Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

Spring in Pigeon Forge, TN

By Leave a Comment

If you are wondering what all there is to do during spring in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee, then I have the post for you! Keep reading to see where you should plan to visit on your trip!

Spring in Pigeon Forge

Spring in Pigeon Forge

This time of the year is the perfect time to head outdoors and experience nature! That’s why the Great Smoky Mountains make a great travel destination! From a theme park to a bbq festival, there’s lots to do here!

Dollywood in Spring

There are actually two different festivals happening in spring 2023 at Dollywood, as I detailed in my spring at Dollywood post last week. Depending on when you go, you can experience the I Will Always Love You Celebration or the Flower and Food Festival! Check out my post to learn more about both of these exciting events!

Skyland Ranch

Last year, the first chair lift in Pigeon Forge opened! It’s at a place called Skyland Ranch! The chair lift should provide the perfect view of Pigeon Forge anytime of the year!

Spring Rod Run

Personally, I’ve never experienced this event. However, I know that it’s an extremely popular event. In fact, there’s a spring and a fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run! In 2023, the dates are April 13 -15 and September 14 – 16. So, if you are a car enthusiast, this may be the event for you!

Spring at Anakeesta

Another place I like to highlight for fun in spring in Pigeon Forge is actually in Gatlinburg. Anakeesta is a mountaintop attraction with several different events happening throughout the year. In 2023, you can experience the new nighttime event Astra Lumina! Then, April 14th through May 29th, they will have Blooms and Tunes happening! So, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy! Personally, I enjoy just walking around and taking in all of nature’s beauty! I also love the gnome village!

Music in the Mountains Spring Parade

I’ve also never experienced this event. However, the Music in the Mountains Spring Parade is happening on April 28th at 5 PM on the Pigeon Forge Parkway! I imagine it would be a great way to enjoy spring in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Bloomin’ BBQ Festival

If you happen to be visiting the area on May 19th or 20th, then you are in luck! You can experience the awesome Bloomin’ BBQ Festival! There are several tasty bbq vendors as well as good bluegrass music to hear at this awesome event in Sevierville! I attended this event last year. Unfortunately, it was un-seasonably hot last year and I didn’t get to enjoy the music as much as I would have liked to. However, I absolutely loved the bbq I tried!

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there are so many things to do in spring in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, TN! So, which of these things have you or will you experience?

If you are visiting the area during other seasons, here are my other posts to help you plan:

Spring at Dollywood

By Leave a Comment

Now that it’s mid-March you may be wondering what you can expect during spring at Dollywood. I visited last year around this time, so I thought I would share some highlights of this season at the theme park!

Spring at Dollywood

Spring at Dollywood

In recent years, Dollywood has hosted different festivals depending on when you visit. There’s the classic Dollywood: Flower & Food Festival as well as the newer I Will Always Love You Music Festival. I’ve been lucky enough to visit the park for both festivals and will highlight some of the things at each of them in this post.

I Will Always Love You Music Festival

If you are planning to visit the theme park between mid-March and mid-April, then you can enjoy the newest event at DW: I Will Always Love You Music Festival. This event celebrates Dolly’s hit song! The park will be highlighting song writing as well as Dolly’s style of music in general during this event. In 2025, I wrote a I Will Always Love You Music Festival Guide detailing what fun there is to be had during this celbration.

Since this event celebrates the anniversary of the song being written, it makes sense that there’s so many performances to catch! Plus, the regular entertainment around the park will incorporate some of Dolly’s favorite songs into their performances! Check out the park’s schedule when you are visiting to see which special performances you can catch during this event.

There’s also some special event decorations in the Showstreet area as well as Market Square! You can also find and purchase some special event merchandise! Plus, there’s some special event foods throughout the park to sample! Overall, this is a great addition to the park.

Flower and Food Festival

If you are heading to Dollywood from mid-April to early June, then you can experience the beautiful Flower and Food Festival! This is a great event as there are so many great things to see and eat! I loved walking around and taking pictures of the wonderful Mosaicultures. Plus, don’t miss the wonderful umbrella sky! You can view both of these things as well as some food in my Instagram post below!

When my mom and I visited last year, it was a rainy day. However, it was still nice to walk around the park and take pictures. We really enjoyed getting a sampler pass and trying all different kinds of foods from the festival. You can see even more food in this other Instagram post:

Spring Fun

As you can see, there’s lots to see, hear, and eat when you take a spring at Dollywood visit! So, do you have plans to visit during either of these festivals? If not, I highly recommend visiting during summer at Dollywood! Additionally, Christmas in the park is awesome as is their Great Pumpkin Lumi-Nights!

What to Pack for a Theme Park

By Leave a Comment

I know there are probably loads of other posts out there on what to pack for a theme park visit. However, like most things, I believe these lists to be subjective. I also believe we can all learn something from each other. So, I’m sharing the things I take when I visit one!

What to Pack for a Theme Park

What to Pack for a Theme Park

When thinking about what to pack for a theme park, you have to start with the bag itself. I know lots of people like to take a backpack. However, I prefer a crossbody bag because I can see my bag at all times. That way, I don’t have to worry about someone stealing from my bag. Perhaps I’m too careful, but I know thefts still happen on vacation.

The bag in the picture above is a Disney Vera Bradley Crossbody Bag. I purchased it at a VB Outlet store in Pigeon Forge, TN last year. I love that it’s a soft fabric, washable, and that particular pattern features the Walt Disney World castle. I take this bag when I’m visiting Disney parks. This is the second Disney Vera Bradley crossbody bag I’ve owned. The first one was starting to get worn in the crossbody strap, so I replaced it with this one. However, I had carried it for years. In fact, I think I got it about the time I went to Disney Social Media Moms.

