at Traffic Light No. 10 in downtown Gatlinburg. All Scots are invited to march or ride in the parade.
On Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, Mills Park in Gatlinburg becomes competitive ground for the 25th Annual Scottish Festival & Games where clans meet and feature Highland athletics, bagpipe competitions, highland dancing, border collie demonstrations, haggis hurling, entertainment and whiskey tasting, along with food and merchandise vendors.
Gatlinburg's Fine Arts Festival, a family-oriented fine arts festival featuring juried artists from around the country, delicious cuisine and music takes place on Aquarium Plaza and River Road Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21. Proceeds benefit Arrowmont School of Art and Sevier County Arts Council.
On Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10, enjoy fun-filled days of bluegrass and genuine mountain music with crafters and demonstrations at the kick-off of Gatlinburg’s all new MountainFest® – A Celebration of Our Heritage. Local crafters will be demonstrating their skills passed down from generation to generation. Enjoy local foods such as beans and cornbread, fried taters and onions and fried green tomatoes by the areas favorite restaurants. On Saturday, June 10, get a taste of some of the areas talent with the Mountain Strings Competition. Fiddles, banjos, and guitar players are invited to compete for awards and cash prizes. Festival is from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Debuting for the first time in early June and continuing through mid-August during MountainFest® is Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales®. You can experience numerous entertainment mini-performances every evening featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying various time periods from the 1800s to today as you stroll in downtown Gatlinburg. Nearly a dozen acts involve the audience as they each perform in simultaneous ten-minute performances throughout the night.
