From the Peaceful Side of the Smokies
Welcome to our 2022 Smoky Mountain Events! We are thrilled to bring the Peaceful Side of the Smokies a year of inviting events from the Bigfoot Festival to Grains and Grits. Check out all of this year’s events below and book your trip now. Bronco Truck Show (April 20 – 23) Bronco Driver Magazine presents…
Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced the busiest year on record with 14,137,812 visits. Visitation exceeded the 2019 record by 1.5 million visits and 2020 visitation by more than 2 million visits. The park has increasingly become a year-round destination with eight monthly visitation records set during the winter and spring months in 2021. “In…
Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) are partnering for the 3rd Annual Little River Run 5K, set for 11 am on Saturday, November 13th at the Townsend Abbey in Townsend, TN. The Little River Run 5K represents a joint effort through which both organizations encourage participants to enjoy the beauty of…
The Blount Partnership announced today that Director of Tourism Kim Mitchell was named “Women in TN Tourism & Hospitality Leader of the Year” by HospitalityTN. The award was given during the Stars of the Industry Gala at the Governor’s Conference on September 16, 2021, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Mitchell has served as the director of tourism…
The Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon and 5K returns to Townsend this year and will take place on September 10 and 11. Participants can race through trails with breathtaking views in an experience they will never forget, whether it be the 13.1 mile half marathon or the 5K “Fun Run.” The Smokies are America’s most…
It is no secret that the restaurant industry has taken a significant hit over the past year, and although this is Blount County’s 19th Annual Taste of Blount, this year is a little different. This year we need to come together and support our local restaurant industry more than ever. And what’s a more flavor-filled…
Little River Trading Company is excited to celebrate 25 years of providing quality outdoor gear and services to East Tennessee. Since its founding in 1996, Little River Trading Company has been known for its quality outdoor gear and clothing. Now, the store is planning a multi-day celebration event, scheduled for the fall, to thank customers…
As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Blount County Tourism ranks 8th in State Economic Impact among Tennessee’s 95 counties in visitor expenditures at $337.01 million in 2020 according to the Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties report issued by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Gov. Bill Lee. Tennessee tourism generated $16.8…
One of the prominent tourist intrigues of the Great Smoky Mountains is our majestic black bears. It is not an uncommon sight to see a mama bear and her cubs playing in the park during spring, and it is a precious sight indeed. But don’t be fooled by the innocence of this fun-natured scene or…
On August 21, 2021, the Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival will celebrate its fourth year with high expectations. Professional balloonists will light up the Tennessee evening sky with an unforgettable glow. A spectrum of hope, happiness, and color will cast over the breathtaking Smoky Mountain sunset like never before. The 2021 event will…
Fans of vintage automobiles can view a special collection of classic cars at the Autos Through the Ages Show at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend) on July 17 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The car show is free with admission to the museum being $5. Presented by the East…
Apple Valley Mountain Village welcomes Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center (SMOC) as they announce their Grand Reopening scheduled for Friday, June 18th through Sunday, June 20th, 2021. Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center moved to its newer and larger Apple Valley Mountain Village location under new ownership and has been undergoing renovations and upgrades. Finally complete, on the…
