Dogwood Arts Festival

The Smoky Mountains don’t just feel like a magical place, they really are a mystical destination. The phrase “old as the hills” rings true when you really dive into the old lore of the mountains. When you come to visit, take this otherworldly tour and investigate for yourself. Here are six of the Smokies’ best kept secrets.

1. Elkmont Trollbridge

Escape to a place that really feels like a glimpse into a mythical land. The Elkmont Trollbridge is a true hidden gem that only locals know about. Hike along the Little River Trail until you reach this spot. Covered in moss and mushrooms, the Trollbridge is perfect for capturing pictures or looking for hidden fantastical creatures.

2. House Of The Fairies

This whimsical spot is only a mile from downtown Gatlinburg yet it feels like you’ve been transported into another realm. Map to this magical place, then go out and explore. Here, you’ll find towering trees and moss covered logs and boulders. Then at the end of the trail you’ll see it...an arched doorway, that looks like it’s almost cut into the side of the hill, sits with a wooden ladder leaning against the frame. Step inside and find a cool spring, filled with water that tinkles like bells.

3. Synchronous Fireflies

The synchronized fireflies that come out every year like clockwork might be more science than magic but when you’re sitting among the trees and they begin to spark in unison, flickering in and out of sight, it feels like something otherworldly. This rare phenomenon is only seen in a few places in the world and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of them.

4. Elkmont Ghost Town

Once a thriving vacation spot for the Knoxville elite, the Elkmont Ghost Town looks like a legend brought back to life. Recently restored, explore inside the homes and hike trails where you will find the remains of homes once occupied by Appalachian locals who would serve, supply and work in the town. This piece of history is frozen in time and feels like stepping back into the past.

There are many magical places in the Smokies and these are only four of them. Don’t stop here, continue to search for more mystical creatures and sprites living in the trees and hollows. To discover more, stay overnight in the mountains in a log cabin. This cabin is even called Magical Moments, which is exactly what you’ll find when you visit the Smoky Mountains.

For all we talk about the wonders of nature and Appalachian culture in East Tennessee, we tend to keep it rather narrowly focused on Sevier County and the events we have going on here; as though the culture of the Smokies is limited to this one county alone. In fact, within just an hour or so driving west on Chapman Highway, you can find even more to be culturally stimulated for in the big city of the Smoky Mountains: Knoxville, TN.

And the event? The one at the headline of the article here, the annual Dogwood Arts Festival.

Whereas Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville are reasonably spread out and keep it quite simple as far as urban development typically goes, Knoxville is THE big city of our frame of reference. Thus, it contains a whole new universe of artistic stimulation as inspired by all those who have been there and congregate there from all corners of the world. If you've ever been to a big city (and surely you have), you know what we mean - now imagine how those cultural elements can come together to celebrate Appalachia and you're probably already getting your bags packed to come see it without even realizing it!

The Dogwood Arts Festival is a highly anticipated Spring event going on this year between April 28th and April 30th and taking place at the famous Market Square in downtown Knoxville - the extremely artsy and quaint center for many such events on Knoxville's event calendar. The ironic impetus for this festival started 70 years earlier in 1947 when journalist John Gunther depicted Knoxville as "the ugliest city" in the United States in his book "Inside USA". To make a long story short, this inspired the city of Knoxville to renovate its image, and this eventually gave way to the Dogwood Arts Festival as we know it today. Bob Hope performed at it in 1970, Elvis Presley performed at it in 1972 and Paul Harvey even wrote about it in a 1995 piece, "A Commentary on the Dogwood Arts Festival". Now that's a tradition with a pedigree!

The event is a full weekend of arts and crafts booths, performing arts, performing artists, culinary arts demonstrations, tastings, a children's creation station and, yes, you'll be able to see those incredible Dogwood trees blooming that gives the event its name.

Arts and crafts booths include exhibitions and sales on:

* Clay

* Pencil drawings

* Pastel illustrations

* Glass artwork

* Jewelry

* Leatherwork

* Metalwork

* Photography

* Sculpture

* Woodworking

And many more.

There will be much food and awesome quenchables to nourish visitors (yes, beer!) and several stages to hold the performing artists. Blooming Boulevard will naturally return (pun intended) and provide even more color and delight with plenty of flower markets for plants, herbs and trees. On the last day of the festival will be the Art Slam, a live art competition taking place at Krutch Park from 12:00PM to 5:00PM and create an original work of art within three hours' time.

And there'll still be more!

Again, the Dogwood Arts Festival is going on between April 28th to April 30th for 2017 at Market Square in Downtown Knoxville. Their hours are as follows:

Friday: 11:00am-9:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am–9:00pm

Sunday: 11:00am–5:00pm

Admission? It's FREE.
See more on the Dogwood Arts Festival