The Biggest New Years Eve Party in the Smokies

In the Smoky Mountains, as anyone who has ever visited us would know, we take our special events seriously. Our Harvest Festivals are saturated with colors, our Springs are brisk with bloom to spare, our Summers are wall-to-wall attractions and special events and our Winterfests are full of holiday cheer.

And during New Years Eve, we both end AND begin the years with a bang!

Come to Gatlinburg for the big New Years Eve party where there will be many restaurants and local places celebrating the event. There will be entertainment leading up to final countdown, and then the epic ball drop at the final seconds of 2014 that ends with an EXPLOSION of fireworks on the Space Needle in the center of downtown Gatlinburg. More than 15 minutes of colorful sparks and flames will fire from the tower.

Complete the New Years Eve experience with a luxury cabin in the Smokies from Cove Mountain! Have the time of your life out in Gatlinburg and then come back to a regal and relaxing house of your very own on the quiet side of the mountains. See our cabins at www.covemountain.com.

Christmas In Wears Valley 2014

The Wears Valley Area Chamber of Commerce will be bringing back Christmas in Wears Valley again this year, and there are already some real treats in store scheduled!

Each weekend from November 25th, 2014 to January 3rd, 2015, will see special events, decorations, and Winterfest deals at many participating businesses in and around Wears Valley. Returning events include the Wears Valley Community Tree and Heartlander Producer and host Bill Landry among others. The Christmas Tree tour has been tweaked so that visitors may take a "selfie" picture of themselves in front of the Wears Valley Community Tree for discounts at certain businesses. There will also be additional Winterfest deals throughout the season as well.

Times and info on our major events for this celebration are as follows:

* Community Dinner and Tree Lighting *
November 25th, 6:00PM
Cove Creek RV Resort
http://christmasinwearsvalley.com/community-dinner-and-tree-lighting/

* Bill Landry Story Tellin' and Book Signin'
December 13th, 4:00PM-6:00PM
Cove Creek RV Resort
http://christmasinwearsvalley.com/wearwood-elementary-contest-and-gala/

Our area would like to welcome all visitors and locals to join us in celebrating the season! More on Wears Valley can be found at www.visitwearsvalley.com.

And consider Cove Mountain for your holiday hospitality needs while you're in town for them as well! Lots of cabins, all in this area, just waiting for you to reserve! www.covemountain.com.

Special Events For Autumn 2014

This is the month we've been waiting for since Autumn of last year - October is the prime of the Fall season where we see the full color bloom, and those of you who are looking to come to the Smokies to see it need to make reservations quite soon, as they tend to fill up quickly during this time of the year!

Those of you looking for recommendations for the seasonal special events need not look any further! Here's what we have going on this year:

* Patriot Park Rotary Craft Show in Pigeon Forge *
9/27/14 - 10/25/14

http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/pigeon-forge-rotary-club-craft-fair/

* Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration *
9/20/14 - 11/1/14

http://www.dollywood.com

* Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg *
9/26/14 - 11/2/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=80

* Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair *
10/9/14 - 10/26/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=10

* Ralph Stanley II Concert *
10/18/14

http://www.wearsvalleymusicbarn.com

* Gatlinburg Taste of Autumn *
10/28/14

http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=118

See our cabins at www.covemountain.com and make your reservation today so you can be here for the fall colors!

Labor Day Weekend 2014

Yes, ladies and the gentlemen, the fabled Labor Day weekend is coming up this weekend. 3 days of Smoky Mountain supernal sublimity is just what you need, whether you were able to come out during the Summer season or not, and Cove Mountain wants to be your home away from home during this time or any time!

We have over 100 cabins, from cozy, romantic one-bedroom houses where you and your loved one can enjoy each other and plenty of luxury amenities wrapped in a gossamer blanket of Smoky Mountain ambience, to huge houses where you, the kids, your parents and your sibling's family can all go in on a late Summer family fun blowout to end the season on a bang. And then we have plenty to accommodate sizes and needs in between!

Reserve today at www.covemountain.com before all the reservations are taken up!

