Christmasfest at the Opry In Pigeon Forge

Christmasfest at the Opry  -

The Christmas festival, located in front of the new Smoky Mountain Opry will feature a huge outdoor ice skating rink, Ferris wheel, Christmas Carousel, and other family friendly rides. Santa Claus, live reindeer, an outdoor synchronized Christmas Light Show and a choreographed indoor Laser Light Show, food vendors, an Arts and Crafts Christmas Village, horse drawn carriage rides, Santa train rides, and S’mores Pit all complete the new “ChristmasFest at the Opry” scheduled to open Nov. 1 and run through Dec. 31

Berry Springs Christmas Cake

Unforgettable Christmas Cake!

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) containers candied cherries


• 1 (8 ounce) container candied mixed citrus peel


• 2 cups raisins


• 1 cup dried currants


• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped


• 2 (2.25 ounce) packages blanched slivered almonds


• 1/2 cup brandy


• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour


• 2 cups all-purpose flour


• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda


• 1 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1 teaspoon ground allspice


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 cup butter


• 2 cups packed brown sugar


• 6 eggs


• 3/4 cup molasses


• 3/4 cup apple juice

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine cherries, citrus peel, raisins, currants, dates, and almonds. Stir in brandy; let stand 2 hours, or overnight. Dredge soaked fruit with 1/2 cup flour.


2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease an 8x8x3 inch fruit cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease again. In a small bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.


3. In a large bowl, cream butter until light. Gradually blend in brown sugar and eggs. Mix together molasses and apple juice. Beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 4 dry and 3 liquid additions. Fold in floured fruit. Turn batter into prepared pan.


4. Bake in preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. Remove from pan, and lift off paper. Cool cake completely, then wrap loosely in waxed paper. Store in an airtight container

Gatlinburg’s 36th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade

Gatlinburg’s 36th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade will showcase Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and one of the City’s largest and best known attractions families, Ripley’s Entertainment.

Sharky and Sharkette of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will serve as the Parade’s Grand Marshals as it travels through downtown Gatlinburg on Friday, December 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. to the cheers of an anticipated crowd of more than 80,000 spectators.

Earlier this year, Ripley’s won an International Festival and Events Association Pinnacle award for Best Sponsor for Gatlinburg Special Events. The award recognized Ripley’s continued support of all of Gatlinburg’s events and community activities. 

The Ripley’s Family includes the Believe It or Not Odditorium, Guinness World Records Museum, Davy Crockett Mini Golf, Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze & Candy Factory, Ripley’s Moving Theater and, of course, the award-winning Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Today, nearly 40 years after the company arrived in Sevier County, one can find a sampling of every Ripley's venue in this family destination. In fact, Gatlinburg now boasts the largest concentration of Ripley's businesses in the world.

The “Fantasy of Lights” Parade also won a Gold designation in the International Festival and Events Association Pinnacle Awards for its television production from last year.

Distinguished entries in this year’s parade include the world-famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The first Wienermobile was designed by Carl Mayer, nephew of Oscar Mayer, in 1936. The Wienermobile itself is 24 hot dogs high, 60 hot dogs long, 18 hot dogs wide and weighs 140,500 hot dogs.

The parade excitement for young and old also includes more than 100 parade entries, over a dozen marching bands from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama, and giant helium balloons taking to the streets.

Santa’s Autograph Party cranks up at 6 p.m. at Riverbend Mall, in the midst of the main viewing area for the parade at Traffic Light #3. The parade begins at Traffic Light #1A on Hwy 321 at 7:30 p.m. and ends about an hour-and-a-half later at Traffic Light #10.

Berry Springs Traditional EggNog

Ingredients

12 eggs, separated
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy/ thickened cream
2 cups bourbon
1+ 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup brandy
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

Traditional Eggnog Directions

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for approx 10 minutes (you want the mixture to be firm and the colour of butter).
Very slowly, add in the bourbon and brandy - just a little at a time.
When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge (for up to 6 hours, depending on how long before your party you're making the eggnog).
30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture.
Stir in 1+ 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks.
In yet another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture.
Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture.
After ladling into cups, garnish with the remainder of the ground nutmeg.

Serves: 8.

Santa Hustle Half-Marathon in Sevierville

5K Marathon in Sevierville

Santa Hustle Half-Marathon  - Adrenaline Sports Management presents the First Annual Santa Hustle Half-Marathon and 5K run and walk at Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Resort, Sevierville, TN. The race will take place on December 11, 2011 at 9:00 am. This great, winter-themed Half-Marathon and 5K, will provide every participant with a FREE SANTA HAT, BEARD, & CUSTOMIZED SHIRT to wear while running either 13.1 or 3.1 miles. Everyone will love the Holiday decorations, the Christmas music and After Party offering a buffet of food and plenty to drink!

Berry Springs German Chocolate Fudge

German Chocolate Fudge!

YUMMY!

Ingredients

• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips


• 12 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate


• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme


• 4 1/2 cups white sugar


• 2 tablespoons butter


• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk


• 1/8 teaspoon salt


• 2 cups chopped pecans

Directions

1. Combine chocolate chips, German sweet chocolate and marshmallow creme in large bowl.


2. Combine sugar, butter, evaporated milk and salt in heavy skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring constantly.


3. Pour hot syrup over chocolate mixture. Stir with wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in pecans.


4. Spread into buttered 10x15 inch pan. Let stand until firm; cut into squares.

49th AnnualSevierville Christmas Parade

Sevierville Christmas Parade 2011

Santa will be there!

Sevierville's 49th Annual Christmas Parade  - A traditional hometown parade with baton twirlers, pageant winners, marching bands and floats leading up to the appearance of the Grand Marshal-Santa Claus! Parade begins at 11am and can best be viewed on Forks of the River Parkway and Court Avenue in historic downtown Sevierville, TN.

Berry Springs Gingerbread Cookies!

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup margarine


• 1/2 cup sugar


• 1/2 cup molasses


• 1 egg yolk


• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder


• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1 teaspoon ginger


• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolk. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg; blend into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least one hour.


2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.


3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Frost or decorate when cool.

New Gatlinburg's New Year's Eve Fireworks Show and Ball Drop

New Year's Eve Fireworks Show and Ball Drop  -

Dec. 31st

For the 24th straight year, the Space Needle area at traffic light #8 comes alive at the stroke of midnight with a fabulous fireworks show. Features free party favors and live entertainment.

“Best New Year’s Eve Show in the South.” (800) 568-4748

Sevierville's 49th Annual Christmas Parade

Sevierville's 49th Annual Christmas Parade -

Dec. 3rd

 A traditional hometown parade with baton twirlers, pageant winners, marching bands and floats leading up to the appearance of the

Grand Marshal – Santa Claus!

Parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and can best be viewed on Forks of the River Parkway and Court Avenue in historic downtown Sevierville, TN.