December 2, 7:30 p.m.

36th Annual Lights Parade in Downtown Gatlinburg

This is one event in Gatlinburg that you don’t want to miss, and Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn offer great parade watching locations with free downtown Parking!

Gatlinburg Winter Magic is already high gear, and the December 2 parade is icing on the cake!  Start the evening with Santa’s Autograph Party beginning at 6 p.m. at light #3.  This is at Riverbend Mall and a main parade viewing area.  You’ll want to find a spot early—parade begins at 7:30 p.m. on East Parkway (Hwy. 321) at light #1A and concludes at light #10 on the Parkway.

Earlier this year, Ripley’s won an International Festival & Events Association Pinnacle award for Best Sponsor for Gatlinburg Special Events. It only makes sense that parade Grand Marshals will be Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies characters, Sharky and Sharkette, in honor of Ripley’s commitment to Gatlinburg!  They will lead this hour-and-a-half parade of 100’s of participants including elaborate floats, marching bands from Tennessee and 4 neighboring states, giant helium balloons, the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, and of course, Santas!

Bring your cameras and some warm gloves for a spectacular night you won’t soon forget!

2011 Thanksgiving in the Smokies

Make a Gatlinburg Vacation your new Thanksgiving Tradition

Spending the Thanksgiving Holiday in Gatlinburg is a great place to enjoy your family and have a vacation filled with lots to do.  Most restaurants are open and serving traditional Thanksgiving meals, welcoming your entire family to the table with roast turkey, ham, and all the fixin’s.  If you need help in deciding where to dine, click here for a list of restaurants and details about their Thanksgiving menus and whether or not reservations are accepted or required.  After a great dinner, your entertainment options are plentiful!

The 2011 Thanksgiving Bowl takes place at Mills Park and Gatlinburg-Pittman Highschool throughout the weekend and hosts up to 48 teams with multiple age categories.  If you enjoy youth football, this event is free for spectators.

The Gatlinburg Festival of Trees is an annual event from November 22-26 that supports Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries.  Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.  You can view numerous trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses and listen to holiday music while the kids enjoy the crafts center and getting their picture taken with Santa!  Staff will even be on hand to help you immediately send a photo card home to friends and family.  Kickoff your Christmas spirit with the Festival of Trees at the W.L. Mills Conference Center, and then stroll next door to the Gatlinburg Convention Center for the Arts & Crafts Holiday Show.

Members of the Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community are holding their annual craft fair from November 22-December 4, and admission is free.  Browse through handcrafted gifts of Appalachian culture while enjoying beautiful holiday decorations and music.  Plan to some early Christmas shopping for heirloom quality gifts!

Winterfest kickoff was held throughout Sevier County earlier this month, but that just means those millions of twinkling lights in hundreds of displays are waiting for you!  Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a unique opportunity to ride through each city on a Trolley Ride of Lights.  Gatlinburg rides depart from downtown Gatlinburg and cost $5 per person, and Pigeon Forge rides depart at Patriot Park.  You’ll be warm and cozy in a heated trolley, but reservations may be required.

Rooms and suites are still available at both Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner!  Don’t wait until it’s too late to enjoy convenient downtown access from both of our locations.

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

October 2-30, 2011

The Big Red and White Tent at Patriot Park

The Rotary Club of Pigeon Forge is hosting their annual Craft Festival in Pigeon Forge October 2-31, 2011.  There is plenty of free parking in the Patriot Park lot and a donation gains your admission.

The Craft Fair is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout October, and will feature woodworking, handcrafted home decorations, Native American jewelry and gifts, stained glass, quilts and much more by crafters from across the USA.

Rotary is a worldwide organization that focuses on making a positive impact in the community through “Service Above Self.”  The Pigeon Forge Rotary utilizes the Annual Crafts Fair to generate revenue through booth rental from the crafters, donations from guest admissions, and concessions to support local non-profit organizations such as Handicap Scouts, Sevier Food Ministries, House of Hope programs, and scholarships.

