About the Valley
Welcome to the August 2008 issue of About the Valley. School is back in session here in East Tennessee and fall is just around the corner. September is a great month to visit the Great Smoky Mountains and the area towns. There are lots of family activities.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL
Make plans to visit the 11th Annual Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival beginning in September in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville. There is a huge variety of events for the whole family.
Pigeon Forge
September 3-7 Pigeon Forge will host the 2008 Shades of the Past XXVI car show at Smoky River Ranch. Come and enjoy the parade of rods, customs, and classic cars and the people sitting in lawn chairs up and down the strip. For more information, contact Shades of the Past Rod Run Chairman, Dan Draper, 3343 Big Springs Road, Maryville, TN 37801-8908. FAX (865) 995-9097.
September 11-14 is the Fall Grand Rod Run at the Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center. This is a huge car show this is mostly hot rods. Have fun walking the Parkway, cruising the strip, and checking out the hot rods. For more information, CALL 1-800-251-4444 or visit http://www.etmotorgear.com for registration details.
September 5-28 is Dollywood's Barbeque & Bluegrass celebration. You won't want to miss 3 weeks of delicious barbeque plus more than 500 FREE bluegrass concerts. Market Square will have the best ribs, barbequed chicken, and pulled pork along with sides of baked beans and coleslaw.
In addition to delicious food, there is a magnificient lineup of bluegrass bands for your entertainment. The list includes Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes and many, many more. For a list of the Bluegrass Performers, visit http://www.dollywood.com/shows/show_detail.aspx?AttractionID=449. Dollywood is closed on Thursdays.
Sevierville
September 18-20 is the 9th Annual Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival. This event has a great lineup of performers. Camping hook-ups are available. For more information, call 1-888-377-9888 or 865-397-7942 or visit http://www.dumplinvalleybluegrass.com/html/dumplin_valley.html. You will also enjoy the Dumplin Valley blog at http://dumplinvalleybluegrass.blogspot.com/.
Gatlinburg
September 1-30 enjoy old-fashioned hay rides in Downtown Gatlinburg. Departure is from traffic light #6 at Mountain Mall from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, leaving approximately every 45 minutes. Call 865-436-3897 for information.
September 18 is the 11th Annual Taste of Autumn at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Sample signature dishes from some of the area's finest restaurants, enjoy live jazz entertainment, plus a live auction and cash bar. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Sevier County. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Call 1-800-568-4748 for more details.
Townsend
September 26-27 is the Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers' Day, featuring bluegrass music, arts and crafts booths, and an antique tractor show. Call the Townsend Visitors Center at 865-448-6134 or 1-800-525-6834.
Simple Praline Cookies
24 graham cracker squares
1 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line the bottom of a baking pan with graham cracker squares; set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped pecans. Pour syrup over graham crackers.
Bake for 10 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.
Makes 36 cookies.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS, PLEASE CONSIDER STAYING AT PINE CONE LODGE. THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF A CHESTNUT RIDGE CABIN MAKE YOUR VACATION MORE FUN! CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE YOUR DATES EARLY -- MANY RESERVATIONS ARE MADE WEEKS AHEAD.
If you are interested in owning a vacation home or rental home in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, we are offering Pine Cone Lodge for sale.
Thanks for subscribing to About the Valley. We look forward to bringing you more news next month. As always, if you have any questions or comments or want to share your favorite place to visit in the Smoky Mountains, e-mail us at .
Chestnut Ridge Cabins
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