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Tag: summer events

5 posts with this tag

Dozens of custom semi-trucks with full LED and neon lighting displays illuminate a nighttime truck show parking lot at the Smoky Mountain Big Rig Showdown in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with forested mountain ridges in the background.

Smoky Mountain Big Rig Showdown 2026: Dates, Schedule & What to Expect

The Smoky Mountain Big Rig Showdown rolls into the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge on July 31 and August 1, 2026 — a two-day national truck show featuring custom semi-trucks, live music, food vendors, and a nighttime light show that's unlike anything else on the Smokies summer calendar. Last year more than 155 trucks from across the country entered the show, raising over $50,000 for charity. Here's the full schedule and everything you need to plan your visit.

A water park at night glowing with vibrant neon and colored lights during an after-hours event, with guests enjoying illuminated slides and pools against a dark Smoky Mountain sky.

Dollywood Splash Country Neon Nights 2026: Dates, Tickets & What to Expect

Neon Nights is Dollywood's Splash Country's brand-new after-hours event for 2026 — running select Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. with neon lights, immersive glow experiences, live music, and lighter crowds across the full 35-acre water park. Tickets start at $39.99, with 14 event nights scheduled between June 19 and August 1. Here's everything you need to plan your visit.

A water park at night glowing with vibrant neon and colored lights during an after-hours event, with guests enjoying illuminated slides and pools against a dark Smoky Mountain sky.

Dollywood Splash Country Neon Nights 2026: Dates, Tickets & What to Expect

Neon Nights is Dollywood's Splash Country's brand-new after-hours event for 2026 — running select Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. with neon lights, immersive glow experiences, live music, and lighter crowds across the full 35-acre water park. Tickets start at $39.99, with 14 event nights scheduled between June 19 and August 1. Here's everything you need to plan your visit.

A patriotic float moves through the crowded downtown Gatlinburg Parkway during the annual 4th of July Midnight Parade, with spectators lining the street and the Smoky Mountains visible in the background.

Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade 2026: What to Know Before You Go

Gatlinburg rings in the Fourth of July at 12:01 a.m. — making it the first Independence Day parade in the nation, a tradition that draws 80,000 people to the Parkway every year. In 2026, the midnight parade is just the beginning: the River Raft Regatta, a 200-drone light show, and fireworks from the Space Needle round out a full day of celebrating. Here's how to plan it right.

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