Celebrate Freedom 2014 And More Special Events

Whoever said August would be a slow month because of the "Summer blues" had not seen the event schedule for August 2014 in Pigeon Forge! This weekend alone sees the start of Celebrate Freedom and the Sales-Tax Free weekend, and there's a nice-sized list of even more events coming up that you can see below:

8/2/14
Stringtime in the Smokies

8/2/14
Pigeon Forge Midnight 8K Road Race

8/11/14-8/15/14
Kidabra! The International Association of Family & Kid Show Performers Annual Convention

8/21/14-8/24/14
Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival

8/23/14-8/24/14
Smoky Mountain Military and Relic Show

8/23/14
Welcome Home Vietnam Parade

Come out to the Smokies for one last Summer getaway with the family, even if school HAS started again, and choose one of our cabins at www.covemountain.com to get the school year started on a good foot!

4th of July 2014

Let's cut to the chase. Here is the rundown for Fourth of July this year.

In Pigeon Forge, Patriot Park is having Patriot Fest starting at 12:00PM on Friday. The whole park becomes a center of activity with a huge sound stage, lots of activity, food tents, cooling off station, music by The Tim Kellar Band, Adkins and Loudermilk, Lonestar, and much more until the fireworks start between 9:45PM to 10:00PM. See more at www.mypigeonforge.com.

And Gatlinburg will be celebrating in true traditional fashion, and all your favorite activities from the Midnight Parade to the River Raft Regatta will be ready for you to enjoy! The Midnight Parade starts on 12:00AM on Thursday night, registration for the River Raft Regatta is at Christ In The Smokies at 10:00AM the following morning, some free music performances will go on at various times of the day at Ripley's Aquarium in the Smokies, and the fireworks themselves will explode over the downtown area at about 10:00PM! See more on this at www.gatlinburg.com.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Wears Valley Adventures

Wears Valley is going to be the "It" spot this Summer, and you should definitely take advantage of it with a reservation to Cove Mountain's awesome cabin selection.

Why Wears Valley? Because our little community has been on a serious rate of growth for over a year now and there are many adventures you can undertake here. Some of these include:

* Smoky Mountain Jeep Rentals (www.smokymountainjeeprentals.com)
* Groovy Tours (www.smokymountainmotorcycletours.com)
* Friendly Falls (www.friendlyfalls.com)
* GSM Outfitters (www.gsmoutfitters.com)
* Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster (www.smokymountainalpinecoaster.com)

And many more you can find at www.wearsvalleyadventures.com!

We'll be back in just a little bit to get you up to date on other events going on in nearby Pigeon Forge and on to Gatlinburg for the Summer. You've earned your vacation, now come take it at www.covemountain.com!

Dollys Homecoming Parade and Sevier County Days!

Looking for some affordable entertainment in the Smokies to enjoy with the family? Come out this weekend where we have two events going on in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

The first one is this Friday, May 2nd, where Pigeon Forge will be holding the annual Dolly Homecoming Parade between Stoplights #6 and #3 on the main parkway. This is a city-wide effort where dozens of floats, locals and business owners all march down the main street of the city with Miss Dolly herself following close behind. www.mypigeonforge.com/events/dolly-parade/

The second one starts Sunday, May 4th, and goes on to Thursday, May 8th. Ripley's in Gatlinburg will be holding "Sevier County Days", where locals and visitors who live or work in Sevier County, Jefferson County, and Cocke County can get into any Ripley's attraction, including the Aquarium, Haunted Adventure, Guinness World of Records, any of them for only $4 a person. And money that goes to Ripleys goes on to the Sevier County Food Ministry as well. www.ripleysgatlinburg.com.

Check back with us in a little while for special events coming up next month as the Summer season starts. www.covemountain.com.

A Mountain Quiltfest and Festival of the Nations 2014

Yes indeed, this week is the week the special events and the "visitor's season" comes back to the Smokies. We have two big events going on within 7 minutes of each other in Pigeon Forge.

The first starts today, 3/19, and goes on to 3/22 with the "A Mountain Quiltfest" going on at the LeConte Conference Center in downtown Pigeon Forge. This is, to put it simply, a huge quilt festival, but it is surprisingly popular and very enriching, whether you're a fan of Appalachian culture or not. Lots of beautiful works of art will be on display, and those initiated can find quilting workshops to learn professional skills, plus there will be a quilting contest with a prize of $20,000 at stake. Yes, quilting is serious business here in the Smokies!

