April 17, 2008 - Gatlinburg's 7th Annual Ribfest & Wings

Bring your appetite to Gatlinburg's Ribfest and Wings on April 17, where you'll be tantalized by local vendors serving up mouthwatering barbecue set to the wonderful sounds of live music. Come hungry and leave happy!

An armband for Ribfest & Wings may be purchased for $12 that allows as long as they last sampling, or shell out a “buck for a bone or two wings.”

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Gatlinburg Lodging & Hotel Association’s educational scholarship fund.

The 7th Annual Ribfest & Wings is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Star 102.1, Food City, AT&T, Food City, Twin Islands Motel and Hard Rock Café.

For more information about Ribfest & Wings and other Springfest events, visit http://www.gatlinburg.com/ or call 865-436-4178 for mountains of information.

Gatlinburg celebrates wildflowers with 58th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage

As spring begins to sparkle throughout the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg blossoms into the center of all things botanical during the National Park’s Great Smoky Mountains annual Wildflower Pilgrimage and National Park Experience.

From April 23-27, everyone from the serious botanist to the weekend gardener will have access to some of the nation’s leading botanical experts as well as Appalachian wildlife authorities. Registration, required, is now open.

The Wildflower Pilgrimage offers more than 150 programs including an array of instructional walks and guided hiking tours tailored to meet individual walking ability, along with demonstrations and guest lecturers. Tours showcase the abundant varieties of wildflowers, plants, ferns, mosses, trees and shrubs, as well as birds, bears, boars, bats, salamanders and insects, all native to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Seminar classes include photography workshops and sessions by leading experts such as Carol Liguori Wolfe, a renowned ecologist, science writer and photographer, and Will Blozan, president of the Eastern Native Tree Society. Other classes include a study of herb lore of the Appalachian Mountains and an armchair tour of Cades Cove. Most educational sessions take place in the W.L. Mills Conference Center in downtown Gatlinburg.

In addition to art and craft exhibits, the 2008 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage juried art competition highlights the beauty of the botanicals of the Smokies and the talent of the artists who focus on the flowering plants.

Educational programs and entertainment in the evenings will round out the week’s events in Gatlinburg. For more and to download a registration brochure and program schedule, visit www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org. Registration is required.

Article Source: http://www.citizen-times.com/ Author: Paul Clark at 828-232-5854, via e-mail at mailto:pclark@ashevill.gannett.com?subject=Reader%20Feedback

Get lost in new Gatlinburg Mirror Maze

Gatlinburg's newest attraction has people seeing double, even triple and going weak in the knees! Ripley's Mirror Maze and Candy Factory has more than a hundred mirrors and flavors of candy.

There is only one way in the maze, and one way out. Guests who navigate through the reflection successfully can reward themselves with a sweet treat.

You can watch Live at Five's Beth Haynes try to feel her way out of the Mirror Maze by clicking on the video link below.

Ripley's Mirror Maze and Candy Factory is located at 623 Parkway in Gatlinburg. If you would like more information you call (865) 436-5096.

• Click here for a video
• Original Article - WIBR TV
• KNOX News Article - Click Here