The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center

Join us for Chatham Rabbits Live in Concert! Chatham Rabbits bring their heartfelt North Carolina roots to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center for an evening of story-driven music. The North Carolina duo of Sarah and Austin McCombie blend folk, roots, and regional bluegrass influence with deeply personal songwriting and warm onstage chemistry. Banjo, guitar, […]

Join us for Richie Owens Acoustic Trio Live in Concert, featuring Bob Ocker & Joe Sharp! Richie Owens is a fifth-generation Smoky Mountains musician whose family's legacy runs as deep as these hills. First cousin of Dolly Parton, his roots trace back to Henry Grooms, a real-life figure in Cold Mountain, and include his grandfather, […]

Special Bus Tour: Elk Bugling at Oconaluftee Every fall, the male elk of the Great Smoky Mountains announce mating season with one of nature's most unforgettable sounds: the bugle. Deep, haunting, and wild, it is the kind of thing that stops you in your tracks. Join us for an evening bus tour across the mountain […]

Join us for the Blue Ribbon Country Fair! The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center's annual Blue Ribbon Country Fair brings the warmth, energy, and community spirit of an old-time county fair for a full day of family fun. Watch living historians demonstrate open-hearth cooking, spinning, weaving, wood turning, and blacksmithing. Get up close with quality […]

Join us for Authentic Unlimited Live in Concert! Authentic Unlimited brings award-winning bluegrass and powerhouse harmonies to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center for an unforgettable October evening. Formed by seasoned performers including former members of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Authentic Unlimited blends rich harmonies, top-tier musicianship, and a sound that feels both deeply rooted […]

Handheld Pinch Pot Workshop with Isabel Wells Join instructor Isabel Wells of Gateway Ceramics for a 90-minute hands-on pottery workshop at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. You'll learn the history of hand-built pottery, explore decorative styles inspired by traditional Appalachian folk pottery, and create a pinch pot of your own, shaped and decorated by […]

You're invited to join us for a special, hands-on program, "Lunch in the Backcountry - 1776." In 1776, life on the Tennessee frontier was equal parts resilience, resourcefulness, and community. Historian Ben Barrington brings that world to life on October 13 in an immersive, hands-on experience unlike anything else we offer. You'll step into the […]

National Park Tour with Sam Venable Sam Venable has spent a lifetime writing about, laughing about, and deeply loving the Great Smoky Mountains. Join us for a guided tour through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stopping at Newfound Gap, Sugarlands, Elkmont, and more. Sam brings the eye of a naturalist, the […]