“We’ve been coming since 2006 and we truly love each trip,” Terry said.

The Maucks are a retired married couple who say they love the various dinner shows that Pigeon Forge has to offer.

“We recently went to the Lumberjack Feud and it was a thrill,” Terry said. “I’ve never seen people with the unique talent that those young people had.”

“Of course we always like Dixie Stampede. Southern food has always tasted great to me. And this week we’d like to try the Hatfield & McCoy show.”

Pigeon Forge has a variety of shows, most of which put on two showings each day. Many of them also include a great meal for dinner with the performance.

Speaking of dinner, I also asked the Maucks where they had eaten during their stay.

“The Old Mill Restaurant was incredible for a breakfast meal,” Terry said. “We also love Calhoun’s and Tony Roma’s.”

Food and entertainment are definitely a couple trademarks of Pigeon Forge. If you haven’t experienced it yet, we recommend you do soon. But be careful…it might turn into eight year stretch of annual trips just like it did for the Maucks!

We received plenty of rain here in Pigeon Forge this spring and there’s been even more rainfall accumulation at higher elevations up in the mountains. This is a very good sign for wildflower enthusiasts who plan on visiting the area in the coming weeks.

Last Friday I took a trip up to the National Park to see which wildflowers had begun to bloom. It was a rainy day, but I headed up to the Porter’s Creek Trail in the Greenbrier area of the Park. Porter’s Creek is famous for its wildflowers, specifically the Fringed Phacelia which blankets the ground during its peak bloom.

The first flowers that caught my eye were the Purple Dwarf Irises which grow in large clumps. These made for some great photos, especially with the rain drops on the petals.

There were a lot of White Trilliums some were in full bloom but most still had a week or two to go before they peaked. The same goes for the little white Squirrel Corn and Dutchman’s Breeches. The Mayapples, large umbrella like plants, were plentiful and a few of them had blooms as well.

The tall skinny Bishop’s Cap seemed to be everywhere but there were no signs of their cousin, the Foamflower, yet.

The highlights of the day were finding a couple blooming Showy Orchis and, of course, the Fringed Phacelia. The Phacelia is still at least two weeks from its peak.

Overall, the wildflower report was very promising. The coming weeks should provide a spectacular display of flowers, not only on Porters Creek but all over Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

If you’re planning on coming to Pigeon Forge over the next few weeks I would strongly recommend taking a short trip up to the mountains to check out these wildflowers. They provide some of the most beautiful natural sights in the world. We’re so lucky to be located in such a beautiful area!

To see more pictures visit our Smoky Mountains board on Pinterest.

Here in Pigeon Forge we’re gearing up for one of the most fun events of the year: The 28^th Annual Dolly’s Homecoming Parade!

This annual parade will be held Friday, May 10 at 6:00 P.M. Leading the parade will be the grand marshal herself Dolly Parton.

This year’s parade will consist of all sorts of beautifully decorated floats, marching bands, horses, a submarine, and lots of other fun things. Parton’s creative staff always keeps the theme of her float under wraps until parade day, but it often reflects something new at Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dixie Stampede.

The parade route will start at traffic light #6 in Pigeon Forge and continue North on the Parkway all the way to traffic light #3.

Be sure to get there early to grab a good spot because over 50,000 visitors are expected to line the Parkway to watch the parade. We expect some warm spring weather and the Smoky Mountains will serve as a beautiful backdrop for the event.

The event will coincide with the season opening of Dollywood’s Splash Country on Saturday, May 11. If you get a chance go visit, and make sure to try out the new water coaster RiverRush!

“I’ve got two boys and a girl; ages 6, 10, and almost 12,” said Treadwell.

Treadwell and her husband Danny have been to Pigeon Forge several times over the years and love bringing the whole family every couple of years.

“I think the kids like it because there’s always new things to kind of explore or go and ride,” said Amy. “Each time we come there are new shows or buildings and they get really excited.”

When asked which attractions they loved to visit Amy responded that Dollywood took the cake but they really liked WonderWorks and the new Hollywood Wax Museum. Both located just off the Parkway almost as soon as you enter Pigeon Forge.

“We hadn’t been to either one so that was definitely an experience. WonderWorks was really fun for them (the children) but there was some cool stuff in there for dad and I also.”

Amy was taking a short break away from the family doing some shopping at The Incredible Christmas Place when I spoke to her. She said they just came in on Sunday and had a very busy week scheduled.

