July 3 the Hallmark Channel presents, "Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood," an original special.  The Hallmark Channel will be honoring a musical icon and celebrate the anniversary of one of our favorite theme parks when the Hallmark Channel Original Special is televised on Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET.  The special's theme is, "Celebrate the Dreamer in You!";  the park has played host to more than 62 million people since the opening 25 years ago. 

The one hour special will feature Dolly Parton's musical tribute taped at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN and will feature some of the brightest stars in Counrty Music.  Dolly's guests will include Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus and Kenny Rogers. The special also includes tributes for Dolly and Dollywood from friends -- Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and others.

This summer, the Biltmore Estate is presenting the Biltmore Concert Series.  The series will run from June 4 - October 1 and performances will be held on the South Terrace and The Diana at Biltmore.

Lineup

Friday, June 11 will be the premier of the Townsend Sunset Music Series with a performance by Wild Blue Yonder. All concerts start at 7:00 pm at the Heritage Center's outdoor ampitheater.  The ampitheater does have a roof so that concerts may be presented rain or shine.

Wild Blue Yonder is back for their fifth appearance and is the only band to perform every year since the Series began. Also back by popular demand are Labron Lazenby & LA3, who made it to the finals of this year's International Blues Challenge in Memphis; Hokum's Heroes, from Boston; John Myers Band, who recently released a new CD "I Ain't Goin' Nowhere"; EG Kight, the "Georgia Songbird"; Y'uns, a "seriously silly" jugband from Knoxville; and Steve Kaufman, 3-time national guitar champion from Maryville. Making their Sunset Music Series debut this year are the Lonesome Coyotes, Knoxville's most celebrated band to play in the western swing and country-rock style.

The Sunset Music Series is sponsored by BankEast. Admission to the concerts is $4.00 and may be purchased at the door. Heritage Center members are admitted free. For further information, call the Center at 865-448-0044.

Learn fun outdoor skills at Bass Pro Shops family camp!  They are offering free activities and workshops where you can participate in fun crafts as well as learn skills to enjoy outdoor adventures.  The Bass Pro Family Camps begin June 5 and go through July 11.  Any Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday you can visit Bass Pro and you're sure to find something fun for the family.   

Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 2 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 - 5 p.m., children can participate in crafts such as coloring their own backpack, painting a wiggle fish, designing a birdhouse, making a camping photo frame, creating plaster animal tracks and making a leather keychain. 

The free workshops will be from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays starting June 5th where the family can learn the basics of hiking, camping and fishing.   Other workshops will include bird watching, archery, animal identification, plants and insects and families can learn travel tips for their pets.  Also, children will earn a collectible pin for every workshop completed and you can also pick up a free Summer Guide book with outdoor activities and tips.   Visit the Bass Pro Website for individual times and more details!

National Trails Day is the American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program and the date this year is set for June 5th.  National Trails Day is to inspire the public to get out and celebrate, discover and learn about trails nationwide. 

There will be many events all across the country. The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club will utilize the day as a trail repair and construction event. The Park is currently recruiting volunteers for two of the projects that are supported through the National Park Foundation and the Trails Forever Program. They are the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail on the Tennessee side of the Park near Cades Cove and the Grassy Branch Trail on the North Carolina side of the Park near Cherokee. On the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail volunteers will work to improve the trail by installing waterbars, maintaining existing drainage structures, removing social trails and defining the trail tread. On the Grassy Branch Trail volunteers will work to dig a new section of trail that is permanently being relocated.

Work will be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on both projects and Great Smoky Mountains National Park will provide all the necessary equipment needed for the project. Volunteers should come prepared to work in the woods and must be able to hike, safely perform manual labor, and be comfortable using hand tools. It is suggested that participants dress in good sturdy foot wear and long pants. Since volunteers will be working a full day, it will be necessary to pack a lunch and plenty of water.

To attend these projects RSVP by May 28 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov. At the time of RSVP, volunteers will be provided with further project and trailhead information.

Also, the Friends of the Smokies are inviting volunteers to help out with the 14th Annual Appalachian Trail Work Day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. The work day concludes with a barbecue picnic at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area for all registrants who will also receive a commemorative t-shirt. A registration fee for this activity will apply which goes to sponsor trail projects in the Smokies.

For more information or to obtain a registration form, visit the Friends website at: http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org/events.html or contact Holly Scott at fotshb@bellsouth.net.

This past weekend the Great Smoky Mountains National Park benefitted from the 2010 Troutfest in Townsend, TN.  The profits from the event were around $30,000 to go to the park's fisheries department.  The money will specifically help the park to restore streams and the native Brook Trout which is the only species of trout native to East Tennessee. It was decimated by the logging industry and the introduction of other competing species of trout such as Rainbow and Brown Trout.

Troutfest was created by The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited seven years ago and have grown the festival into what it is today.  Just from last year the number of vendors has doubled.  They also play a huge part in restoring the Brook Trout beyond the festival.  They have helped raise more than $2.5 million for Brook Trout restoration.

There will be about 40 miles total of streams that are proposed for total restoration and they hope to have the streams restored and stocked with enough Brook Trout to allow fishing within three to five years.  Read Full Story from WBIR.

Fishing in Tennessee is definitely on the rise!  Plan your fly fishing adventure today!

