June 2009 Archives

Dolly Parton created Imagination Library 13 years ago to provide books to children to encourage literacy. Now the entertainer known to many kids as "The Book Lady" will have her own children's book, "I Am a Rainbow," featured in the international philanthropy.

The 63-year-old Parton says working on children's projects like the book gives her a chance to play and live her second childhood. The book, which Parton says is for children of all ages, describes how colors can be used to explain emotions children might have.

She wrote it with plans for the sale proceeds to benefit Imagination Library, which supplies books to 1,000 communities in 47 states, the United Kingdom and Canada.

For the 34th consecutive year, Gatlinburg kicks off America's Independence Day celebration with the nation's first parade, which leads off at 12 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators and features a special tribute to our four branches of military service among the many highlights of this one-of-a-kind patriotic event.

In recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the birthday of our Country on July 4, the City of Gatlinburg will recreate the September 2, 1940, Presidential Motorcade of Franklin D. Roosevelt as it traveled through Gatlinburg on its way to Newfound Gap. There, perched high above a throng of onlookers, FDR officially dedicated the Park while standing with one foot in North Carolina and one foot in Tennessee. Golden Globe nominee and Knoxville native, David Keith will be Grand Marshal and will portray Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The mobile reenactment will lead the 34th Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade at 12:01 a.m. in front of 100,000 patriotic spectators in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 4th, 2009. The Presidential Motorcade will be reproduced in vintage style with period automobiles and costuming along with vintage motorcycles to escort the motorcade. Stretching more than a mile in length, over 100 units will make their way through Gatlinburg, showcasing many elaborately decorated floats, helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and a large contingent of our armed services men & women.  
 
"This will be one of the most patriotic and colorful midnight parades that the City of Gatlinburg has ever produced," according to Special Events Manager George Hawkins, who organized the first Gatlinburg 4th of July parade in 1976 in celebration of America's Bicentennial.

 

           

"Cooter's Place", the Dukes of Hazzard shops, just keep on growing. "Cooter" himself, Ben Jones, will be at the Grand Opening of the huge new Gatlinburg location on the weekend of June 27-28 and he couldn't be more proud. When Jones and his wife Alma settled in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains back in 1998 he had a simple plan. After achieving fame as "Cooter" on the television mega-hit "The Dukes of Hazzard" and serving two terms in the United States Congress, Jones figured it was time to kick back and do some writing and make some music. Those things happened, but in a roundabout way.

"One day I passed an old roadside fruit stand that was empty and for rent," he says, "and that got me to thinking. I had this crazy idea to start a little joint called 'Cooter's Place'. It was a Dukes of Hazzard museum and shop, with a General Lee out front and bluegrass music on the weekends. That old place really took off. Within a few months we had visitors from every state in the union and from over thirty countries around the world. It didn't take long to realize that our old show hadn't gone anywhere, and that it was maybe even more popular than ever!" 

The grand opening of that store in July of 1999 drew 3,000 visitors. "That place outgrew our little county," says Jones. "So we moved it to Gatlinburg a few years back. Now we are movin' uptown, to a much bigger place." The new location, directly across from Ripley's Aquarium, has a larger museum area, a full store of "Dukes" merchandise, the largest indoor go-kart track in Tennessee, and an 18 hole miniature golf course, all under one roof.

"It took a while, but I finally got around to the writing and the music," says "Cooter" Jones. "Last year Random House published my memoirs, and 'Cooter's Garage Band' played on the Grand Ol' Opry. None of that would have happened if it hadn't been for that little fruit stand up in the Virginia mountains that we opened ten years ago."

Meet "Cooter" Jones in Gatlinburg at Cooter's on Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and on Sunday, June 28 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Jones will be meeting fans, taking pictures and signing autographs.

Back by popular demand, Gatlinburg's 4th annual presentation of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales has already kicked-off and will run through August 8. Tunes & Tales is a summer-long street performance event featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying time periods as far back as 1800.

Back by popular demand, Gatlinburg's 4th annual presentation of Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales has already kicked-off and will run through August 8. Tunes & Tales is a summer-long street performance event featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying time periods as far back as 1800.

Treat your father to some living history on Father's Day weekend when the Civil War is returning to Gatlinburg in living color. Highlighted by the recreation of the only skirmish fought in Sevier County during the War Between the States, over 150 reenactors, many from the "Southern Guards Battalion," will once again invade Gatlinburg June 19 through 21 near Mills Park.

