Pigeon Forge Entertainment: What to Do, See & Experience in the Smokies

There is SO much to do in Pigeon Forge it’s easy to be stuck or split on what to do in this incredible city! Lucky for you, this city is what we are all about in addition to gorgeous cabins with mountain views, lodges to accommodate large groups exploring the Smokies, and budget-friendly chalets among the Smoky Mountain pines. Find the right entertainment to fit your idea of a dream Pigeon Forge vacation by using our handy guide below.

All you need to know is who are you traveling with and your budget! So after peaceful mornings in your cozy Pigeon Forge, Tennessee cabin, sipping hot coffee on the deck and watching the sunlight pour over the mountains, soothing any stress with relaxing soaks in the hot tub, or enjoying a morning dip in your cabin’s indoor pool, get out and enjoy the perfect entertainment for you and your friends or family – or both!

Dinner Shows

Dolly Parton’s Stampede
Get ready for laughs, amazement, and a hearty 4-course meal when you pull up your chair to the table in Dolly Parton’s Stampede! Dolly Parton shares her love for all things big and Southern, and that includes your dinner, too. In between big bites of your Southern cuisine, enjoy full-bellied laughs as the mischievous mishaps of the Smoky Mountain inhabitants. This long-standing favorite in Pigeon Forge boasts incredible performers ranging from acrobats, singers, dancers, and trick riders that will have you and the whole family laughing and saying “y’all” with a little more twang than usual the whole way home.

Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Show
Offering multiple mystery shows that will all have you laughing and playing along, this will be a dinner to remember! These shows are intimate, breaking the fourth wall often to make you feel part of the fun. Even if you aren’t traveling with a big group, it’s good to go ahead and make a reservation to Gun with the Wind, The Killbillies, or the Moonshine Murders so you are guaranteed a spot in the murder mystery dinner. The shows are rated PG-13 based off a few adult innuendos, but it’s a night the whole family is sure to love and remember as you work to become the night’s Super Sleuths and solve the mystery in between laughs over your delicious meals!

Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud
This is a whole other side of the South and you are invited to front row seats to the longest family feud in history! Dig into all-you-can-eat savory Southern cuisine as you watch the Hatfields and the McCoys fight it out through feats of strength, hilarious mishaps, country-style song and dance, and acrobatic acts. You may have to pick a side, but it’s all in good fun for an entertaining end.

Theatrical Shows

Country Tonite
Since lighting up her stage in 1996, Country Tonite Theater has been repeatedly voted Best Show in the Smokies along with numerous theatrical accolades over the years. The show boasts bigger and more exciting acts each season in addition to its long-standing foundation on talented singers in gospel and country music. The state-of-the-art stage and lighting will floor you, and that’s before the big voices and dynamic acts even begin! This show is packed with patriotism and a “feel good” atmosphere the whole family can enjoy, leaving you with songs you will be singing back at home for weeks.

Smoky Mountain Opry
The Smoky Mountain Opry is home to a variety of multi-million dollar shows with some of the biggest names you will see in Pigeon Forge! Seasonal shows have included performers from The Voice and magical acts from world-renowned magicians. Check out their website to get a full list of their many theatrical events that range all over in talent and spectacular performers in music, dance, acrobatics, and more.

Learning and Entertainment

WonderWorks
If the upside-down building didn’t spark your curiosities, their impressive list of featured interactive exhibits is sure to ignite your enthusiasm for exploration! Touch, hear, watch, interact, and be amazed by the 6 wonder zones stretching from natural disasters and physical challenges to the imagination lab and space discovery. Visitors of all ages can easily spend hours playing the games, experiencing science first-hand, and be tricked into learning for a day! WonderWorks also houses a giant glow-in-the-dark indoor ropes course and a blacklight laser tag maze!

MagiQuest
Let the kids challenge their minds in a critical thinking, puzzle-solving virtual reality game where they become knights, wizards, and princesses and work together to defeat dragons and goblin kings! Visitors can also opt to purchase a multi-attraction ticket that includes miniature golf, a mirror maze, and a fun Mission Impossible-esque game in The Vault to really round off a day full of fun.

Wine Tours and Tastings

Mountain Valley Winery
As one of the oldest wineries in the area, with its beginning in 1991, Mountain Valley Winery is home to award-winning rhubarb wines alongside other award-winning French and German-style wines. Want a sweeter after-dinner drink? Pick up the perfect bottle of Muscadine wine made from grapes harvested throughout the area. As a part of the Rocky Top Wine Trail, be sure to get your “passport” stamped after indulging in free tastings and tours!

Mill Bridge Winery
Another winery along the established Rocky Top Wine Trail, the Mill Bridge Winery is located on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in the Old Mill District, where the original iron forge for which the city earned its name used to rest. The patio is the perfect spot to enjoy your free tastings after you get your “passport” stamped before completing your tour of the Rocky Top Wine Trail.

Budget-Friendly Entertainment

These are ways to stay entertained that are either really cheap or completely FREE!

The Island in Pigeon Forge
A trip to The Island can be completely free if you are easily entertained because there are no parking fees, window shopping is fun without purchasing anything, and those musical show fountains are nothing short of awesome! Grab an iced coffee in the summer or a hot chocolate winter at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop and snag a seat around the large pond near the main entrance of The Island because you are in for a treat when the music kicks on and the fountains begin to dance and shoot into the air choreographed to pop hits; they are even cooler at night when the multi-colored LED lights are bright against the night sky. However, if you have the budget, The Island is packed with fun for all ages from the giant Great Smoky Mountain Wheel to The Escape Game. Big appetites will feel right at home in Paula Deen’s Family Style Kitchen, too.

The Forge Cinemas
Do you have a flick you have been waiting months to premier and it just so happens to coincide with your Pigeon Forge vacation? Or do you want a rainy-day trip to the theater with the family? Well, unlike most expensive theaters, The Forge Cinemas operated by Phoenix Theaters offers all movies, all showtimes, all times of the year for only $5 a ticket-that’s under half the national average of movie tickets these days!

And as always… play outside in the Great Smoky Mountains for FREE!
Unlike most National Parks, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is FREE to enter and explore. See the wildlife in Cades Cove, overlook miles upon miles of mountain views from Clingmans Dome, and share a picnic lunch among the dreamy wildflower fields of Andrews Bald after a short hike. You chose to stay in a Pigeon Forge, Tennessee cabin for the inspiration and relaxation of the Smoky Mountains, and it’s free to get out and experience the beauty and majesty of this incredible park!