We all know Dolly Parton's love and passion for her hometown in the Smokies and East Tennessee but, you may not know that she also has been a Nashville resident for the past 46 years and also considers Nashville her home.  Her love for Music City is just as strong as her love for East Tennessee, Parton says, "I have family and friends in both places, and when one place hurts; I think it is just right for the other to help." And that's just what she's doing!  This upcoming weekend Dolly's Pigeon Forge companies, Dollywood and Dixie Stampede are hosting the "Dolly Helps Nashville" weekend fundraiser.  The net proceeds from the admission to Dollywood and Dixie Stampede will go to a special fund to assist Nashville flood victims. Dolly wants to be sure to "concentrate on those folks who lost their homes and personal possessions in this terrible flood."

Davidson and three surrounding counties were declared federal disaster areas after the Cumberland river reached its highest level in over 80 years after record-breaking rainfall on May 1 and 2.  The flood devastated the area, destroyed homes and businesses, billions of dollars of damage was done and many people died.  With Dolly's strong roots in the Nashville community she felt the impact of the natural disaster and organized Dolly Helps Nashville to aid those displaced by the flood. Dolly feels that, "So many of the folks from Nashville come to the Smokies to vacation; over the last 25 years, they have helped Dollywood, Dixie Stampede and Dollywood's Splash Country and this entire vacation area grow," Parton added. "That's why it's our turn to help."

Of course Dolly won't be behind the scenes on this event!  She will be making several special appearances in the park and at the theaters to greet guests who will be visiting for the weekend event.  "I want all of my fans worldwide to come to Dollywood the weekend of May 22 and 23," Parton said. "If you can't be there in person, then I hope you'll donate to flood victims through the Dollywood Foundation online at www.dollyparton.com." 

Book Your Accommodations Today and Help Dolly Help Nashville!
             

This spring and summer you will be seeing restaurant additions to Pigeon Forge!  These three restaurants will be a great addition!

The Partridge and Pear - A new restaurant opening as part of the Christmas Place Inn set to open this summer.   The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, individually and family style.  The Partridge and Pear will of course follow the common theme of the Christmas Place Inn to make you feel like your Celebrating Christmas at any time of year.  "The menus at the restaurant will remind you of a festive Christmas gathering, and include a wide variety of regional, traditional, and specialty dishes to suit every palate. Steaks, seafood, and locally-grown produce prepared in slow-food style, a welcoming atmosphere, and detailed service will be the hallmarks of your dining experience at The Partridge & Pear at Christmas Place."

UPDATES! - NOW OPEN!

Mellow Mushroom - A great pizza addition to Pigeon Forge, it will be located at 2485 Parkway, and will be taking the place of the Flying Horse Grill.  Mellow Mushroom will be opening May 10. 

Five Guys - This burger joint has their burgers perfected!  They are very limited in their menu choices, but what they offer they do it well!  Five Guys will be located at 2526 Parkway and will be opening on May 5.  

Check out what else is new to Pigeon Forge! 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is doing its part to help motivate people who want to get outdoors and exercise more. The park says the new program, "Reward Yourself -- Hike the Smokies Challenge," will help visitors reach individual milestones.

On Sunday, the park will give out free mileage record books at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at Cades Cove Visitor Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The booklets will be available afterward for a dollar. After hiking 100 miles, 250 miles and 500 miles, the visitor can bring the mileage record back for a mileage pin and to be recorded in the "Hike the Smokies" Web records.

There are 850 miles of hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  On these trails you can wander the mountain ridges, investigate the isolated coves and experience for yourself the mystery of the mountains!

Enjoy the area's best ribs and wings as well as live entertainment during Gatlinburg's Ribfest & Wings on Thursday, April 22. One admission price allows sampling until the ribs and wings run out as the Parkway transforms into a Street Fair.  The festival hours will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with musical entertainment starting at 5 p.m., food sampling from 6 to 9, eating contests, and loads of atmosphere on the Parkway between Traffic Light 6 and Riverside Motor Lodge/Reagan Terrace Mall.

This year's event returns to the Parkway with the entertainment menu spiced up by the classic tunes of the Beat Daddys, featuring their soulful rock 'n roll blues. The main stage will also feature the musical group Soulfinger, spearheading a neo-classic soul movement with original sounds.

A panel will judge and award the best ribs or wings in seven categories. All vendors will be vying for the coveted "People's Choice Award" chosen by popular vote.

Hot wing eating contests sponsored by All Sauced Up will feature wings prepared in sauces such as "Blazing Bomb," "Treacherous Tongue," "Fire Pit Hell," "Scorching Screaming" and "Next Day Disaster." Prizes will be awarded to the "Hot Wing Eating Contest Champion of the Year." See if you can handle it!

The "Vermonster Eating Contest" sponsored by Ben & Jerry's is another highlight of the evening of fun and festivities.

An armband for Ribfest & Wings may be purchased for $12 (or $5 for kids) that allows sampling until 10 p.m. or as long as the ribs and wings last.  To enter your recipe as a vendor and compete for awards in categories including restaurant, lodging, attraction, retail, financial institution, public safety and civic organization, call the Office of Special Events at 436-0506.

A portion of the proceeds benefit Gatlinburg Hospitality Association's educational scholarship fund. The ninth annual Ribfest & Wings is sponsored by Star 102.1, Food City, Coca-Cola, the Best Western Twin Islands Motel and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.

For more information about Ribfest & Wings and other Gatlinburg Springfest events, visit www.gatlinburg.com or call 436-4178.