Gatlinburg's Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales |
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June 13 - August 31, 2008: Picture this… it’s early evening in the Smokies. You are strolling along the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg and see a gathering of people just ahead. As you draw closer, you begin to hear the distinctive sounds of a dulcimer. Curious, you stop to watch and listen. A dulcimer player gracefully strums an upbeat mountain melody as those around him clap rhythmically in time. After listening for a few minutes, you continue on your evening Parkway stroll and soon come upon yet another gathering. Here you find a group of people performing old fashioned clogging. The audience is laughing as a few onlookers who undertake an impromptu dance performance along with them soon learn just how difficult the steps of authentic Appalachian dance really are.
These are just two of numerous entertainment mini-performances you can experience every evening from June 13 through August 31 as you stroll in downtown Gatlinburg. It is Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales – returning for its third season in 2008, featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying various time periods from the 1800s to today. At 6 p.m. each night, a horse-drawn wagon carries the performers down the Parkway to their designated locations for the evening. Fourteen nightly acts involve the audience as they each perform in simultaneous 15-minute performances along the Parkway throughout the evening.
"The rotating cast of 20 acts including storytellers, musicians and crafters share their stories and skills during the 11-week event,” Special Events Manager George Hawkins said. “Our intent is to take what we feel is one of Gatlinburg’s greatest assets – the walkability of the community – and provide something that would be fun and somewhat different than what most places are doing,” Tourism Director David Perella added.
For more events, go to the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Calendar. Information provided by Gatlinburg Department of Tourism.
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