Wilderness Wildlife Week In Great Smoky Mountains Provides a Mid-Winter Break
Pigeon Forge schedules award-winning special event for Jan. 8-15
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 2010) – After the excitement of New Year’s Day fades, Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., keeps winter lively in this gateway city to America’s most visited national park.
Wilderness Wildlife Week offers eight days of programs and activities focused on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, having fun in the great outdoors and enjoying some old-timey mountain music.
Dates are Jan. 8-15, and everything is a gift from the City of Pigeon Forge.
More than 200 experts volunteer their time to conduct 235 programs – 128 of which are new in 2011 – about nature photography, bears, butterflies, elk, camping skills, outdoor safety and scores of other topics. Almost two dozen are devoted to youngsters.
New for 2011 is an all-day concentration on outdoor photography called “The Smokies Through the Lens” on Jan. 15. Nine seminars aimed at all skill levels are planned, and topics include equipment, shooting techniques and editing. Other photography instruction classes and numerous photo showcases occur throughout the week.
Other special programming includes
- AppalachiaFest – A musical celebration of mountain music and dancing (audience participation encouraged) featuring the Carolina Bluegrass Boys, Tony Thomas and Boogertown Gap on Jan. 11
- Cade Cove Memories – Five special programs on Jan. 15 organized by the Cades Cove Preservation Association that focus on this popular portion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
In addition to all the indoor programs, there are 48 hikes and excursions into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including a llama trek. They range from easy walks to strenuous hikes, and Wilderness Wildlife Week provides transportation to and from each trailhead, plus experienced hiking guides. In 2010, hikers from 17 states participated. Hiking records have been kept for eight years, and the accumulated total mileage is 14,289.
This will be the 21st year for Wilderness Wildlife Week, a major part of the four-month-long Pigeon Forge Winterfest season. Admission to all programs is free.
“The week is extremely flexible. You can come just for one program, for one day only or for the whole week,” said Leon Downey of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “It’s a great way to introduce people to the outdoors.”
Wilderness Wildlife Week began 20 years ago as a half-day program and immediately grew into a weeklong activity. It has been a Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 Event in the Southeast” 10 times.
Wilderness Wildlife Week details are updated frequently at www.MyPigeonForge.com/wildlife. Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.
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Contact:
Tom Adkinson, APR
615-341-8796
tadkinson@bohanideas.com