Bluegrass Music, 5 Million Festive Lights To Launch Pigeon Forge Winterfest 2011

21st annual event brings special activity to Smoky Mountains resort through February

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (November 2010) – Bluegrass entertainers, a Dollywood mountain music string band, a community chorus performance and photos with Santa Claus and his reindeer are just part of the kickoff event for the four-month-long Pigeon Forge Winterfest. Kickoff activities are at Patriot Park on Tuesday, Nov. 9, starting at 4 p.m.

The most anticipated moment of the evening comes when a switch is flipped to illuminate the city’s five million Winterfest lights. Free rides on the Trolley Tour of Lights, which showcases Winterfest light displays across the city, will be offered after the lighting ceremony.

Pigeon Forge Winterfest continues through Feb. 28, 2011, offering winter attractions throughout this gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Among the events on the calendar:

  • Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 6-Jan. 1, 2011), with seasonal music and another four million holiday lights;
  • “Christmas in a Winter Wonderland” at the Titanic Museum Attraction (Nov. 13-Jan. 1, 2011), which includes real snow every Friday and Saturday evening;
  • Wilderness Wildlife Week (Jan. 8-15, 2011), a city-sponsored week of special programs about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and numerous other outdoor topics;
  • The First Pigeon Forge Professional Ice Carving Competition at the Titanic Museum Attraction (Jan. 22, 2011), featuring celebrated ice sculptors working with 250-pound blocks of ice;
  • Saddle Up! (Feb. 24-27), a city-sponsored celebration of cowboy poetry, western music and the American West, including entertainers Wylie and the Wild West, the Quebe Sisters Band, Brenn Hill and Chris Isaacs.

 

The Nov. 9 kickoff event at Patriot Park will begin with several performing groups from Pigeon Forge Middle School and Pigeon Forge High School. The Pigeon Forge Community Chorus and a Dollywood mountain music string band called Appalachian Christmas will follow, while bluegrass entertainers Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier will wrap up the evening’s entertainment.

The school groups participating include the Pigeon Forge Middle School Dance Team, Show Choir and Honor Band and the Pigeon Forge High School Dance Team, Chorus and Marching Band.

In addition to the onstage performances, the kickoff event in Patriot Park will feature photo opportunities with Santa Claus and his reindeer, kids games and food vendors. The food vendors will raise money for the American Legion, Pigeon Forge High School, Pigeon Forge High School Band Boosters and Pigeon Forge Baptist Church Youth Ministry.

Information about Pigeon Forge Winterfest, including Wilderness Wildlife Week™ in January and Saddle Up! in February, is at www.MyPigeonForge.com.

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Contact:
Tom Adkinson, APR
615-341-8796
tadkinson@bohanideas.com