“Saddle-Up!” Western Festival Gears Up for 10th Annual Pigeon Forge Event
In what has become a staple of Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest (Feb. 25-28), the western-themed “Saddle-Up!” festival will again ride into town this February to a cowboy-lover’s delight.
The four-day festival includes a variety of entertainment, presented the cowboy way, from cowboy poets to concerts by Western musicians.
“It’s become a really big western-themed event,” said Lila Wilson, Pigeon Forge special events coordinator. “People who grew up watching old western shows and movies seem to really be drawn to the festival, which is now in its tenth year.”
From genuine chuckwagons from the Southeast and beyond at the annual chuckwagon cookoff to Western swing dances, there looks to be something for the Western enthusiast in all of us.
“It’s not that one event is more popular than the next, they’re all pretty popular,” Wilson said. “We bring in the cowboy poets, the western artists and then we wrap up the weekend with a Sunday morning chuckwagon breakfast followed by cowboy church. The chuckwagon cook off is always a big event because each entrant in the cook off competes for prizes.”
With last year’s festival drawing upwards of 2,000 people, Wilson believes Pigeon Forge is likely to see around the same number of visitors this year.
“People love it, they just love it,” she said. “It’s a niche event and people who are into the old west really turn out for it. It’s an opportunity for people who have fond memories of days gone by when they were kids growing up watching those western shows and reading about cowboys. The excitement is there and we expect a great weekend this year.”
Schedule of events:
Thursday, February 25, 2010
1:00 p.m. Concert – Smith Family Dinner Theater
Ray Doyle
Jeff Gore & Silver Valley
Dave Stamey
RW Hampton
6:00 p.m. The Bard and The Balladeer Dinner Show starring Don Edwards and Waddie Mitchell
Chuckwagon Dinner Show
Smith Family Dinner Theater
Friday, February 26, 2010
1:00 p.m. Concert – Grand Majestic Theater
Tim Jobe/Cal Farley Youth Performer
Sisters of the Silver Sage
Waddie Mitchell
Don Edwards
7:00 p.m. Concert – Grand Majestic Theater
Ray Doyle
Cal Farley Youth Performer
Jeff Gore and Silver Valley
RW Hampton
Sisters of the Silver Sage
Dave Stamey
9:00 p.m. Swing Dance featuring Kata Hay & The Blaze
Location: to be determined
*Separate ticket required. Proceeds to benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Buckaroo Roundup
Clabough’s Campging
Join us for a fun-filled day to learn the basics of calf roping, cowboy poetry, Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, the care of Dutch ovens, and so much more!
Noon The Pigeon Forge Lodging Association Chuckwagon Cookoff and Lunch
Clabough’s Campground – Wears Valley Road
$5 meal ticket available onsite – all proceeds to benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Virginian Cast Reunion
Featuring a meet and greet reception, Q & A with stars of the popular television series, film clips from the series, autograph sessions, and special performances by Jeff Gore and Silver Valley and Sisters of the Silver Sage. Join us for a star-studded evening with James Drury, Roberta Shore and other special guests.
Enjoy an art exhibit by Russ Mills
Location: to be determined
9:00 p.m. Swing Dance featuring Kata Hay & The Blaze
Location: to be determined
*Separate ticket required. Proceeds to benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch
Sunday, February 28, 2010
8:30 a.m. Chuckwagon Breakfast – Stages West
All proceeds to benefit Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch
10:00 a.m. Cowboy Church – Stages West
Join us for special performances by our featured performers and a special Cowboy Church service.
Tickets:
Ages 17 and younger admitted free
Day pass: $20 plus tax
Weekend pass: $50 plus tax
Chuckwagon breakfast: $5 per plate
Chuckwagon cookoff lunch: $5 per plate
Western Swing Dance: $5
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