Entertainment

Dolly Parton was in Pigeon Forge on Friday to celebrate the grand opening of her new Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show. Fans lined up outside the theater, which formerly housed the Lumberjack Adventure Dinner Show, to catch a glimpse of Dolly getting off her tour bus and entering the new home of her Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show ...

Anakeesta is partnering with locally-based CLIMB Works to build the Dueling Ziplines and Tree Top Walk as well as assist with overall operations and management of the new attraction, and has hired Beanstalk Builders from Morgantown, N.C. to create a whimsical treehouse-themed children’s playground. Anakeesta owners, Bob and Karen Bentz, traveled to several countries researching different mountain attractions they wanted ...

Sevierville Commons Arts Council and Sevierville Commons Association have been awarded a $50,000 Tennessee Main Street Entrepreneur Grant. Sevierville was one of six communities across the state to receive funding from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development through the Rural Economic Opportunity Act. Grant funding will be used to help secure and renovate a building at 129 Bruce ...

Anna Porter Public Library is launching a new series of programs called Lincoln Center Local with a free screening of a performance by Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra. The library will be streaming pre-recorded performances filmed at Lincoln Center onto a new large screen, digital projector with bluetooth speakers. Lincoln Center Local: Free Screenings was created by Lincoln ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the dates for synchronous firefly viewing in Elkmont. Shuttle service to the viewing area will be provided on Tuesday, May 30 through Tuesday, June 6, 2017. All visitors wishing to view the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont must have a parking pass distributed through the lottery system at www.recreation.gov. Every year in late ...

The Pigeon Forge attraction Alcatraz East will host a new temporary exhibit focused on illegal wildlife trafficking. When a Minnesota-based dentist paid $54,000 to trophy hunt in Zimbabwe in 2015 with a professional guide, he unknowingly was about to kill the beloved and iconic lion – Cecil. The images from that hunt went viral and although the dentist’s actions were ...

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is celebrating the birth of its 3rd and 4th African Black-Footed Baby Penguin on World Penguin Day, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. “The new baby brother penguins are Benny Hill born on February 17 weighing in at 52 grams and Falkor born on February 21 weighing in at 62 grams. The proud parents are Maggie and ...

The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater in Pigeon Forge donated $100,000 raised during its Christmas Candle Program to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. “Our own little employee family has been greatly helped by the amazing medical care they have received from East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and thousands and thousands of children have been helped by the services of this hospital as well,” ...

Local county days are a perfect time to experience new exhibits and adventures at Ripley’s Attractions in Sevier County. Eight local Ripley’s Tennessee Attractions are offering Anderson, Blount, Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox & Sevier County Days discount admission Friday, April 28 through May 4, 2017. Residents and those who work in a listed county may visit any of the attractions ...

Celebrating its 20th year, Country Tonite is having area appreciation days for fifteen east Tennessee counties. The popular theater invites residents to enjoy the show April 15–21, 2017 for just $7.50 per ticket. Kids 12 & under are Free. Show times are 8 p.m. each night and additional 3 p.m. show on Tuesday This Country Tonite area appreciation special is ...