Experience Winter Magic on The Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights

Each year over 40 million people visit the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area in Tennessee. The wintertime is not excluded, boasting some fun wintertime amenities for the entire family. The town of Gatlinburg is located at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge is the next town over and between the two towns, the area is bustling year round with travelers and locals alike.

If you live or are visiting the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area anytime from now until January, you may wish to try taking a tour of the town on the Gatlinburg trolley. Every Christmas season the trolley service hosts an event called "Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights", allowing you to visit some of the town's impressive light displays.

What a great idea! You step onto a trolley with your group and enjoy the twinkling light displays that are set up throughout the town. The lights have been provided by the town of Gatlinburg for all to enjoy for the past 23 years. The night becomes magical as you are whisked away in the trolley to enjoy the displays. There is no need to worry about driving yourself through town to see them, risking missing anything while you are trying to concentrate on the road. You can leave that to your trolley driver!

Gatlinburg has replaced its display with LED lights, allowing the town to save money on electricity, and also allowing them to have more lights than ever! The route runs from Route 321, and along Parkway and River Road in the downtown area. The displays this year include an animal theme featuring animals from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park area. Search the lights for fox, squirrel, rabbits and deer!

The older displays have all been converted to the LED light display, and there are a bunch of newer displays that have recently joined the line up. These include fountains, snowmen, a silver rocking horse and an international display of children enjoying their holiday. The town has spent $1.6 million dollars in upgrading the light system for your viewing pleasure for years to come.

When departing, the trolley will run at a leisurely pace, allowing you to soak in the sights and sounds of the Gatlinburg area during the holiday season. This is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. It is a kid-friendly tour, that will leave your children inspired and filled with awe.

Each trolley has a driver that doubles as your tour-guide. You will learn some informative information regarding the history of the Gatlinburg area while viewing some of the area's most impressive displays of light.

To be a part of these festivities, you can purchase tickets online or you can buy them from the departure site. The trolley will start and end its journey at the Mass Transit Center at traffic light #5 next to Ripley's Aquarium. The ride runs three times every night, 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm from now until January 25, 2015. There is no service on the first Friday in December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. In January service will run on Saturdays only. The cost is only $5 per person and the ride lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The Gatlinburg Trolley runs year round, boasting over 100 different routes. It is usually a low price of just 50 cents a ride, or $2 for the day. It allows you to be able to visit the entire area without having to drive. You can leisurely site-see at an expensive price, knowing that the trolley will be able to bring you back to your beginning location when you are ready. With so many trolley stops in the area, the trolley makes maneuvering throughout the area a breeze. There are stops in nearby Pigeon Forge, as well, making the towns join together in the sharing of travelers.

The Winter Magic on The Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights is an extra amenity that the trolley service offers to allow visitors to revel in the work that the town of Gatlinburg does each year. It is an anticipated event and ticket sales run out quickly, so it is recommended to make your reservations in advance if you have a particular date that you would like to ride. Should you wish to reserve a trolley for a large group, please specify when you call that you would like your group to be seated together so the seats can be saved.

Gather up the family and head to the Ripley's Aquarium area to join in with this exciting event! Grab some dinner in town, maybe visit the aquarium, and then jump on the trolley for a holiday experience like no other! You will not believe the number of lights that you will be able to see on the tour! Some displays are very large, with twinkling lights and moving displays to enjoy.

Townspeople like to join in on the fun and put up their own displays on their house fronts, adding to the spectacular light show. Search for your old favorites and enjoy the new additions of the year. Bring the kids out on the town for a night to enjoy as a family, to be remembered for years to come. Sit together enjoying the displays while singing some carols as you ride! The holiday season comes and goes so very fast, that this is a great way to enjoy it together! If you are a history enthusiast, enjoy some of the facts that the trolley drivers know about the town and the light display itself. You will not be sorry that you took the time to enjoy this holiday event! It only happens once a year, so make sure to get in on the action before the holiday season is over!

Gatlinburg, Tennesse Hosts Cinco de Mayo

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Most of us have heard of Cinco de Mayo. Each year, in the spring, advertisements are seen on television, heard on the radio and viewed on the web. Although this celebration comes from a battle between France and Mexico, it is celebrated more widely in the United States. One city celebrating this event is Gatlinburg.

Entertainment in Gatlinburg
Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is known for it's excitement as well as serenity. There are many shows and attractions for everyone. A variety of shops line the streets hosting a wide selection of items.

Different seasons of the year bring an assortment of festivals and parades. Spring is no exception. Each year, on the fifth of May, Gatlinburg celebrates Cinco de Mayo. There is food, dancing and entertainment galore from daylight till well after dark.

Entertainment for your canines
Prancing down the streets are the Chihuahuas in their cute Mexican outfits. Pulled in wagons, walking on leashes or carried by their owners, they parade through town showing off. This is known as the Parade of Chihuahuas. The participants are judged and a winner is decided from among them. The outfit representing the Mexican culture the best and that is the cutest wins the "cutest dog outfit" award.

The Chihuahua Race is another event that is lively and entertaining. The owners line up the Chihuahuas at the starting point. Excitement abounds as they race to the finish line to see who will win. This little guy has the honor of being named "Champion of Gatlinburg's Cinco de Mayo Chihuahua Race."

Music and dance
While you may find different bands playing throughout the city, the Mariachi band is the most common. The basic instruments that make up the band are the violins, trumpets and guitars. Other instruments are added to give the band it's unique sound. The vihuela combines with the soothing harp tones. The guitarro' is the bass that holds the melody together. This combination provides a harmony that is different from any other.