Ride the trolley next door from Crossroads Inn or Twin Islands at the main trolley station at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies directly to Patriot Park to browse and shop the craft festival.  You will find no better selection for handmade Smoky Mountain souvenirs for your friends and family back home while supporting a great Sevier County organization!

Now through August 13

6th Annual Gatlinburg Summer Music Festival Now through August 13

Gatlinburg celebrates its Smoky Mountain heritage during this free summer-long community event featuring period musical performances, storytellers and artisans.  Parkway sidewalks become stages for performing characters that arrive nightly at 6 p.m. and entertain until 11 p.m.  Evenings in downtown become an interactive, educational and entertaining experience for the entire family!

Walk outside your door of Crossroads Inn or Twin Islands and enter a world of Appalachian entertainment!  Tap your toes along with “The Back Porch Cloggers,” hear the stories of a pioneer teacher, enjoy the 1930s and 1940s sounds of “The Pea Pickin’ Hearts,” and be amazed by the harmonies of the “Gatlinburg Barbershop Boys.”  There’s also traditional mountain music by local “Booger Town Gap,” “Rattlesnake Hollow,” “Earl & Pearl,” and the “Whiskey Bent Valley Boys,  all of who play 1800s Appalachian music with folk-like lyrics that tell stories of the lives of early mountain families.  Later in the evening, bluegrass bands play all the favorite standards, including the famous “Rocky Top.”

We hope that you and your family will join us at Ogle’s Properties for this free, summertime event.  Be sure to take advantage of our Half Price Night!

July 4 Fireworks Finale at 10 p.m.

Gatlinburg Tennessee is gearing up for its 36th Annual 4th of July Independence Day Parade and Holiday Festival

Join us at Crossroads Inn or Twin Islands to enjoy 2 days of family fun in downtown Gatlinburg beginning on Sunday, July 3 with musical performances at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can hear the patriotic sounds of the Dixieland band, Brass Quintet, a Jazz Ensemble, and a Rock band.

The Gatlinburg Fourth of July Parade begins promptly at midnight and features Catherine Bach, famous for her role as “Daisy Duke” in the hit series “Dukes of Hazzard,” members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and numerous local businesses.

On Monday July 4, the renowned 100th United States Army Band from Fort Knox, Kentucky will kick off the night with an 8:30 p.m. performance, prior to the Fireworks Finale at 10 p.m.

Join Us!

Fill 'er Up!

For each night that you spend at Twin Islands, breakfast the next day is on us!

We’ll start your morning off right with a full, hot breakfast offered from 7-10 a.m. in our conference room.  We’re serving up eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, sweet treats, coffee, juice and milk, and more.  Come hungry and fill up for a day of fun in Gatlinburg or a safe drive home.

Thanks for choosing Ogle’s Properties in downtown Gatlinburg!

See you soon,

Stay Now, Return Later for FREE!

Why go anywhere else when there is so much going on in the Smokies?

The month of April is filled with so much stuff to do, you’re going to have a hard time deciding when to plan your getaway!  This year’s Springfest offers all your favorite area events like Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, Music in the Mountains, the Mountain Man Memorial March, the Wildflower Pilgrimage and the Easter Arts & Crafts Show. 

To put a little icing on the cake, both Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn are offering a “Stay Now, Come Back Later for Free” getaway deal.  Stay 2 or more nights at either hotel now through May 26, and you can come back at a later date for one night free!  Visit our Vacation Packages page for full details and call us today.  You don’t want to miss a minute of mountain fun!

We Thank You!

Beginning at 11 a.m. at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza, civilians will gather with soldiers, sailors, airforce, and marines to celebrate American Veterans with patriotic music performances, an American Bald Eagle presentation, veteran recognition, and a military flyover.

We hope you’ll join us! Be sure to ask for your military personnel discount when making your reservations with us by calling Crossroads Inn at 1.800.925.8889 or Twin Islands Motel at 1.800.223.9299.

Plan on spending a sweet weekend with us!  Bring the kids and their costumes so that they can ‘Trick or Treat’ all  Cot4
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