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Right now, the spirit of Christmas and the Winterfest season is what’s on everyone’s mind here in the Smokies, so it may feel like a lifetime away to already be considering Spring in the Smokies for 2023, but once the holiday festivities are over, the Spring season will come up sooner than you expect. For those looking to get away for Spring Break in the Smokies, either for themselves from the busy college schedule or with the family while elementary and middle schools are on break, now is definitely not too early to start planning for when you can take some “finally some warmer weather and a week in the mountains!” time.
There are not many special events being announced in detail as of late November (something that the cities of Sevier County have been doing since beginning social distancing and COVID preventative practices), but there have been some interesting events that have been made public and we’ll give you a preview of those events here.
Take a look
* Smoky Mountain Encore – Clogging Workshop in Gatlinburg, TN
March 09, 2023 – March 11, 2023
From their website: “We will be hosting a CCA qualifying competition on Saturday at Encore 2023. We will be offering the amateur division and challenge division for teams, plus solos and duos/duets. The winners from this competition will be qualified for the 2023 CCA Showdown of Champions.
The Encore show will be back this year! This professional production is a show put on for cloggers, by cloggers. It features some of the country’s top clogging teams, great singers and lots of fun and surprises. Teams are invited to perform for an audience of thousands. Check the FAQ for performance info. The Encore show is always a highlight of the weekend!”
See their website at https://www.cantonfair.net/event/23558-smoky-mountain-encore.
* Ponies In The Smokies
March 21 – March 25, 2023
From their website: “Join us for Ponies in the Smokies car show featuring 108,000 square feet of indoor vendors and special displays. Come and enjoy the beautiful Smoky Mountains and kick off the 2023 car show season right!
We have several options available for registering your Pony for our event!
If you want a car show spot, $35 allows your car to get rated by the judges, and gets you and a passenger into the show on Friday and Saturday. If you only want your car to be featured in the show, but don’t care about having your card judged you can purchase a pass for $25 which gets you and a passenger in on Friday and Saturday. Show field spots will be limited to around 600, so don’t hesitate, register now! Once they are gone, they are gone!”
See their website at https://www.pigeonforgerodruns.com/car-show/ponies-in-the-smokies/.
* Corvette Expo Featuring Horsepower and Hotrods
March 25th – March 26th, 2023
From their website: “Corvette Expo featuring Horsepower and Hotrods with Chevelles in the Smokies Showdown.
Show and swap meet inside and outside at the LeConte Center. Corvette Park-n-Show and Corvettes Cruise the Dragon.”
See their website at https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/corvette-expo-featuring-horsepower-and-hotrods.
* Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run
April 13th – April 15th, 2023
From their website: “The Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run is a spectacular 3-day event for any car enthusiast! This annual car show features a $10,000 cash giveaway, Top 25 Awards, Ultimate 5 Awards and King of the Hill. In addition to a huge swap meet with hundreds of showcars and car corral.
So come on out to the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge and join the many automotive enthusiasts for the area’s largest automotive event.
The newly renovated location will allow for even more show cars, vendors and entertainment. Don’t miss this incredible event!”
See their website at: https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/pigeon-forge-spring-rod-run.
* Smoky Mountain Gathering
April 25th – April 27th
From their website: “Formerly known as the Smoky Mountain Jubilee, this annual event of senior adults from all across the country, have gathered in the Smoky Mountains to celebrate, worship, re-kindle old friendships and establish new relationships that will stand the test of time.
The Smoky Mountain Gathering is designed for ages 50 and up. It is focused on providing a worship / retreat experience like none other. 2023 will host an array of events that will be sure to bring new and exciting things to the Smoky Mountain Gathering including a day at Dollywood Amusement Park. (optional)
Make plans now to attend. Don’t forget to register by clicking on the link provided. We hope to see you at the Smoky Mountain Gathering where we will reach a Jubilee Generation.”
See their website at: https://smokymountaingathering.com/.
* Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
April 26 – April 29, 2023
From https://www.pigeonforge.com/: “The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a 70 year old annual event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring professionally-guided walks to explore the region’s rich natural and cultural resources. More than 900 pilgrims from more than 32 states and several countries joined us in 2019. Our programs included fungi, ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, medicinal plants, insects (terrestrial and aquatic), salamanders and snakes, birds, mammals (bats to bears), birds, journaling, art and photography, and park history.”
See this website at https://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org/.
* Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival 2023
May 6th, 2023
From their website: “The single most important event of the 2023 calendar year. Don’t stop BELIEVIN’! This 3rd Annual event will feature Bigfoot competitions, guest speakers, live music, vendors, food trucks and other great surprises. You won’t wanna miss this!
May 6, 2023 from 10am – 6pm at the Townsend Visitor Center.
Super Surprise Guest Speakers, Vendors, Live Music, Food Trucks, Bigfoot Competitions, Famous Bigfoot Researchers & Much More!”
See their website at https://exploretownsend.com/event/smoky-mountain-bigfoot-festival-2023/.
* Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games
May 20, 2023 – May 21, 2023
From their website: “The event feature clans, vendors and local and national performers. The property at the visitor center provides a scenic destination for the festival with views of the nearby mountains and is just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. The 30-plus acres at the center includes adjacent parking.
Festival attendees will be treated to vibrant cultural and educational presentations, while Scotch tasting seminars will feature a bit of history and humor, and the Border Collie demonstrations will showcase their herding abilities.
Competitions include the hammer throw or caber toss, a medley of bands including bagpipes and drummers, and clan challenges like the kilted mile run or the battle axe competition.”
See their website at https://smokymountaingames.org/.
