One of the best special events to start a new year in the Smokies (or anywhere in America, we might argue) is the Pigeon Forge Wilderness Wildlife Week, which we have going on this year from January 28th to February 1st. The event is somewhat on the rare side of Smoky Mountain events where it’s arguably geared more towards locals and a serious study of the subject than many others we have that are intended to bring visitors into the area; and that subject is the pure-as-God-made-it Smoky Mountain nature itself. It’s as much a study as it is a celebration of the environment which bears our community.
How do we study and celebrate it? Exhibits, lectures, guided hikes in the Smokies, demonstrations and an art competition, among others. Mypigeonforge.com provides this description:
“Come celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains. This year, we’ll be inviting some of the leading wildlife experts to lead informative discussions with you. This is a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about nature.
Showcasing what makes the Smokies so special, Wilderness Wildlife Week celebrates the abundance of wildlife, variety of plants, trees, and wildflowers, and rich history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee through a series of classes, seminars, demonstrations, guided hikes, panel discussions, and workshops.”
As an idea of what to expect from Wilderness Wildlife Week, here are some snapshots of their first day’s itinerary:
And to round it out, a couple videos:
We’re looking forward to this event and we hope our post here can help you look forward to it, too! See https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week/ for more info.