June 8th Marks The Start of Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales

Gatlinburg's Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales™ the city’s newest summer-long street performance event featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying time periods as far back as 1800, will begin in downtown Gatlinburg on June 8.

The 84-day event will run through September 3. A collection of personalities and performers arrive nightly at 5:30 p.m. via horse-drawn wagon in the center of town. Visitors witness a magical transformation of sidewalk to stage as the characters disperse along the downtown Parkway for an evening of entertainment and storytelling until 10:00 p.m.

Fifteen to 20 nightly acts involve the audience as they each perform in simultaneous 15-minute productions throughout the evening.

"We’ve used one of Gatlinburg’s greatest assets - the walkability of the community – to create an interactive special event that everyone in the family can enjoy,” said David Perella, executive director of the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism. “Multiple mini-performances come together to create a family-oriented entertainment experience that you won’t find anywhere else.”

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Last of the Breed Concert - Smokies Stadium August 21, 2007

Smokies Stadium in Sevierville will be host to the "Last of the Breed Concert" featuring Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price on Tuesday, August 21.

Reserved and General Admission tickets for the concert will go on-sale at 9:00AM on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Stadium, all “Tickets Unlimited” outlet locations, by phone at 1-877-995-9961, locally at (865) 656-4444, or via the Internet at www.concertsinthesmokies.com.

Tickets for “Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price” presented by Smokies Stadium, will be $49.00 each plus service charges for reserved seats on the field and $40.00 plus service charges for reserved seats in the seating bowl (regular baseball seats). In addition, General Admission tickets will be available on the field behind the reserved seating areas (festival seating with no chairs) for $31.00 plus service charges. The stage will be set behind second base on the grass with on field-reserved seating located between the pitcher’s mound and the stage.

For the full Merle Haggard story, click here: FULL STORY

June 2007 - Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Opens In Gatlinburg

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. will open its newest location in Gatlinburg at 900 Parkway on June 16th!

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. models itself after the 1994 hit movie "Forrest Gump." The restaurant features the down-home décor reminiscent of the movie’s setting. Film memorabilia and still photos decorate the walls, along with reproductions of script pages, storyboards and costumes, to create a fun family atmosphere. Scrawled "Gumpisms" grace the varnished tabletops inside and guests can try on the plaster casts of Forrest’s running shoes at the famed bus bench in front of the restaurant.

“We know that Gatlinburg residents and visitors will enjoy the fun and casual tone of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. just the way Forrest and his ‘best good friend’ Bubba would have,” said Scott Barnett, president and CEO of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. “Our location on Parkway near the Gatlinburg Convention Center makes us very easy to find. We are thrilled to be here.”

The restaurant, which combines quality seafood in a casual family atmosphere, opens on Saturday, June 16 with a benefit for Anna Porter Public Library in Gatlinburg. The Anna Porter Public Library Board of Trustees now has the funds for construction and is now focusing its fundraising efforts on the furnishing of the new state-of-the-art library for the Gatlinburg community. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is proud to help. Half of all sales on June 16 will be donated to the library board in hope that their goals are soon realized.

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