Activities In the Smokies, The Richmont Inn, Townsend, TN.

Activities - For your Entertainment

Unless otherwise noted, events will follow Fondue Dinner or Candlelight Dessert

Birds of the Smokies - A Guided Tour

Know and Grow Wildflowers - A Smoky Mountain Plant Identification Tour

Winter through Spring Activities at Richmont Inn

Townsend Tennessee Activities - Bustin Out All Over

Major Annual Events in The Great Smoky Mountains

December - Christmas in an Appalachian Village - see holiday specials
Present your loved one with a stay at the romantic Richmont Inn during this most delightful season. You get a sumptuous four-course Swiss fondue dinner in the glowing charm of our Cades Cove Cafe all dressed up for Christmas. Savor the Inn's complimentary candlelight desserts (gourmet of course), with the best of coffees. Enjoy tasteful live music such as carolers, pianists, or a strolling violinist bringing added joy and peace to the experience. Relax by a radiant fire or slide into warm, scented water of your soothing spa tub. Tis the season, and it's all here for you. Relax and romance in the luxurious rustic elegance of Richmont Inn at Christmastime.

Create great holiday memories for you and your loved one. Take a scenic drive into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, (they don't call it great for nothing). And, there's never a bad time to go, especially for the young at heart. See the park features, maybe hike a short nature trail, then return to the Richmont Inn and stroll the lighted paths of our Appalachian Village dolled up for the holidays. There's a short wooded path to an open air chapel - a perfect place to stop and meditate or reflect. Shop in our little Appalachian Gallery of fine arts and crafts. Here at Richmont you will catch the spirit and meaning of a Smoky Mountain Christmas. Lots of good memories await you.

Other Christmas activities:

Christmas shopping at over 400 discount outlets, a 30 minute drive to Pigeon Forge.

No activity is sometimes a good activity: Hide out from stress and stay stress-free at Richmont Inn. There's loads of quiet and peace to be found.

New Year's Eve - December 31 - Mark Twain Comes to Richmont Inn
Celebrate and usher in the New Year with Mark Twain's visit to Richmont Inn. Though Samuel Clemens died more than 3/4 century ago, his work lives on through Ron Jewell and his one man show, featuring the wit and wisdom of America's great humorist. He has appeared over 1000 times in 25 states.

January 2-31 - Guest Appreciation Month
Rest and relax after the hectic holidays and take advantage of our special two night package that saves and gives you more - our way of saying thanks for your kindness and loyalty over the past seventeen years. January is a perfect time to regroup and freshen your perspective for the coming year. The views are clear, there is snow on the mountain, a chill in the air, and quietness everywhere. Included in the package for two: Two night full amenity room (spa tub for two, fireplace, king size bed,) a gourmet fireside or stream side picnic, and of course, a full complimentary breakfast and an evening candlelight dessert and coffee. All in all, a great value and our way of showing appreciation for you. (Call now for reduced rates, savings up to $55.00.)

Romantic Rendezvous Throughout February
"Nurture the romance in your relationship" with a romantic rendezvous at Richmont Inn when St. Valentine's day will be celebrated every evening in February at Richmont Inn. A classic Swiss fondue dinner or a fireside dinner basket with a splendid wine shared with your sweetheart and candlelight dessert will highlight the evenings. Tables will be adorned with soft glowing pink candles in hand blown hurricane globes, white china, golden flatware, and white doilies and napkins. Framed and famous poetic amorous addresses of old will be on each table for two. Treat her.

We'll begin with a "Chocolate Lovers" Weekend on February 1-2 We'll have the finest gourmet chocolates for your tasting. Our Chef will be making and serving hand crafted rich dark chocolate truffles as well as our new signature dessert "Died and Gone to Heaven Chocolate Cake." We also offer our fine port wine to enhance the taste of our chocolate desserts. So call now and reserve yourself and your loved one a "Sweet Rendezvous" at Richmont Inn.