“We went to a movie last night and saw The Tomb pyramid explorer place so we definitely will check that out before we leave too.”

If you’re a guest visiting Pigeon Forge this weekend we hope you are also a car-fanatic. This is one of the biggest car shows of the year and it’s also the first of the season so there will be thousands of visitors jumping at their first opportunity to come and participate.

MCS Promotions will be hosting the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run each day this weekend at the Renaissance Convention Center (formerly the Grand Resort). Spectator hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is $10 for adults while children 12 and under are admitted to the shows for free.

Jimmy Lofton from Nashville has been coming to the Spring Rod Run for the past 10 years.

“It’s one of the best gatherings that you’ll find anywhere,” Lofton said. “We love seeing the different cars and just visiting with all the people. Hopefully we’ll have good weather and can enjoy walking around.”

You’ll find all types of cars from perfected condition vintage to sleek modern speedsters along the Parkway. Many of the owners like to sit by the vehicles in lawn chairs allowing visitors or other car show patrons to ask questions about the condition of the vehicle, the process of fixing it up or other unique stories about the car’s past.

“That’s my favorite thing to do- is just to learn about all the work that these guys put in to their vehicles and to tell them about mine. We just swap tales,” Eric Martin from Birmingham said.

Be sure to check out the big swap meet as part of the shows. Vendor booths will set up selling products and providing demonstrations. Visitors participating in the Rod Run often get the best answers to their automotive questions at these booths.

Other visitors to Pigeon Forge, Harve and Margie Claxton, say they always come early in order to go to a few attractions before the rod run weekend starts.

“We’re excited about it though,” Margie said. “The vehicles are always gorgeous. We’ll get our action out of the way now and then relax by the sidewalk when it starts on Friday.”

If you haven’t made plans to attend the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run yet go ahead and do so soon. Traffic for this weekend does tend to be a little congested with all the people in town so plan accordingly. For people who love cars and great guest venues there’s no better place than Pigeon Forge this weekend!

Be sure to check out other upcoming Pigeon Forge events!

By now almost everyone has heard about the new water coaster, RiverRush, opening at Dollywood’s Splash Country.

RiverRush, the first and only water coaster in the state of Tennessee, is four stories tall and features incredibly sharp turns, steep drops and cool dark tunnels. Essentially, it combines the best of both roller coasters and water slides.

We’re getting closer and closer to the grand opening on Mother’s Day weekend in May as officials say the ride is 95% complete.

Riders will sit in a four-person toboggan-style raft conveyed by linear induction motors up a 237-foot incline to the peak of the ride. This is where the action starts: a thrilling 25-foot drop, continuing through 1,175 feet of rapids, drops, 45-degree drop through tunnels with the whole thing lasting about one minute and 20 seconds.

Dolly Parton herself commented on the revolutionary ride saying, “At Dollywood, we made history with Wild Eagle, the country’s first wing coaster, so I thought, why not do it again at Dollywood’s Splash Country with my new RiverRush water coaster. You know me. I love making a big splash, and RiverRush is all that and a whole lot more!”

Splash Country, which will open for the season on May 11, was recently named America’s Must-See Waterpark by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions. In addition to RiverRush the park also features more than 23 other water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and multiple other pools and play areas.

Go here for more information on the RiverRush, where there’s a live countdown until the ride’s grand opening.

We’re starting a new feature here at MyPigeonForge.com called Tourist Tuesday. Each Tuesday we will talk to tourists who are visiting Pigeon Forge to get a little bit of insight about what they are planning on doing during their stay or how their vacation has gone so far.

This week’s tourists are Phil and Regina Broughton and their 12-year-old son Nick who are visiting from Middlesboro, Kentucky. The Broughtons said they came to Pigeon Forge because it was Nick’s spring break from school. Nick said he wanted to spend his spring break in Pigeon Forge because it has so many cool and fun things to do.

“We usually visit in the summer, but he really wanted to come here for his break so he could ride and play all week,” Regina said. “Dollywood just opened back up for the season so we’ll definitely go there. We’ve never been for their festival of nations before so that should be really neat.”

The Broughtons have been to Pigeon Forge a few times so we asked them what some of their favorite things to do and see while they were here and also if they were excited about any of the new attractions in the city.

“Well, we love the Zorb. It’s probably his (Nick’s) favorite thing to ride other than the coasters at Dollywood,” Phil said. “We saw that huge Ferris wheel downtown too. That was definitely a new sight. It will be awesome whenever it starts up.”

