PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (September 2009)—Summer is winding down and autumn isn’t quite here, but this Great Smoky Mountains visitor city appeals to diverse groups of visitors during this in-between time.
“In many ways, Labor Day is just a date on the calendar. Summer doesn’t seem over,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, noting that school schedules change the mix of visitors.
“Flexible travelers often target weekdays because they know that families have their children in school, while families are more likely to target weekends. That appeals to both groups,” he said.
Pigeon Forge’s attractions don’t miss a beat during this transition time between seasons.
+ The Dollywood theme park modifies its summer schedule only slightly as fall approaches (the full calendar is at www.Dollywood.com) , and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park has its last weekend of watery fun Sept. 5-7.
+ The city’s dozen theaters continue daily shows featuring many styles of music, comedy, magic and other entertainment. The newest show in town, The Temptations Revue, celebrates the music of one of Motown’s most popular groups.
+ The city’s famous attractions along the Parkway—miniature golf, go-carts, thrill rides—continue daily operation.
One sign that fall is on the way is the autumn decorations that businesses start building in early September. Their displays of cornstalks, scarecrows, sunflowers, gourds and pumpkins are for the Sept. 19 start of the city’s 13th annual Harvestfest.
As summer blends into autumn, these are among the dates on the Pigeon Forge calendar of events:
+ Sept. 19-Oct. 31—Harvestfest (citywide).
+ Oct. 2-31—Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Celebration, which complements the theme park’s regular operation with scores of free gospel concerts and an array of traditional and contemporary craftsmen.
+ Oct. 1-30—Rotary Club Crafts Festival at Patriot Park, which attracts dozens of the region’s best craftsmen and artists
Package and other visitor information is available at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.
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