Things To Do In The Smokies For Labor Day Weekend
By Leif Palmer
Posted on August 21, 2018
One of our favorite holidays is coming up – one that exists solely for the purpose of enjoying an extra day off from work. Labor Day is September 3 this year, and for a lot of you, that means a bonus free day or possibly even a three-day weekend.
If you're looking for a few ideas for how to fill those days with fun and/or relaxation, we've got a few ideas for you this week. Read on, and hopefully, you'll find some inspiration for a memorable Labor Day weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
• For starters, this is your last chance to visit Dollywood's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge for the rest of 2018. This 35-acre water park is packed with fun ways to stay cool in the heat of late summer. Tons of slides, a lazy river feature, a wave pool, kids area, interactive lagoon and more are guaranteed to keep kids and parents alike splashing and laughing all day long.
• If your plans include outlet mall shopping, you can save a little money at the Labor Day Sales at Tanger Outlets in Sevierville. Many of the shops are offering extended hours, and the special sales event means you can find even lower prices on a lot of the already-discounted merchandise that the outlet stores offer on a year-round basis. Tanger Outlets has a little bit of everything for the avid shopper, from clothing and shoes to housewares, tools, electronics, food vendors and more.
• Just as Splash Country is wrapping up its 2018 season, so are most of the region's whitewater rafting companies, many of which have outposts in Gatlinburg. So if you missed your chance all summer to hit the raging rapids of the Pigeon River, you've got one final opportunity over Labor Day weekend.
• And don't forget that any weekend is a good time to head into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It looks like worst of the summer heat may be easing its way out, so conditions will soon be ideal for a hike, a bike ride or a picnic at your favorite spot in the park.
If your plans involve doing something in Gatlinburg, we hope you take advantage of all the attractions, shops and restaurants you'll find here. And you won't have to worry about getting around to all your favorite destinations in town thanks to our abundance of parking in Gatlinburg. We operate six different parking lot facilities in the downtown area that make it easy for you to make one car trip, one stop and then cover the rest of town on foot or by trolley.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.