Wildflowers are in full bloom, black bear cubs are taking their first steps into the forests, and April temperatures are hovering in the low 70s with cool breezes. Spring has finally arrived in the Great Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This beautiful season is the perfect time for families and friends to take a spring break away from everyday life and retreat to the fun and relaxation of the Smokies! Springfest in Pigeon Forge invites everyone to play outside, enjoy entertaining attractions, and relax in a log cabin.
There are so many Parkway attractions and things to do in Pigeon Forge in spring, which is why we’ve listed our top 10 spring activities in Pigeon Forge to get you started!
10. Play at Dollywood
Woohoo! Riding roller coasters at Dollywood Theme Park is quite a thrill! Along with heart-pumping rides, you can see local craftsmen at work, grab a few Smoky Mountain souvenirs, snap photos of your little ones on the kiddy rides, board the Dollywood Express, see rescued bald eagles, listen to live music, and participate in seasonal events — including the springtime Flower & Food Festival.
Not up for a theme park but want to go for a cool ride? Hop aboard a mountain coaster instead! There are plenty in the area, including the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and the Coaster at Goats on the Roof. Another option is Rowdy Bear Ridge Adventure Park which features 2 thrill rides — a year-round tubing hill and the Alpine Flyer with laser guns!
9. Stroll Through Gorgeous Gardens
Along with the surrounding Smoky Mountains, Parrot Mountain and Garden of Eden boasts intricate gardens with 1,000s of lovely flowers and plants and 100s of tropical birds you can pet and feed. There’s even a secret garden worth checking out and a replica of Thomas Kinkade’s Stairway to Paradise.
Another place to see a mesmerizing garden on your spring vacation is to pop over to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg for a bit. It’s only a short drive away and features Vista Gardens on a mountaintop! What makes this garden special is that it’s an experiential sensory garden with things to see, hear, and touch.
8. Visit Neat Museums
Museums and edutainment abound along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge and feature interactive exhibits, celebrity wax figures, crime and justice, a real iceberg, famous cars, and much more! Whether you choose to visit one or all, you won’t be disappointed. Plus, with spring showers and occasional thunderstorms, this is one of the best things to do in Pigeon Forge in April.
Top Pigeon Forge Museums
- WonderWorks Indoor Amusement Park
- Hollywood Wax Museum
- Beyond the Lens! Family Fun
- Alcatraz East Crime Museum
- Titanic Museum Attraction
- Cooter’s Place Museum
Looking for more fun on rainy days in the Smokies? Check out our list of indoor activities in Pigeon Forge.
7. Go Zorbing at Outdoor Gravity Park!
A unique Pigeon Forge attraction in spring is zorbing at Outdoor Gravity Park! What’s zorbing? Well, the sport comes from New Zealand, and you jump into a giant inflatable ball, then roll and splash around as you power through a fun adventure course.
As the only zorbing park in the country, Outdoor Gravity Park is a great choice to experience something new when you visit Pigeon Forge, TN. Plus, it means you get to see family and friends let loose, roll around (literally), and have a blast!
6. Peruse The Old Mill Square
Come one, come all to hang out at The Old Mill Square along the Pigeon Forge Parkway. Featuring a working mill on the Little Pigeon River, the Old Mill Square is a fun and laid-back place to take a stroll, grab an ice cream, make a wish at the fountain, buy one-of-a-kind gifts, try homemade candies, and enjoy Southern food.
For only $5, you can sample moonshine from the Old Forge Distillery, which uses stone-ground grains and pure mountain spring water to create white lightning. As another treat, you can see metalsmiths form knives and potters mold handmade pots, then buy what you want to take home!
5. Follow the Rocky Top Wine Trail
On your Smoky Mountain spring break, consider following the Rocky Top Wine Trail. Along with plenty of FREE samples, you’ll get a FREE gift when you visit and collect the stamps from 3 wineries, then another FREE gift when you’ve visited all 5 locations! And don’t forget to bring some local wine back to the cabin to enjoy.
- Hillside Winery
- Apple Barn Winery
- Apple Barn House
- Mountain Valley Winery
- Mill Bridge Winery
4. Explore The Island
Fun for the whole family, The Island in Pigeon Forge is a huge shopping and entertainment complex that is vibrant and lively in spring. It’s a great Pigeon Forge attraction to spend the day playing games, listening to live music, eating Southern specialties, browsing boutiques, sipping moonshine, and watching the dancing fountain.
You can defeat The Escape Game with friends, kiss at the tippy top of the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel with your partner, sit down for a meal with your fam at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, and check out 40+ experiential shops. The Island is also pet friendly, so you can bring your doggies!
3. Enjoy Dinner Shows
Liven up your spring vacation in Pigeon Forge with a fun dinner show sure to keep everyone fed and happy. Dig into a 4-course Southern feast with live family-friendly entertainment and cheer for the side you want to win. Some dinner shows even offer add-ons for those who arrive early, like face paint for the kids and cocktails for adults.
Opt for Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show to see a seafaring bunch compete for Davey Jones’ sunken treasure. Go for a classic Pigeon Forge dinner show with Dolly Parton’s Stampede which boasts horseback riding stunts. Or watch the goofiest families perform at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud.
2. Hike in the National Park
See spring wildflowers up close, cross running streams and creeks, keep an eye out for wandering animals and their babies, admire stunning waterfalls, and enjoy gorgeous views as you hike through the most-visited national park in the country — the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
With 800+ miles of hiking trails, the national park is a great place to stretch your legs, check out local wildlife, and reconnect with nature this spring. You can enter the park for FREE through the entrance in Gatlinburg; just pay for parking inside. And if you don’t feel like hiking, there are plenty of outdoor activities — including horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and taking a scenic drive through Cades Cove.
1. Stay at a Relaxing Cabin with a View
Breathtaking Smoky Mountain views, wildflowers sprinkling wooded scenes, and sparkling rivers just off the deck — whatever view you’re looking for in the Smokies, Pigeon Forge TN Cabins has the cabin for you! Our beautiful cabin rentals currently range from 1-16 bedrooms, can sleep 60+ guests, and feature awesome amenities for family vacations or mountain getaways with friends in springtime. Pet-friendly cabins? You bet!
Pigeon Forge Cabin Amenities
- Mountain views
- River, wooded, or city views
- Private indoor pool
- Hot tub
- Theater with projector screen or big screen TV
- Game tables (pool, air hockey, foosball, etc.)
- Arcade games
- Decks with rockers and porch swings
- Firepit
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Gas or charcoal grills
- King, queen, full & twin beds
- Indoor jetted bathtubs
- FREE high speed Wi-Fi
Now that you have an idea of things to do in Pigeon Forge in spring, start planning a memorable vacation today! Book your Smoky Mountain cabin online or call 1.866.513.7885. And if you need more ideas on what to do in spring in Pigeon Forge, just ask our helpful Vacation Specialists!
