There is nothing like spring in the Smoky Mountains! In addition to the delightful weather, blooming wildflowers, and other natural delights, the spring season ushers in a variety of special events in the Smokies that celebrate this wonderful time of year! If you love the great outdoors and have been waiting all winter to get back outside, there is no better time than now to plan your vacation! Here are 4 popular Smoky Mountain spring events that you won’t want to miss:
1. Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival
Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival celebrates the splendors of spring with over 500,000 vibrant flowers blooming throughout the famous theme park! You’ll also find towering sculptures made of living plants, taking the form of Smoky Mountain critters like mischievous bears, a playful peacock, a busy beekeeper and even Dolly Parton’'s mother carefully stitching her iconic Coat of Many Colors! As if that doesn’t sound good enough, the festival includes lively entertainment, mouthwatering food with international flair, and even an Umbrella Sky that transforms the sky into a rainbow-hued wonderland of color!
2. Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
Another one of the popular Smoky Mountain spring events that you won’t want to miss is the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage! This 4-day annual event features professional guided walks, exhibits, and other exciting opportunities to learn about Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Some of the many programs on the schedule include photographic tours, natural history walks, art classes, and indoor seminars. These provide attendees the chance to learn about wildflowers, fungi, medicinal plants, insects, wildlife, art and photography, journaling, and much more! You’ll want to sign up as soon as possible to join one of these excellent programs!
Related: “4 Best Wildflower Hikes in the Smoky Mountains”
3. Pigeon Forge Rod Run
Spring is car show season in the Smoky Mountains, and the “big daddy” of the events is the Pigeon Forge Rod Run! As the area’s largest automotive gathering, this event attracts enthusiasts from all over to enjoy a massive swap meet with hundreds of show cars, award presentations, and lots of other great activities! This is a family-friendly event and you’ll find plenty of free parking at the show’s location, the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge. Some of the other popular spring car shows in the Smokies include the Spring Corvette Expo, Ponies in the Smokies, and Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge.
4. Gatlinburg Springfest
Gatlinburg Springfest is a two-month celebration of the season as Gatlinburg businesses add a bit of their own unique flair to the natural beauty of spring in the Smokies! The participating businesses engage in a friendly competition to win the title of “Best Spring Decorations”, and anyone visiting Gatlinburg gets to be an official judge of the contest! As you stroll throughout town, simply keep an eye out for all of the festive decorations and cast your vote for your favorite Springfest decoration!
These are just a few of the exciting Smoky Mountain spring events going on, so don’t miss out on this wonderful time of year! Learn more about our campground in the Smokies today to plan your spring camping adventure. We look forward to seeing you soon!
