Pigeon Forge takes a cue from the fall color change in the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park and puts on its autumn wardrobe during the 12th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival from Sept. 12-Oct. 31.

Businesses throughout this tiny town of 5,800 residents (and 11 million annual visitors) erect fanciful fall displays of hay bales, scarecrows, cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, mums and other symbols of the season. A variety of special events and new attractions complement the décor.

The Dollywood theme park, Tennessee’s most visited ticketed attraction, gets a jump on the celebration with Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass (Sept. 5-28), a festival featuring barbeque of all descriptions and more than 500 free concerts by performers such as Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, the Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Grascals and Rhonda Vincent & the Rage.

The Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Crafts Festival covers an entire month (Sept. 27-Oct. 25). It is one of the region’s biggest crafts festivals, attracting almost 50 craftsmen, artists and exhibitors from more than a dozen states. It takes place under huge red and white tents at Patriot Park. Rotarians staff the event, and proceeds benefit numerous charities.

Dollywood re-enters the festival picture with its National Gospel & Harvest Celebration from Oct. 3-Nov. 1. Southern Gospel music will reverberate through the park, with more than 250 free concerts from artists such as Jason Crabb, the Isaacs, the McKameys, Karen Peck & New River, Jeff & Sheri Easter and Gold City.

During the festival, an array of visiting crafters will showcase their handiwork, and numerous demonstrations are scheduled. Among them are spinning, weaving, sorghum making, fiddle making, rug hooking and woodworking.

An event-within-an-event is Dollywood’s 17th Annual Woodcarving Showcase (Oct. 3-5). The showcase features more than 75 of the nation’s most talented carvers competing for prizes and bragging rights. There’s even a special pumpkin carving contest on Oct. 5.

New elements on the Pigeon Forge entertainment, dining and attractions scene include:

Adventure Quest—An indoor collection of active diversions, including Odyssey, a mirror maze; Pirate Golf, a blacklight experience; and the Vault, a laser challenge.

Flying Horse Grill—A family-friendly restaurant featuring contemporary American cuisine and a fully operational Italian carousel.

Grand Majestic Theater—Presenting the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters in “Swing Time.”

Smoky Mountain Showplace Theatre—Now showcasing the Florida Boys, one of Southern gospel music’s most celebrated acts.

Spin City—A contemporary version of a nostalgic roller rink, now offering theme nights, video displays, colorful lighting displays and a DJ.

WonderWorks—Now offering complimentary second-day admission with purchase of Wonder Combo or Ultimate Combo tickets.

Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism

Image courtesy of Dollywood