Folkloric dancers entertain crowds with the many dances of the Mexican culture. There are different costumes depending on the type of dance. Women wear dresses with ruffled skirts that have designs on them. While dancing, when the skirts from the different dancers are brought together, they create beautiful images.

Some dancers wear head dress or masks for their faces. These have feathers or painting on them that represent the country and historical events. Children in different cities recreate these masks to symbolize the survival of the country and heritage.

Salsa is another type of dance seen here. This is an exotic, Latin dance between a man and a woman. The dancers wear bold, vibrant colored clothing. Women's dresses are well-fitted with fringe or other accessories to enhance their body language. The men wear pants that snuggly fit and button-down shirts.

Karaoke is for those who enjoy singing. People of all ages entertain crowds with their voices. This is enjoyable for the singer as well as the audience.

An educational experience
As well as learning about the Mexican culture, children and adults can also learn about the Latin heritage. There is a Latin showcase that teaches the different types of music and dance. You can learn about the clothing and food. There are also crafts and activities to learn from.

Food for the event
Throughout the festival, there are many booths with samples of food to try for free. You may also choose to buy an arm band that allows you to sample all the food you want. Or you can simply purchase a meal.

For the spicy side of life, there is a "hot burrito eating contest." Entrants prepare for the heat and race to beat the clock. The one eating the most burritos in the allotted time becomes the champion.

Other activities
If you are looking to entertain your little ones, there is plenty to find here. There are face-painting booths available. Children have their face painted with the Mexican history in mind or simply have a painting of what they choose.

Clowns and mimes tour the streets all day. They fascinate the children with their humorous antics. The clowns hand out balloons to the children, and the mimes teach them a new way of communicating.

A dunking booth allows the children to have a shot at landing someone in the water. This not only makes them laugh, but gives them a sense of pride when they hit the target. Adults can also have a shot at the booth. It is fun to see them squeal just before getting soaked.

Proceeds from the event
Most of the proceeds go to the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce or other city facilities. This gives them the funding to create an even better atmosphere than is already present. It also allows them the funds to host the great events throughout the year. A thousand dollars of the proceeds is given to the Boys and Girls Club of Gatlinburg.

Conclusion
Cinco de Mayo in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an enjoyable trip to start the summer off. The entertainment begins in the morning and lasts through the night. There is fun, as well as learning about a new culture. And Gatlinburg is a magnificent city to host such an event.

Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest

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The Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest combines two of the state’s greatest assets into one amazing event; a charming town with rustic appeal and Tennessee’s finest wines. Gatlinburg is a favorite vacation destination for many travelers. Surrounded by the natural beauty of The Great Smoky Mountains, this town offers visitors several unique shops, dinner theaters, restaurants and museums. Each is touched by the Appalachian charm that has made this area so appealing to those of all ages. Their down home hospitality is accentuated by time honored traditions that keep visitors coming back year after year.

During the Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest, the town invites in a taste of Tennessee’s Wine Country. This beautiful state is home to 150 vineyards with 40 wineries scattered among them. Numerous award winning wines are produced throughout the region. The rolling hills that draw in tourists from all over are rich with fertile soil that is ideal for growing grapes. These grapes are perfect for continuing the ancient art of wine making. Although a tour of this scenic wine country is wonderful, it is hard to manage a stop at all of the top wineries for tastings. Gatlinburg’s Wine Fest brings them all to one location so that you can enjoy each one’s unique flavors.

The following are participating wineries:
•Amber Falls Winery
•Blue Slip Winery
•Beans Creek Winery
•Century Farms Winery
•Grinder’s Switch Winery
•Del Monaco Winery
•Key Springs Winery
•Sumner Crest Winery
•Reedy Creek Vineyards and Cellars
•Sugarland Cellars
•Tennessee Valley Winery
•Beachaven Winery
•Spout Spring Estates
•The Grape Barn at Nolichucky
•Mountain Valley Winery
•Stonhaus Winery
•Bootleggers Winery
•Eagle Springs Winery

The Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest is held at the Ripley’s Aquarium plaza on Saturday the twelfth of April. Starting at 1:00pm, it continues into the evening until 6:00pm. Guests are given the opportunity to sample some of the best Tennessee Wineries’ superb products. There are also dishes served from some of The Smoky Mountains’ most favored restaurants. When combined, the food and wine make for a relaxing and enjoyable evening in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

The Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest is an adult only event. Those who are 21 or older will be given a wristband when they buy their ticket. They’ll also receive a branded wine glass. The wristband allows them to sample the many fine wines available at the fest. The wineries represented will be giving individuals one ounce samples poured one at a time.

Tickets are only $20, and this includes seminars on wine pouring, wine making, and how to pair the perfect wine with certain food selections. A combo ticket can be purchased that includes admission to the Wine, Dine, and Crawl that same weekend. With this event a private tour of restaurants, galleries, and wineries in the historic Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is followed by a sit down dinner in one of Gatlinburg’s most notable dining establishments.

During the Wine Fest, appetizers are served from many of the local eateries that pair nicely with the selection of wines available. This includes The Melting Pot, Hard Rock Café, Vista Grill at Park Vista, and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

A portion of the proceeds of ticket sales will go to the Arrowmont School of the Arts and Crafts and the Gatlinburg Hospitality Association Scholarship Fund. The Arrowmont School was founded in 1912. It is located across from Ripley’s Aquarium, and it is highly recognized for being one of the top visual arts institutions.