Pigeon Forge is an amazing town to visit throughout the entire year as each season offers unique sights, festivals, shows, parades, and more. There is, however, one very special “sweet spot” in the year that has remained a guarded secret for generations of visitors…and we reveal the details below!
Super Secret Spring Season
The magical sweet spot to visit Pigeon Forge is from the last week of April through the end of May. The reason for this is that school spring breaks last from March until around mid-April. There is also the opening of Dollywood in March and the massive Spring Rod Run in mid-April. A variety of events such as these bring bigger crowds to town, which creates more traffic, longer wait times at restaurants, longer lines at attractions, etc.
However, if you visit between the last week of April and the end of May, it is an entirely different experience! Crowds are much lighter making it easier and faster to get around town. You can get into just about any restaurant you choose. You’ll easily get into any attraction you wish. Once you experience Pigeon Forge during this time, you will be hooked!
Benefits of Light Crowds in Pigeon Forge
One of the first things you will notice if you visit Pigeon Forge between late April and the end of May is how much lighter the traffic is! You can easily get from one end of town to the other with ease, which means you can spend more time having fun rather than sitting in traffic! This alone is reason for many people to visit during this time.
Another benefit of lighter crowds is the reduced lines at attractions as well as lower chances of shows being sold out. During peak times, many dinner shows in town sell out, but during this sweet spot you will have a much easier time picking any show you like and getting tickets much easier. Visiting area attractions such as go-carts, putt-putt, and even Dollywood is also so much easier with shorter lines.
Many popular restaurants in Pigeon Forge often have extended wait times during heavily-visited times of the year, but if you visit during this secret time in spring you can choose just about any restaurant you wish and get in with ease and without need for reservations in most cases!
You might be wondering if there are any events or anything going on during this time…and the answer is “absolutely”! Below, we highlight some favorites of guests.
Smoky Mountain Wildflowers
The Smoky Mountains are full of unique and amazing plants and animals, but one of the best things to witness is the incredible wildflowers that typically bloom in late April! It is such a beautiful sight that an annual event called the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage was established nearly 70 years ago to show visitors where to find an enormous amount of wildflowers in the Smokies! The 2019 event will be held April 24-27.
To learn more about the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, visit: http://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org/
Music In The Mountains Spring Parade
The first Friday in May is the annual date for the famous Pigeon Forge parade. It began as Dolly Parton’s Homecoming parade, which initially kicked off the opening of Dollywood and Pigeon Forge’s “tourism” season. In recent years, however, the parade has evolved to become the “Music In The Mountains Spring Parade” to feature different Grand Marshals and floats. This year’s parade will be held on May 3rd at 6pm along the Pigeon Forge Parkway.
For more details about the Music In The Mountains Spring Parade, visit: https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/music-in-the-mountains-spring-parade
Wilderness Wildlife Week
If you love the Smoky Mountains, then you will love Wilderness Wildlife Week at the beautiful Leconte Center. The best part about this event is that it is free and open to the public! It features numerous seminars and workshops as well as guided hikes to learn about nature, animals, plants, and everything that the Smokies have to offer! The 2019 Wilderness Wildlife Week will be held May 7-11.
For more details about Wilderness Wildlife Week and to see the full schedule, visit: https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week
Plan Your Spring Visit to Pigeon Forge
There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Pigeon Forge between late April and the end of May. You can see a full list of events at https://www.mypigeonforge.com/events.
Now that you are ready to experience Pigeon Forge during this super secret Spring season, the next step is to choose a room and book your visit! We look forward to sharing our secret season with you!