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‘Music, Lights and Magic’ — Sevierville first city to kick off 2009 Winterfest
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By JEFF FARRELL
Staff Writer
SEVIERVILLE — With a perfect November evening as the backdrop, people started arriving early Tuesday for the “Music, Lights and Magic,” the kickoff for Smoky Mountain Winterfest in the city.
The event at the Municipal Complex included activities for children, along with free food, entertainment, fireworks and Mayor Bryan Atchley activating the city’s Winterfest light display to start the Winterfest season.
It’s the 20th year for Winterfest, which kicks off in Gatlinburg today and in Pigeon Forge Thursday. For the first time, Winterfest will also include an event at Smokies Stadium, as it hosts a “Christmas Wonderland.” That event, which features a drive-through light show synchronized to music, will require admission, but the proceeds will benefit a local charity.
Amanda Marr, marketing director for the Chamber of Commerce, and Kelly Stahlke of the city of Sevierville helped to put the event together.
“It’s a big undertaking, but I think people really enjoy it,” Marr said.
The city always tries to add some new twists to the event, and the latest was a Holiday Cookie Contest. City personnel also built a new switch for Atchley to use in turning on the lights, and Santa got a new ride as he arrived in an antique fire truck.
As always, there was a long line for free hot chocolate offered by city employees and a crowd around several tables offering free pizza, popcorn and other food. Another queue formed at the Civic Center to enjoy the Christmas trees in the “Enchanted Forest.”
Local performers provided entertainment through the evening as it built toward the lighting ceremony.
People had a hard time picking a favorite part; in fact many went the route of Kodak’s Bruce Hinckley and said that they enjoyed just about everything.
“We like it all,” he said. “It’s the only one of the cities that they don’t make the families pay for anything. We love when they turn on the lights and have fireworks, and watching the kids. ...
“We come every year, and this year we got the neighbors to come with us.”
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
Staff Writer
SEVIERVILLE — With a perfect November evening as the backdrop, people started arriving early Tuesday for the “Music, Lights and Magic,” the kickoff for Smoky Mountain Winterfest in the city.
The event at the Municipal Complex included activities for children, along with free food, entertainment, fireworks and Mayor Bryan Atchley activating the city’s Winterfest light display to start the Winterfest season.
It’s the 20th year for Winterfest, which kicks off in Gatlinburg today and in Pigeon Forge Thursday. For the first time, Winterfest will also include an event at Smokies Stadium, as it hosts a “Christmas Wonderland.” That event, which features a drive-through light show synchronized to music, will require admission, but the proceeds will benefit a local charity.
Amanda Marr, marketing director for the Chamber of Commerce, and Kelly Stahlke of the city of Sevierville helped to put the event together.
“It’s a big undertaking, but I think people really enjoy it,” Marr said.
The city always tries to add some new twists to the event, and the latest was a Holiday Cookie Contest. City personnel also built a new switch for Atchley to use in turning on the lights, and Santa got a new ride as he arrived in an antique fire truck.
As always, there was a long line for free hot chocolate offered by city employees and a crowd around several tables offering free pizza, popcorn and other food. Another queue formed at the Civic Center to enjoy the Christmas trees in the “Enchanted Forest.”
Local performers provided entertainment through the evening as it built toward the lighting ceremony.
People had a hard time picking a favorite part; in fact many went the route of Kodak’s Bruce Hinckley and said that they enjoyed just about everything.
“We like it all,” he said. “It’s the only one of the cities that they don’t make the families pay for anything. We love when they turn on the lights and have fireworks, and watching the kids. ...
“We come every year, and this year we got the neighbors to come with us.”
jfarrell@themountainpress.com
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