Tremont Writers Conference now accepting applications

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is pleased to announce the second annual Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry coordinated in partnership with Smokies Life, formerly Great Smoky Mountains Association. Applications to participate in the event may be submitted online now through April 30 at writers.gsmit.org. From…

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Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro Earns Named to OpenTable’s Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro, nestled in the heart of East Tennessee at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, has been honored with the distinction of being named one of the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in the USA by OpenTable. This exclusive recognition was officially announced on January 31st, 2024, solidifying Dancing Bear Appalachian…

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American Pickers to Film in Tennessee

The American Pickers are excited to return to Tennessee! They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout our area in March 2024.AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they…

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Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro Named Top 25 Fine Dining Restaurant

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is honored to announce that it has been awarded with TripAdvisor’s prestigious Top 25 Fine Dining Restaurants in America for 2023. This accolade is bestowed upon a select few restaurants in the world who have consistently received outstanding reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period. Dancing Bear…

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Blount County Tourism Experiences 14% Growth in Visitor Expenditures

 As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Blount County ranked eighth among Tennessee’s 95 counties in 2022 visitor expenditures at $544 million, a 14-percent increase from $477 million in 2021, according to the Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties report issued by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Gov. Bill Lee. Visitor spending…

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Oktoberfest at Peaceful Side Social

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Peaceful Side Social – Bigger and Better Than Ever! Get ready to raise your steins and embrace the festive spirit as Peaceful Side Social announces its highly anticipated Second Annual Oktoberfest event, scheduled for Saturday, September 16th, from 11am to 7pm. This year’s celebration promises to be larger than last year, featuring…

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Beat the Summer Heat

Summer on the Peaceful Side is often reminiscent of that scene from Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the East exclaims, “I’m melting! Melting! Oh, what a world, what a world!” A cool escape is necessary between the heat and humidity here in East Tennessee. Here is our cheat sheet to help you…

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The Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival

Are you looking for a little spice in your life? Have you been missing that warm comfort from home? No worries, we have reds, oranges, and yellows ready to offer an ocular hug. Maybe you are over this insanely hot summer and need to take a refreshing break and find an ethereal sense of peace.…

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Peaceful Side Spotlight | Millennium Manor Castle

If you have ever dreamed of life in a fairytale, we have an awesome treasure for you. Alcoa is the home of a true Roman architecturally inspired castle called Millennium Manor Castle. It is truly an amazing feat of dedication, faith, and an impressive amount of hard work. Humble Beginnings The original castle, built by…

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Vintage Car Show

Fans of vintage automobiles can view a special collection of classic cars at the Autos Through the Ages Car Show at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend) on July 15 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  The car show is free with admission to the museum being $5. Presented by the…

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Beer Lovers Unite at Maryville – Hops in the Hills

Warm summer nights, good music, friendly conversation, and local craft beer – what else could you ask for from an evening in the East Tennessee Mountains? Our Hops in the Hills brew festival isn’t just another regional beer fest; it’s an event planned with both patron and brewer experience in mind. Only 1000 tickets are…

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What to Know About Snakes in the Smokies

We have put together info and images to help you understand what you need to know about snakes in the Smokies. But the biggest takeaway from this post is that there’s no need to let your fear of snakes keep you from enjoying your time in the Smokies. What Species of Snakes are in the…

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