Upon retiring, guests can have a cozy warm fire or find refuge in a spa tub for two filled with just right hot water, spiced with essential oils or an aromatic candle. Guests will find a red rose and chocolates on their pillow with "sweet music" piped into the rooms. Then, begin the new day with breakfast in bed and a massage. Call 865-448-6751 (local) or 866-267-7086 (TOLL FREE) for sweetened weekend packages. Romantic Rendezvous Package available for the entire month of February. See Inn Specials

Then on Saturdays February 9th, and 16th, William Lovelace will play classical love songs on his harp. It's a tradition at Richmont Inn as harp music brings the spirit of romance to our Valentine celebration like no other music can. You may end the evening with a cozy fire or hot spa tub for two in your private room. You will have "sweet music" piped into your room and a red rose and chocolates on your pillow. Then, you can begin the new day with breakfast in bed and a massage.

And for the day remember you are only 10 minutes to Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, rafting, golf, swimming, historic tours, antique/crafts shopping, wildflower walks, theatre.

March1 - Westies of Richmont Inn Fashion Show - Our three West Highland Terriers will model the latest in canine apparel. Marcus and Summit our teenagers, newly crowned champions will make their debut and join us for a fun and unusual evening. You'll meet Grand Cuvee and her daughter Melonie (Starred in the Madison Square Garden Show), all AKC champions and bluebloods from Boston. See Westies Page

March 8 - (Saturday Morning) Cooking Demonstration. Richmont Inn Chefs will show you how to prepare and serve our two most unique and popular dishes: our award winning Crème Brule Kahula (Grand Prize Gourmet Magazine), and Richmont Bacon, baked with herbs and spices. This will take place conveniently in our kitchen, and recipes will be given to each guest attending.

March 22 (Sat) - Lynne Fox Historian and Storyteller, appearing in "period dress," brings alive Davy Crockett and John Sevier, men who shaped the future of Tennessee and our nation with their vision, determination, and fortitude.

April 5 - (morning) Cooking Demonstration. (See March 8th)

April 11 - (morning) - Know and Grow Wildflowers. Hope Woodard, owner of Hedgewood Gardens, 6 acres with more than 300 varieties of wildflowers, will help you identify these beautiful plants. She will talk at Richmont Inn, then take you on a tour of her nearby gardens. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for walking. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Features Wildflower-Walks throughout April and May

April 12 - (morning) - Easter Sunrise Service

April 18 - Birds of the Smokies. Learn how to identify birds with your ears in addition to your eyes. Fred Alsop, leading birding expert and author of the official guidebook, "Birds of the Smokies," will introduce you to pursuing birds and identifying them. Fred will lecture with a slide show Saturday evening and early Sunday morning and take us birding in Laurel Valley.

May 17 - Lynne Fox Historian and Storyteller, appearing in "period dress," brings alive Davy Crockett and John Sevier, men who shaped the future of Tennessee and our nation with their vision, determination, and fortitude.

May 29, 30, 31 Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend (Saturday afternoon) with a good ole fashioned cookout at the Inn. It won't be the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs but "gourmet all the way." We'll provide the food ($20.00 per person) and fun, plus our selection of fine wines and imported beers.

June 1-16 Elkmont: Synchronized Firefly Light Show. The GSNP is one of the few places in the world where this natural phenomenon occurs. The first half of June you will want to visit Elkmont, the home of a fantastic light show of fireflys flashing simultaneously. It's a thrill for beholders.

June 12-30 - Gregory's Bald Mountain Azaleas Ablaze. Make this popular hike and see - as the famous botanist said: "We are alarmed with the apprehension of the hills being set on fire. This is certainly the most gay and brilliant flowering shrubbery yet known."

Sep 4,5,6 - Celebrate Labor Day Weekend. (Saturday afternoon) with a good ole fashioned cookout at the Inn. It won't be the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs but "gourmet all the way." We'll provide the food ($20.00 per person) and fun, plus our selection of fine wines and imported beers.

Sep 11/12 - Pastel as a Painting Medium. Join pastel artist Paul deMarrais in the spectacular Smoky Mountains. This two day workshop will immerse you in the potential of pastel as a painting medium. You will explore the process of painting on location in a tradition known as “en plein air’ and relate this experience to working from photographs in a studio setting. Price of Class: $125.00 per student. Sanded boards provided. Class space 10 students.

