This Saturday evening, March 20, Knoxville's WBIR will broadcast three hours of Titanic programming beginning at 8 p.m.  The special, called "An Evening Aboard The Titanic" starts with a two-hour documentary produced by John Joslyn, owner of the new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge.  Joslyn organized the $6 million expedition in 1987 that brought the world its first images of the Titanic in her final resting place two and a half miles beneath the surface of the ocean.  The documentary follows Joslyn and his crew as they spend 45 days at seas and make 32 dives to the Titanic to capture riveting video.

Following the documentary, at 10 p.m., Beth Haynes has produced and will host an hour-long behind-the-scenes look at the new Titanic Museum Attraction called "Titanic: The East Tennessee Experience."  Viewers will get a sneak peek at the museum, see some of its priceless artifacts, and hear interviews with the owners, workers and Jaynee the First Class Maid and spokeswoman for the Titanic Museum Attraction.

The new $25 million dollar permanent Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. will open on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10 a.m. with a star-studded Grand Opening hosted by Regis Philbin.  The event, which is open to the public, also will be attended by descendants and family members of those on board the Titanic and includes a christening of the ship.

In addition to being a world class museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Pigeon Forge is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults.  The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship's 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end.

Watch the promotional spot for this special Titanic event and tune in this Saturday evening, March 20, 2010 at 8 p.m. for "An Evening Aboard The Titanic" on WBIR in Knoxville.

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This past Saturday, March 13th, Gatlinburg hosted the 2nd annual Holly and Shamrock Parade - the Meeting of St. Nicholas and St. Patrick. What's that you ask? Exactly what you think, a parade full of Santas, elves, and leprechauns! 

Celebrate Santa is a Santa and his helpers convention at the Gatlinburg Convention Center and it just happens to be right around St. Patricks Day every year.  So what better way to say goodbye to winter and celebrate spring by combining these two Saints!

The celebration was needless to say an explosion of red and green down the streets of Gatlinburg with llamas, reindeer, carolers and even an All-Santa Band.  There were a variety of Santas, Mrs. Clauses and leprechauns riding on floats and wagons while passing out goodies, complete with shamrocks and holly!

 

More than 350 magicians will descend upon Pigeon Forge as the 36th Winter Carnival of Magic convention takes place March 4 through 6 at the Country Tonite Theatre. The annual convention will be highlighted by two spectacular magic and illusion shows open to the public, featuring award-winning performers from around the world.

"There will be exciting cabaret performances, stage performances and lectures from internationally-known performers for the registrants," said Kyle Copeland, co-chairman of the event. "In addition, there will be contests for stage performance and close-up performance and 10 magic dealers will be displaying and selling their products."

For the general public, there will be a different spectacular stage show each night on  March 5 and 6. Friday night's performance will feature five internationally-known magicians, including comic magician Tim Wright, British performer Keith Fields, Las Vegas headliner Rich Bloch and the World of Illusion show starring David Thomas. The Saturday evening performance will feature the award-winning magic of Arthur Trace, comedy magic by Scott Francis, the dynamic magic of Kenrick "Ice" McDonald, the original magic of Nathan Kranzo and "Comedy Imaginator" Eric Buss.

Reserved seat tickets for the public shows are $15 for adults (10 and over) and $5 for children under 10. They are available at the Country Tonight Theatre box office at (800) 792-4308 or (865) 453-2003.

The beautiful Smoky Mountains hold many hidden treasures, but here is one that you'll want to hear all about! The Rustic Barn offers hearty, southern cooking in an unusual atmosphere, a 70 year old tobacco barn in Blount County.  The husband-and-wife team, Tom and Barbara Hatmaker, are responsible for transforming this old barn into a restaurant specializing in down-home southern cooking, where everything is home-made.  The restaurant sits on 3 acres, part of Hatmaker's farm, is surrounded by flower gardens, goldfish ponds and has an amazing view of the mountains. 

Tennessee Home & Farm Magazine interviews Barbara about the restaurant and how they got started out in the small town of Walland and how this little Smoky Mountain restaurant is a small town treasure that people from all over come to get a little taste of.   

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There have been a lot of rockslides and construction going on this year in our area causing some major roads to close.  This can get very confusing when trying to plan a vacation, so here is an update on the current road closings. 

• The section of I-40 in between Asheville and Pigeon Forge is still closed due to a rockslide and will be closed for at least another month. 
• The section of the "spur" going from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg has just reopened one lane.  The full road is scheduled to re-open on Tuesday. 
• A section of Ridge Road between Park Road and Candy Tuft Drive is closed due to an underground mudslide in early February that left a large crack in the road.  The damage is more serious than expected and there is not an estimated re-open date.  The city is still trying to decide the best way to repair it. 
• Cades Cove will be closing March 1 through May 21 for construction on the 11 mile loop.  This road work is in effort to pave the eroded pull offs which will overall improve traffic flow, so visitors will be able to pull over to view the wildlife.  

Stay tuned...we will update you with news on openings and open-date changes!

 A celebration of the American West will soon descend on Pigeon Forge, bringing with it a variety of entertainment, including concerts, poetry readings, a chuckwagon cook-off, western swing dances and a Cowboy Church event. This festival, known as Saddle Up!, is scheduled for February 25-28, 2010.

This event, now in its 10th year, is the last major event of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. It will feature entertainers like Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Dave Stamey, Sisters of the Silver Stage, Ray Doyle and many more talented performers.

The Grand Opening of the World's Largest Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge will be nothing short of spectacular! The Christening of the ship will host Regis Philbin and the Titanic's new Captain!  The event will be held April 8, 2010 at 10:00am at the outside bow of the ship and admission will be FREE but come early, because no one wants to miss this!

 

A popular local fundraiser where pirates take over the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies all in the name of helping to provide medical care for those in need.  2010 will mark the fifth year the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic has held the Pirates Ball at the aquarium.  The money raised at the ball helps tremendously with the low and no cost health care facility.  This event is the largest fund draw of the year for Mountain Hope which relies on such private contributions to offer its services.  This night is not only about fundraising, everyone is expected to have a great time while doing so!  All attendees are invited to dress appropriately to dance the night away as if they were on a pirate ship as their best pirate or wench.  Although if you have a penguin suit you're welcome to wear that as well since the aquarium just announced their opening of the penguin exhibit.  This is such a fun and unique event and we hope everyone will come out and support Mountain Hope on March 11.  Tickets are available now by calling the clinic at 865-774-7684. 

PigeonForge.com has created a new page for those of you who either want to rent out your vacation home, or those who are looking for a little bit of a different experience in your vacation accommodations. These vacation rentals are owned by individuals who have lavished a large amount of care and attention onto their property. A vacation in someone's private home can be far superior to staying in a hotel. What better way to spend your vacation than tucked away in one of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville's Private Luxury Homes? A truly customized experience awaits you and your guests.

 

American Idol Season 6 Finalist Melinda Doolittle will be starring in the Miracle Theatre's upcoming brand new production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Melinda will star as "The Narrator" beginning March 1 and running through April 9.  Melinda is also a Tennessee girl who was a music major at Belmont University in Nashville and we are so happy to have her back in Tennessee especially to Pigeon Forge!  

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat should be an amazing show that will have you laughing with the antics of the twelve brothers and will move you with a whimsical score direct from Broadway.  We hope to see everyone there!