Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
5 Ways To Spend Your Labor Day Weekend In The Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on September 1, 2015
Labor Day weekend always marks the unofficial end of summer, but that doesn't mean you can't give that beloved season a proper send-off. This weekend in the Smokies, you'll find lots of different ways to wrap up summer with a bang and create memories that will hold you over until your next trip back to town. From special events to fun attractions to retail extravaganzas, we at Smoky Mountain Ziplines have narrowed all the possibilities down to five suggestions for ways to make your Labor Day weekend count.
1. Do some ziplining
Of course, we think that's a great idea! Our nine-line canopy tour offers a lot of good things in one fun-filled package, including natural scenic beauty, fresh air, warm weather and the thrill of speeding through the air from tree to tree. It's a great way to spend a pleasant morning or afternoon in the Smokies, whether it's just the two of you or you're bringing the whole family out to experience some excitement. Plus we provide everything you'll need for the day – safety gear, instruction and transportation up the mountain to the beginning of the course.
2. Get crafty
After all that ziplining, Gatlinburg, Tennessee would make a good follow-up destination. That's where you'll find the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, located just a few miles north of downtown. The community consists of more than 100 craft studios, galleries and shops, all located along an 8-mile loop bounded primarily of Glades Rd. and Buckhorn Rd. The array of arts and crafts available is incredible and includes many time-honored media that are intertwined with Smoky Mountains history and culture, including pottery, broom making, basket weaving, jewelry making, glass work, metal work and woodwork as well as traditional art forms like photography, painting and sculpture. The cool part is that at many of these studios, you can stop and meet the artists and watch them at work as they practice their craft.
3. Say goodbye to Dollywood (Splash Country)
No, the theme park will still be going strong through the end of the year, but this weekend will mark the last hurrah for Dollywood's Splash Country for the 2015 season. The park will be open this Saturday through Monday only, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. After that, you'll have to wait until next spring to get your splash on. Of course, you can still have fun at the original Dollywood theme park this weekend as well. They've got all their usual rides, shows, attractions, eateries and shops, and on September 5, you can catch the park's new summertime festival, Rock the Smokies. It's a Christian music festival featuring the bands Third Day and For King & Country playing at Dollywood Celebrity Theatre, while other Christian-music artists will be performing for the general public throughout the park.
4. Shop 'til you drop
Take advantage of your time in the Smokies by tracking down all the bargains to be had at the area's many outlet malls. Destinations like the Tanger Outlet Center in Sevierville and the Pigeon Forge Outlet Mall (just to name two of the many outlet centers in the area) collectively have hundreds of stores offering substantial discounts on name-brand merchandise ranging from clothing and shoes to electronics and power tools. You can get an early jump on your Christmas shopping by visiting these malls, which are all located within just a few miles of each other along the Parkway in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Speaking of shopping, you can also stock up on fresh vegetables and other fresh-from-the-farm goodies by visiting either the Gatlinburg Farmer's Market at 849 Glades Rd. (8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays) or the Sevierville Commons Farmers' market in downtown Sevierville (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m Fridays).
5. Meet me at the fair
Usher in late summer and early fall at the Sevier County Fair, September 7 through 12. This classic county fair features all sorts of agricultural and cooking competitions, a beauty pageant, a midway, carnival rides and tons of games, contests and live music performances. It takes place at the Sevier County Fairgrounds in Sevierville.