Our Concierge Service: (Throughout the year) Innkeepers will be happy to provide suggestions on what to do, where to go, and how to get there for all outdoor activities; biking, hiking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, tubing, rafting, swimming, wild flower walks, arts/crafts/antique shopping, and theatre. We'll save you time and effort.

MORE:

Townsend is "Bustin' Out All Over"
To Give You New Vacation Experiences

-The widening of US 321 through Townsend is completed with a beautification plan being implemented in the median and along the roadside. This means easy driving in a scenic corridor – split rail fences, native trees and shrubs, even old barns and a mountain museum. We’re on our way to being a village, not a commercial gaudy tourist town. See why they call it the peaceful side of the Smokies.

MAKE PLANS to visit our new $3.1 Million, 17,000 sq ft Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, showcasing the history and culture of the mountain people. On the Parkway in Townsend.

-Ride your bike or walk the 4.5 mile scenic paved trail from the entrance to Townsend to the Great Smokes. Three underpasses keep you from competing with cars and historical markers note our town’s history and Native American sites.

-Walk across one of our two reconstructed swinging bridges that span our scenic Little River which flows with clear waters from the Smokies.

-Fish or stroll on our beautiful new ¾ mile river walk. Annually the river is stocked with bushels of fish.

-Attend a Orvis fly fishing seminar at the Little river outfitters or hire their guide services to escort you on your fly fishing adventure into the Great Smokies.

-Leisurely tube down a beautiful section of our Little River. Big rapids, small rapids, adults and children wear shoes and bring sunscreen. Shuttle service May 30th - September 5th.

-Walk through the gardens of the Lily Barn with hundereds of varieties of daylilies, wildflowers, aquatic plants, hostas and other fine perennials. It gets its name from a restored 120 year old cantilever barn on site.

-Dine at new restaurants offering gourmet food at its best. The Foothills Milling Company tops our lists. Try them one night and our classic Swiss fondue the second night.

-Enjoy our numerous Crafts Festivals and Cades Cove Old Timers Weekend Events.

Major Annual Events
in Townsend, Tennessee

For details contact Townsend Visitors Center 800-525-6834 or 865-448-6134
Visit the website

Winter Heritage Festival
5-8 February 2009

Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies: February 5-8, 2009. A community-wide celebration of the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Call 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834. Click here for the full schedule: WHF Schedule 1-26 , www.winterheritagefestival.org.


April 4 -	Herb and Wildflower Walks at the Townsend Visitor Center - 9 to 5pm!
	Visit with expert botanists, photographers, and naturalists, Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, & fine hand made pottery. Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place.

See Richmont Inn's Wildflower Page <click

For more information see www.smokymountains.org/info/herb_wildflower.html

Enjoy beautiful Cades Cove with a special tour! Want to have the entire family together, learn as you go, enjoy the wildlife, scenery, and history, and let someone else do the driving? For a fun and educational trip led by a knowledgeable guide in a comfortable, fuel efficient 19 passenger van, take the Cades Cove Heritage Tour, departing from the CCHT Depot in Townsend. To make reservations, call 865-448-8838 or email Alex Roche: alex.gsmhc@cadescoveheritagtours.org

See the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau's special green website for low impact vacation ideas: http://www.lowimpactvacation.com/ and click here for a few eco-tips for your visit. Traveling to other places in our beautiful state? See Tennessee's Sustainable Tourism website: www.tnsustainabletourism.com

2009 Events:

The 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Townsend area and other gateway communities will have many activities to honor the birth of the Park.

January-March: Crafts and Music Classes, various times and dates. Learn rug hooking, basketry, pottery, sewing, or flat-picking guitar. See http://www.smokymountains.org/classes-workshops.html

Bluegrass, Old Time, Dulcimer, Celtic Music Jam Sessions and performances at Rocky Branch Community Center on Friday nights; Bluegrass and more at Music Row in Maryville Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. In the summertime, visit Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop's "Pickin' Porch".

