If you plan on traveling this year, you should consider taking some vacation time in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It is right next to Pigeon Forge, and together, they present some reasonably-priced family fun that’s hard to resist. You can head there with the family if you can take some time off from work.
While you are there, you can go for romps in the woods since the Great Smoky Mountains tower majestically over the town. You can eat at the family-style restaurants and visit the Dolly Parton Museum with her many fabulous outfits and other memorabilia.
Aside from that, most people know Gatlinburg for the shows and revues that occur every day of the week. You will have to choose which ones you’ll want to see, though, and we have come up with some top contenders we will talk about now.
Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show
Some of the best shows in Gatlinburg, TN, involve pirates. It seems like pirates were all the rage for a few years because of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series.
Even though a new installment from that series has not come out in a few years now, you might still have some kids in your family who love swashbuckling adventures. You may have a soft spot for them yourself.
If so, the Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show should be on your radar as you get ready to visit Gatlinburg. It takes place indoors, but all the action happens in an artificial, 15-foot indoor lagoon.
The pirates cross swords, fly through the air, and engage in nonsensical wordplay. It is not exactly Shakespeare, but it is a fun way to kill a couple of hours. The crackling pan-friend chicken is the show’s star, though you will likely enjoy the buccaneer biscuit as well, a Southern staple.
Steven’s Best Unbelievable Magic Shows Pigeon Forge, TN
Magic never goes out of style, as artists like Criss Angel and Penn and Teller prove with their long-running acts. Steven’s Best Unbelievable Magic Shows last about an hour-and-a-half, with an intermission. They are recommended by esteemed personages such as David Hasselhoff and Robin Leach.
The show features card tricks, rabbits popping out of hats, and the other usual fare. Even though it seems like you would have no trouble deciphering how Steven does his thing, you will likely have a hard time explaining to your kids how he conjures objects out of midair and makes other ones disappear. Is it magic? All signs point to yes.
Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show
Steven’s Magic Shows do not come with dinner, which is one point against them. You will get food and fun with the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show, though, one of the most high-energy and overall craziest shows Gatlinburg has to offer.
The real Hatfield and McCoy feud was a tragic affair, but it bears little resemblance to this farcical outing. The actors hoot, holler, and engage in dance-offs, while you and the family enjoy fare like open-pit pulled pork BBQ, famous feuding fried chicken, creamy vegetable soup, and more.
You can ask for gluten-free and vegetarian meals if you like, and the venue has handicapped seating options. You can take pictures of the action to post on social media later, as long as it is non-flash photography.
Elvis and the Superstars Pigeon Forge
It is hard to go anywhere in the south and find someone who does not appreciate the king. Elvis Presley had his detractors, but he is pretty much worshipped in these parts. You can certainly go to Graceland or Las Vegas to get an idea of what this celebrated crooner embodied, but Gatlinburg does a pretty passable impression of him with the Elvis and the Superstars Pigeon Forge show.
You get songs from the king himself, of course, but also some from Willy Nelson and Dolly Parton impersonators. Maybe all the actors portraying them did not imagine this particular career for themselves, but then again, perhaps they could not be happier with the work they do. They certainly belt out the hits with a lot of gusto, and the venue has handicap access as well.
They have a single show per day, unlike some of the other revues, which often feature an afternoon and evening performance. The event lasts about ninety minutes. You get no food with this one, so keep that in mind and eat before you arrive.
We will give the Biblical Times Dinner Theater an honorable mention, as well as the Marriage Can Be Murder Mystery Dinner Show, perfect for a marriage on the rocks.