Phil was referring to the new 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel which will open with The Island in Pigeon Forge sometime late this spring or early summer.

“I guess we’ll have to plan another visit for this summer again,” Regina said. “There’s just too much to see and do in one trip.”

You won’t find many cities that are more patriotic than Pigeon Forge. That fact will certainly be evident during the Welcome Home from Vietnam celebration which will be held April 15-17.

This event is an opportunity to honor Vietnam Veterans and show them thanks for their service. There will be multiple events during this celebration including a parade for the veterans right on the Parkway!

The first night, Monday, April 15, will be sponsored by Dolly Parton and will consist of a special dinner show “Salute to Vietnam Veterans” at the Dixie Stampede. The Voice of Armed Forces Radio and Good Morning Vietnam’s Adrian Cronauer will be in attendance.

On Tuesday morning veterans can get together and reconnect with one another at the Reunion Hall. The afternoon will consist of the main event of the week, the “Welcome Home” Parade.

The parade, sponsored by the City of Pigeon Forge and the Tennessee National Guard, will feature all sorts of cool vehicles and groups in addition to the marching/riding Vietnam Veterans.

Some of the participants include: The United States Marine Corps Band from Quantico, Comedy Barn’s patriotic float, Dixie Stampede Horses and Riders, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine float, the Patriot Guard/ Tennessee Helping Hearts motorcycle riders, the Smoky Mountain Military Vehicle Club, WIVK Radio Personality Gunner and WIVK the Frog, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapters 203, 596, and 1073, the U.S Navy Seabee Veterans of America X1, and many, many more.

The parade is expected to be quite a spectacle complete with confetti cannons to shoot colored paper and bands playing loudly to welcome these Vietnam Veteran heroes.

Vietnam Veterans will be able to participate in these events free in addition to receiving free dinner show tickets to Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, Smith Family Dinner Theater, Smoky Mountain Opry, or the Comedy Barn courtesy of Fee Hedrick Entertainment Group. Also, on Wednesday the Titanic Museum will honor veterans by allowing them fee access to the museum and military discounts for their spouse.

For more information on this fun and patriotic event go to welcomehomevietnam.com. Come and help us welcome these heroes and give them the appreciation they deserve!

Fishing has become one of the favorite activities of those who visit Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains, and the area’s biggest fishing event of the year is just around the corner!

Saturday, April 6 marks the beginning of the prestigious Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament. This will be the 14th annual tournament held each spring here in Sevier County.

This two day tournament (Saturday & Sunday) is open to tourists and locals, adults and children. More than 20 miles of streams will be stocked with 10,000 trout prior to the event. Participants can register for the tournament by paying $25 per day or $40 for the whole weekend.

More than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. These include $500 for the largest trout, $500 for the smallest trout, gift certificates, trophies, fishing equipment, hotel & motel accommodations, and passes to local attractions.

Tournament hours are 30 minutes before sunrise and lasting until 4 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Weigh-in for the caught fish will be held at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge at the end of each day where the prizes will be awarded.

The Little Pigeon River, part of the namesake of Pigeon Forge, is one of the most beautiful places to fish in the world and there’s no better time to try it out than during this tournament. For those interested in competing, an online registration form can be filled out here.  You can also register in person at Rocky Top Outfitters in Pigeon Forge.

April brings one of the most interesting and informative events all year at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge as authors from all over the world gather to share their love of the stories of the ancient ship.

Beginning Monday April 1^st and running through Sunday, April 7^th authors of historical books and novels on the subject of the Titanic will be on hand at the Titanic Museum. Guests will have the incredible opportunity to meet and hear stories from the authors.

Books will be available for purchase throughout the week and guests can choose to have the authors autograph them for a keepsake.

Authors participating in this unforgettable unique event are: Lee W. Merideth, Bruce M. Caplan, Ken Rossignol, Tammy S. Knox, Daniel Allen Butler, Yvonne Lehman, Kristen Iversen, Allan Wolf, Luke Copas, June Hall McCash and Julie Hedgepeth Williams.

This is the first annual Authors Week, so all are encouraged to come out and help start a special tradition. Guests can receive special discounts by coming to the museum during this week, which will maintain normal museum hours: 9 am to 8 pm daily. To receive more information and specials you can text TITANIC to 62447. Come on out and plan on attending Author Week at the Titanic Museum during your stay with us in Pigeon Forge.