Wears Valley Fall Fest

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.

Welcome to Harvest Festival season! This is the magical season where we reflect and celebrate our Appalachian culture and history to its zenith quality while enjoying the blooming colors that will soon explode across the mountains. The colors are coming out more and more with each passing October day here in the Smokies and with this short but sweet window of time, visitors will often want to know what activities the Smoky Mountains offers that let them really get to dive into the spirit of fall in Appalachia.

All that is old comes new again while the rest of life in the Smokies begins to wind down or die out until they come back in the Spring. In Wears Valley, you get this poignant, haunting but fulfilling essence the moment you arrive to the community. So-named for its sudden great expense of flat land and tall, protective mountains and hills in the distance, Wears Valley is practically the living spirit of Harvest Festival in the Smokies, and that spirit gets its spotlight and chance to shine at the Wears Valley Fall Fest.

Going from October 20th to the 22nd for 2017, this 3-day festival is practically everything you came to the Smokies in fall to see: colors, mountains, crafts, Appalachian life thriving with a blend of modern sensibility and bringing the "old ways" back to the front, music and much more. Crafts featured will include many locally made items that exhibit the best in art and generations-old skills handed down that Wears Valley has to provide - woodwork, birdhouses, home decor, furniture, kitchen items, UT sports pride, shirts, scarves, sweaters, dresses, foods, popcorn, honey, jam, photography, paintings, frames for photography or paintings, knick-knacks, metalwork... the list just goes on. There will also be food vendors onsite and visitors can expect to have access to BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, steak-on-a-stick, pizza, Greek, corndogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken or some treats that include fried oreos, fried twinkies, funnel cakes, nachos, kettle korn (basically sweet popcorn), cotton candy and ice cream (subject to changes in availability).

As for entertainment, would you believe the Wears Valley Fall Fest is big and popular enough to feature TWO stages? Indeed. In times past, we've had dozens of excellent artists and groups come play at the Wears Valley Fall Fest with expected genres like bluegrass, Gospel, singer-songwriters and country. No Fall Fest in the Smokies is complete without them, but then we also get some unexpected performances too - Elvis Presley and Native American traditional/interpretive dances just to begin with and who knows what other sorts of acts we might get to see?

That's not the end of the fun at the Fall Fest either. On Friday night, there will be a Miss Fall Fest beauty pageant where local beauties get to take stage and compete for the eponyous title. There will be tractor rides, an obstacle course, interactive craft stations you and the fam can enjoy and a kids' tent. Items and games will make use of recycled and repurposed materials and there will also be inflatable attractions, an obstacle course, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, face painting and train rides.

Yes, you are going to enjoy it and we can't think of a better way to celebrate our Harvest season in Wears Valley than the Wears Valley Fall Fest.

Keep up to date on any news on that event CLICK HERE.