Top Events Coming in 2025

Top events of 2025

Looking for the best vacation for 2025? The Great Smoky Mountains are calling, and we have all the top events for the new year – from car shows to music festivals, a fishing tournament and Dollywood’s adventures and opening day.

Let the music Take Control - Music Festivals

The Music of East Tennessee has a rich history and played a major role in the development of modern country and bluegrass music. There’s always music in the air here. Check out these 2025 events.

Smoky Mountain Music Festival is April 4-25. The festival, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in is a competition for music groups from elementary, middle, and high school. 

Dollywood opens to the public Saturday, March 15, with passholder preview day on March 14 and the park’s I will Always Love You Music Festival. The festival celebrates the music of the Smokies and the art of songwriting throughout the park with “through larger-than-life performances, productions and more.”

The festival runs through April 13.

Parades

Music in the Mountains Spring Parade in Pigeon Forge is April 24, and it is not to be missed.

The annual parade is another celebration of the rich musical heritage of the Smoky Mountains. Previously known as the Dolly Parade or Dolly’s Homecoming Parade, it highlights the Pigeon Forge musical theaters, along with their singers, dancers and actors from all over the city that entertain visitors every night.

The parade also features the country and bluegrass that has roots in East Tennessee’s Appalachian folk music. Local high school marching bands, local celebrities, floats, majorettes, horses and more are included as they travel along Pigeon Forge Parkway near traffic light #6 and head north towards Sevierville to traffic light #3.

Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival is July 4 at Patriot Park, and another musical celebration, along with food and fireworks.

Are you a songwriter?

Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival Workshop. Is Feb. 28-March 2.

Little House Songwriting Workshop is hosting a three-day songwriting workshop at The Historic Gatlinburg Inn, 755 Parkway, Gatlinburg.

This three-day, large-group workshop is geared to songwriters of all experience levels – “from the newbie just learning the process of songwriting to the veterans who are still working to improve their skills.”

The event will focus on key factors in songwriting, song critiques, and co-writing songs! In addition to the workshop, there will be a concert featuring Jerry Salley, Donna Ulisse, and Rick Stanley.

The enrollment fee for the songwriting workshop is $299 per student for the three-day experience.

Car Shows

Vroom Vroom – Car Fun!

Car shows are more fun in the Smokies! Here are some for 2025.

Chevys In the Smokies is March 13-15.

Formerly separate events known as Chevelles In The Smokies and the Spring Corvette Expo, Chevy’s in the Smokies is an annual car show and swap meet celebrating Camaros, Chevelles, C10s, and all types of Chevrolet vehicles.

This event is presented by H-J Promotions and is held at the LeConte Center. Events include a swap meet, sales corral, park ‘n show, awards show, and a corvette cruise on the Tail of The Dragon, a twisting mountain road with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper travel. It is considered “the destination” for thousands of motorcycle and sports car fans throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

Ponies In the Smokies is March 24-29 and features Mustangs and other “beloved models.”

Read all about the history of the Ford Mustang here.

Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run is April 10-12 at LeConte Center and is always a huge draw on beautiful spring days.

The event is the area’s largest automotive gathering. It features a massive swap meet with hundreds of show cars, a car corral, top 25 awards, ultimate 5 awards, a cash giveaway of $8,000, and so much more.

Grand National F-100 Ford Show is May 15-17 also at the LeConte Center. Showcasing one of America’s favorite pick-up trucks, the show is touted as “the ultimate car cruise through the Smokies from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg.”

Show off your F-100 and celebrate the truck that was produced from 1948 to 1983, and shop for parts.

A Different Kind of Fun

Up, Up and Away

Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival is Aug. 16 in Townsend, TN. The skies will be filled with the beautiful colorful balloons. Watch them take the skies and enjoy live music and local food.

Here Fishy Fishy –

Compete and test your skills June 7-8 at the seventh annual Smallmouth King Bass Fishing Tournament in Sevierville, TN.

Anglers will test their skills on Sevierville’s world-class bass waters in the Little Pigeon River and its tributaries. Anglers are allowed to fish from the shore, wading, or from a kayak.

The event it a smallmouth-bass-only, catch-photograph-release event as Sevierville’s waters will be teeming with thousands of migrating bass on their spring runs.

Winners will be determined by their two-day total length of smallmouth bass greater than 12 inches.

On your way to the tournament, stop at the largest Buc-ee’s in the U.S. in nearby Kodak and is a destination by itself.

At 74,000 square feet, this Buc-ee’s has 120 fueling stations. Located at the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains along Exit 407. Don’t forget the brisket sandwich!

Tennessee Winter Beer Fest is Feb. 22 at Company Distilling in Townsend, TN, a quaint mountain town with lots to offer. The event is a fundraiser for New Hope Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center, whose mission is to “restore hope to abused or traumatized children and their families in Blount County.”

Festivals of Dollywood

In addition to the Dollywood I will Always Love You Music Festival, the famous theme park has other festivals throughout the year, including the Flower & Food Festival April 18 to June 8.

The park bursts to life in incredible colors with half-a-million blooms. The festival celebrates the beautiful blossoms and fresh flavors of the season with larger-than-life Mosaicultures, unique foods, and stage shows. Dollywood’s Umbrella Sky returns in all its glory and the park is filled with inspiring sounds of springtime and live music.

Another Dollywood event is its Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration June 14 to Aug. 3.

“Discover Summer's vibrant hues throughout the park, stretching high as the Kite Sky and wrapping through the trees.” Enjoy a refreshing splash in the sprinklers and interactive fountains and foam. Enjoy the popular Gazillion Bubble Show. Enjoy an adrenaline rush at Big Bear Mountain, or dance and groove through Wildwood Grove the nighttime dance party. End your evening fireworks and drone show, all while music fills the air just about at every turn.

Ready to book a cabin and get started on your romantic getaway?

Find a cabin near all the fun in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, whether you are looking for something for you and your sweetie, the whole family or maybe just your best friends, American Patriot Getaways has a cabin for you.

Be sure you check out all our amazing featured deals.

Let us help plan your trip to the Smokies with these useful vacation guides! Insider tips to help you plan the perfect Smoky Mountain vacation.

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