Townsend Love Affair: February 13-15, 2009. Local Artisans showcase their talents in paintings, woodcarving, pottery and quilts while musicians share their gift of bluegrass, fiddle tunes and making instruments. Dancers teach clogging lessons to children of all ages, while historians and nature photographers share their knowlege of the Smokys and storytellers spin their tales. Little River Railroad volunteers share the history of the railroad and its impact on our area. These events are spread throughout the town, giving ample opportunity for all to enjoy. Click here for the brochure: Townsend Love Affair

Herb and Wildflower Day: Saturday, April 4, 2009. A tribute to the beauty and fascination of wildflowers, ferns, trees, and herbs. Visit with expert botanists, artists, photographers, and naturalists. Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, and fine hand-made pottery. Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place. Click here for the details: Herb and Wildflower flyer

Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day: May 1-2, 2009, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, Appalachian skills, wildflower walks and garden tours, storytelling, BBQ contest, antique cars and tractors. Also visit our new Festivals website: www.smokymountainfestivals.org

Trout Fest: May 15-17, 2009. A special event to highlight Smoky Mountain streams, fishing, and conservation. For details, call Little River Outfitters at 865-448-9459.

Vintage Camper Rally in the Smokies: May 15--16, 2009. Misty River Cabins and RV Resort. 865-981-4300, http://www.mistyriverrv.com/

Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival: Friday, June 5, noon--7:00pm and Saturday, June 6, 2009 9:00am--5:00pm. Enjoy the work of skilled artisans and see pottery being made at this juried show with 35 booths. Featured guest potters are Melissa Maney and Peter Rose. There will be demonstrations, a special firing, children's tent, music, and good food. An officially sanctioned event of the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See our new Festivala website: www.smokymountainfestivals.org
This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission.

ChristyFest: June 17--21, 2009, Valley View Lodge in Townsend, TN. Join enthusiasts of the book and movie Christy, with talks, storytelling, field trips, and more. For details, go to http://www.christyfest.org/

17^th Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day: September 25-26, 2009, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, arts and crafts, sorghum molasses making and other Appalachian skills, antique tractor show, young folks program, great food. http://www.smokymountainfestivals.org/

For more information about these and other events, please call the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center events take place all year long here in Townsend. Activities include quilt shows, concerts, cultural heritage programs, and festivals, plus their permanent exhibits of Native American and early settler history. 865-448-0044.

Content Courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

May 1-2 - Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival. Sixth Annual Event featuring arts, crafts, bluegrass music, wildflowers and barbecue at the Townsend Visitors Center, and Old Times Day in Cades Cove.

May 2 through May 4 – Appalachian Wildflower Celebration - A celebration of flowers and trees, birds and bees. Tour the famous Hedgewood Gardens in Townsend’s 6 acres of over 300 varieties of native wildflowers. Take walks and hikes in the Smokies with guides to help you identify the Great Smokies’ abundance of wildflowers. Townsend Visitors Center.

May 1-2 – Old Timers Day in Cades Cove – Enjoy molasses making, bluegrass music and strolling through historic churches and log cabins. Great Smoky Mountain National Park (865-436-1200 or visit http://www.nps.gov/grsm)

May 15 - 16 - Third Annual Townsend Trout Fest - 9am-6pm Saturday and Sunday. Expect thirty plus vendors of fishing related equipment, fine arts, and crafts, and items related to our mountains and streams. Location at the Townsend Visitor's Center.

June 5 - Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival - History, traditions, techniques, and art of fine pottery. Exhibiting and selling all styles. Demonstrating wheel throwing and raku firing.

June 28 - 29, and Sept 27 & 28 - Townsend Arts and Crafts Festival at Nawger Nob – Featuring work by local artists, blacksmiths, quilt makers, basket makers, wood carvers, furniture makers, potters and artists (800-448-2259)

Sept 24 – Fall Heritage Festival – molasses making, bluegrass music and strolling through historic churches and log cabins. Great Smoky Mountain National Park 865-436-1200 or visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park Website.

Nov 30 & Dec 1 – Smoky Mountain Christmas - Townsend Visitor Center.