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Category: Smoky Mountains

News and guides about the Great Smoky Mountains region.

A parent and child fish together on the rocky banks of a clear mountain stream in the Great Smoky Mountains during Tennessee's Free Fishing Day, with forested ridges in the background.

Free Fishing Day in Tennessee 2026: Where to Cast a Line in the Smokies

Tennessee's Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day falls on Saturday, June 6, 2026 — letting anyone fish the state's public waters without a license, with kids 15 and under fishing free through June 12. The Smokies happen to be one of the best places in the country to take advantage of it. Here's where to go, what to know, and how to make a morning of it.

A vibrant mountain resort town at dusk with a gondola ascending to a mountaintop attraction, a theme park skyline glowing in the distance, and families walking the main street against a Smoky Mountain sunset.

New in 2026: What's Opening in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge This Year

From a $50 million world-first ride at Dollywood to the only all-glass gondola system on the planet at Anakeesta, 2026 is one of the stronger years in recent memory for new openings in the Smoky Mountains. Here's a rundown of what's open, what's coming, and what's worth planning your trip around.

A vibrant mountain resort town at dusk with a gondola ascending to a mountaintop attraction, a theme park skyline glowing in the distance, and families walking the main street against a Smoky Mountain sunset.

New in 2026: What's Opening in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge This Year

From a $50 million world-first ride at Dollywood to the only all-glass gondola system on the planet at Anakeesta, 2026 is one of the stronger years in recent memory for new openings in the Smoky Mountains. Here's a rundown of what's open, what's coming, and what's worth planning your trip around.

Rows of classic American muscle cars and hot rods on display at an outdoor fairgrounds on a sunny summer day in Sevierville, Tennessee, with visitors browsing the show and forested hills in the background.

Smoky Mountain Summerfest 2026: Dates, Details & Tips for the Sevierville Car Show

Smoky Mountain Summerfest returns to the Sevier County Fairgrounds in Sevierville on July 25, 2026 — a free, one-day classic car show with food trucks, vendors, and live music running from late morning into the evening. It's one of the more laid-back events on the summer calendar, and one of the better reasons to be in the Smokies in late July.

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