Period performers will establish a Civil War camp and recreate the skirmish known as the "Battle of Burg Hill" during the three-day event, which will include a parade, "Meet the Generals" forum, cavalry and artillery demonstrations and marching review.

The Siege of Gatlinburg will take place on Friday at 6 p.m., as the Civil War soldiers march through town looking for stores and visitors to pillage. Living History programs begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, when people can get a glimpse of Civil War Era camp life, including demonstrations by a blacksmith and camp food offerings.

On Saturday the event will climax with the "Battle of Burg Hill" at 2 p.m. as Northern and Southern forces will struggle to stand their ground against each other. Cannons blaze and soldiers will clash in this thrilling battle re-enactment. Also, a period church service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 21 and other demonstrations are scheduled before the re-enactors break camp to conclude the event in the early afternoon.
           
Parking for visitors will be provided at Mills Park and the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School parking lots, just a short distance from the battlegrounds on Ogle Road. 

Did you ever catch fireflies when you were a child? If you did, you probably remember the amazement you felt when you saw the small marvels flash brightly against a warm summer night sky. You can relive that wonder or share it with your own children by visiting Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this June. But be warned: the fireflies in the Smokies are unlike anything you've ever seen!

If you are visiting Pigeon Forge anytime from June 6 through June 14, you can take advantage of the synchronous firefly viewing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These fireflies, a new discovery in the Smokies, are unique because they flash all together at once. The display of light is astounding! The popularity of firefly viewing led to the creation of a trolley service to the Elkmont area of the Smokies to allow visitors to see the fireflies easily and safely. Visitors who are interested in viewing the fireflies should know that the trolley service is the only way to access the Elkmont area from now until June 19 during the evening hours. Beginning at 6 PM, the trolley service offers a round trip from the Sugarlands Visitors Center near Gatlinburg to the Elkmont viewing area for a fee of one dollar. Trips to Elkmont will continue until 9 PM, and the last trip back from Elkmont will leave at 11 PM. No traffic other than the trolleys will be permitted to travel to Elkmont during these times. Visitors may bring water and something to sit on, but pets, coolers, and alcoholic beverages should not be brought into the park. Park Rangers will be at the site to assist visitors and hand out red cellophane to filter the white light of flashlights. The fireflies at Elkmont begin to flash at 9:30 PM.

Although it was once thought that the synchronous fireflies were only found at Elkmont, the fireflies can be viewed in any area of the Park similar to Elkmont where a river flows through the low elevations of the park. Similar conditions are found alongside major roadways in the National Park, so if you would like to explore on your own, you may find the fireflies in these areas, as long as you are away from headlights. The numerous marked quiet walkways adjacent to these roadways are an ideal place to look for synchronous fireflies. If you are visiting Pigeon Forge and the Smokies after June 14, you can still see the synchronous fireflies at higher elevations later in the month. For an experience like nothing else, visit Pigeon Forge this June and see the synchronous fireflies. For more information about synchronous firefly viewing in the Smokies, visit the National Park Service information page about the fireflies.

The 19th Annual Patriot Festival will be held July 4th at Patriot Park in the heart of Pigeon Forge. Festivities get started at 1:00 p.m. with the Twirling Medallion Majorette and Drum Corp. Followed by the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus at 3:45. Homer Hart, local country music up and comer from Knoxville, TN hits the stage at 4:30 pm.

The Grand Majestic's Cast follow Homer Hart with their performance of their Military Tribute named "Swing Time." Later in the evening will have performances by The Temptations Revue at 5:30, Sarah Darling at 6:15, and John Berry at 7:00 pm. Closing out the evening's music are Classic Rock All-Stars. This supergroup consists of Pete Rivera, Dennis Noda, Jerry Corbetta, and Mike Pinera and they are collectively involved in many classic hit songs, such as "Green-Eyed Lady," and "School's Out."

After the performances, the Pigeon Forge night sky will come to life with a fantastic fireworks display! The fireworks usually start at 9:30-9:45 p.m., so keep your eyes on the skies, you won't want to miss this display!

Patriot Festival activities are free and food vendors will be on site. Patriot Park is located on Old Mill Street at traffic light number 7 behind the historic Old Mill.