And then on Friday, 3/22, is the grand opening for the 2014 season of Dollywood with perennial favorite "Festival of the Nations" opening the revelry. This year the headlining act is "Mother Africa", at the main theater on park, while many newer performers play at venues throughout alongside returning favorites like Zambia Vocal Group and Atahualpa coming back again. You better believe this is the real start to Spring in the Smokies!

Both are no more than 20 minutes driving distance from Cove Mountain, and wouldn't you love to have one of our luxury cabins to go home to after an awesome day at Dollywood or downtown Pigeon Forge? Not sure? Take a look at our houses at www.covemountain.com and see for yourself!

New Wears Activity Coming for Spring and Summer

A press release from GSM Outfitters here in Wears Valley.

WEARS VALLEY, TN – A brand new program opens up in the heart of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains allowing locals and visitors to better understand and appreciate the nature of the Appalachians in our region. This program is a collaboration between the owners of GSM Outfitters in Wears Valley, and wildlife biologist Liz Domingue.

“Just Get Outdoors!” will feature lectures, workshops, interactive activities for kids, photography and much more. Day and evening classes will be available. The following is a list of the classes and activities scheduled:

* Wildflowers, Wildflowers, Wildflowers!
April 10, 2014

* Wildflower Walk With a Naturalist
April 11, 2014

* Nature Photography Workshop
May 24, 2014

* Salamander Capital of the World!
July 25, 2014

* Salamander Foray
July 26, 2014

Group size will be small and space is limited. Participants will be asked to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time, to bring their own lunch and drinks and rainwear. Hiking boots also recommended.

To sign up for the outings and evening programs, contact Michael or Heather at 865-366-2608 or at Michael@gsmoutfitters.comcastbiz.net.

Valentine's and Saddle Up! 2014

It's that time of year again where we celebrate a beautifully romantic month in the Smokies. Valentine's Day or not, the Winter atmosphere of the mountains during February provides a pleasant solitude and a quiet dignity perfect for couples to enjoy each other in.

May we recommend "Alone At Last", "Dogwood", or the appropriately named "Lover's Lookout"? Then you can compliment your visit with a gift basket from Romantic Gift Baskets in the Smokies. It will be an amazing time for the both of you!

Another item worth talking about this month is the return of Saddle Up! in Pigeon Forge between February 19-23 for 2014. Western fans local and guest rejoice as a cavalcade of Western entertainment, singing, dancing, poetry, chuckwagon breakfast, Cowboy Church and much more will be spread out all across the city (admission fees may apply). Featured entertainers this year include Andy Nelson, Belinda Gail, Don Edwards, Joyce Woodson, Ray Doyle, Red Steagall and more.

You can bet after a weekend of western singing and dancing, a relaxing vacation house to go home to at night will be just what you need, and even if you aren't able to make it for Valentine's Day, any day of this month can perfectly function as a romantic getaway at Cove Mountain. See our other houses at www.covemountain.com.

Winter Festivals Coming Up In The Smokies

It's been a very quiet start to the new year here in the Smokies. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way we like it! While we love the thrills and excitement the area brings during the holidays and vacation seasons, we love to get a break too, and this month gives us a chance to break away from some of that for quieter reflections of the mountains.

For those of you who want something more natural to enjoy in the Tennessee Smokies, you should check out both the Wilderness Wildlife Week at LeConte Conference Center in downtown Pigeon Forge (January 25th-February 1st for 2014) and the Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend, TN. The Wilderness Wildlife Week is 7 full days of lectures, guest speakers, exhibitions, guided walks and hikes into the mountains, and it's all free. You can see more on this at www.mypigeonforge.com.

The Winter Heritage Festival is February 7th and 8th for 2014, and it features a number of events, including a kickoff reception, photography workshop, hike to the Walker Sisters House, music performances and more. See the full schedule and events at http://www.smokymountains.org/do/events_festivals/winter_heritage.html.

And both are easy to get to from our houses at Cove Mountain. Reserve a luxury house in between your expeditions into the mountains at www.covemountain.com.