Back in 2019, I purchased a black Michael Kors crossbody bag at that same outlet mall in Pigeon Forge, TN. I have been carrying it when I’m not going to Disney. The fabric is not as soft as VB, but it’s holding up well. It’s also stylish no matter what I pair it with.

List of What to Bring

Without further ado, here’s my list of things to pack for a theme park:

  • Sunglasses and/or Hat – I wear glasses, but have several pairs of sunglasses that go over my glasses. In fact, I never leave the house without a pair to protect my eyes. In recent years, I’ve gotten better about protecting my skin by wearing hats too.
  • Poncho – If you are traveling to Florida, you need a poncho. They frequently have short rain showers while remaining hot. So, a light poncho is perfect. Also, you can save several dollars by bringing your own! I also sometimes carry a mini-umbrella if it’s calling for rain.
  • Charger – You will be using your phone to take pictures as well as using the park’s app. It drains your battery quickly. Bring a charger and cord.
  • Wallet – You have to have your tickets/id anyways. I know some parks have gone cashless, but I’m already carrying my bag, so might as well bring my wallet too.
  • Sunblock and bug spray – You need to reapply through the day. I got a brush with powder sunscreen inside the handle last year and like carrying it around.
  • Hand sanitizer – Ideally, you wash your hands before eating. However, at least you can sanitize after riding a ride.
  • Gum – Disney doesn’t sell gum in their parks. So, if you are a gum chewer, bring your own gum.

So, did I forget anything? What do you pack for a theme park?

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

By 1 Comment

I’ve been lucky enough to experience Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains several times. Here are my favorite things to see and do when I visit during that time of the year!

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

There is so much to see and do when you visit the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area! It can be hard to know what is worth your time and money. I think it’s even harder to decide what to do when you are visiting during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. To make it easier to plan your trip, I’m going to break down your options based on the three towns you can visit.

Christmas in Sevierville

If you are visiting Sevierville at Christmastime, then I recommend checking out Shadrack’s Light Show. I experienced the show at the Smokies Stadium in 2020 and found it to be a great way to see some lights while social distancing. This light show is a drive through experience, so you can stay in your car the whole time! 2022 will be the last year it will be held at the Stadium. However, they are starting a new show at Soaky Mountain Waterpark in 2022 as well. I’m sure it will be just as fun!

Christmas in Pigeon Forge

I just did a whole post highlighting Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge. In it I discuss everything from Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show to the Comedy Barn! I also have to mention how amazing Christmas at Dollywood is again! Additionally, the town of Pigeon Forge celebrates the holidays each year with Winterfest! During this time, you can see all kinds of Christmas lights around town for free! Plus, they just opened the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail! You can definitely plan a few days in Pigeon Forge around the holiday season!

Christmas in Gatlinburg

Lasty but not least is Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg decorates the town with branded snowmen, as seen in the photo collage above! They dot the entire main street and it’s fun to go around to see all of the different ones! You can also visit Anakeesta for Enchanted Winter/Christmas! Anakeesta also offers Breakfast with Santa on select weekends in late November/early December. To get an idea of what to expect at Anakeesta during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains, you can scroll through my pictures in the Instagram post below.

There are two additional options for celebrating winter in Gatlinburg that I’ve never experienced: Ober Mountain for skiing and snow tubing as well as Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. I’ve heard good things about each one, but haven’t had the chance to do them yet. Although, I have visited Ober during the fall and had fun there.

As you can see, there’s lots to do if you visit during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. Is there another must visit on your list?

If you are planning a trip to the area during a different season, here are my other posts to help you plan:

Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN

By Leave a Comment

Did you know that several attractions in the Smoky Mountains get a holiday makeover? For instance, there are several special Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Here’s a look at the various options and my reviews of the experiences.

Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge

Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge

All of these places have year round offerings, but they change the performance for the holidays. So, if you are already a fan of the attraction or are just looking for a new way to get in the jolly spirit when visiting, here’s a list of Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN!

  • Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede – If you click that link, you can actually read my full review of this dinner experience. I’ve actually never gone to the original Dolly Parton Stampede show but I found the holiday North vs South Pole twist to be fun and jovial.
  • Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud – I reviewed the regular Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show previously and was lucky enough to attend the holiday version this past weekend! It was fun to see all of the characters add a little bit of red and green to their outfits (minus that one… Haha!). I also enjoyed hearing the festive tunes. You can see pictures from this visit in my Instagram post below.
  • Comedy Barn Christmas – It’s just never worked out for me to visit the Comedy Barn. However, I’ve heard good things about it. There’s no dinner served here, but it’s a variety act. Their holiday version just began on the 19th, so if you visit soon you will get to experience this one.
  • Country Tonite Christmas – I visited this attraction last year. Last year, they performed a good chunk of their regular Country Tonite show, had an intermission, and then switched it up to holiday music. If you are looking for something with lots of religion and patriotism in it, then this is for you. Also, it helps if you are a fan of country music.
  • Dollywood – Lastly, I would include Dollywood as a place to visit with Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge! There are several to choose from and a ticket for the day isn’t much more than a dinner show ticket! You can read my post for tips on visiting Dollywood at Christmas!

So, that’s the list of Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Have you been to any of them? Which one is your favorite?