Exploring Christmas Traditions in East Tennessee: A Journey Through Appalachia's Holiday Celebrations

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You're listening to Tennessee Roads, recorded in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Well, hey there, everybody, and welcome back for another episode of Tennessee Roads podcast.
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My name's Dusty and I'll be your guide as we hitchhike to all the towns and communities that make up the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Well, hey there, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of Tennessee Roads.
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My name is Dusty and I'm super glad to be back just before the holiday season.
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I know I told you guys in the last episode that it would probably be 2024 before I came back, but I've got everything settled and planned out, so I figured what a better opportunity than to jump in and celebrate the season, as it is a very important cultural cornerstone from the Smokies.
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Now, before we jump in and we start talking about Christmas in the Smokies or Christmas in Appalachia, I know that there are some of you guys that probably have some questions, some of you wondering what's been going on.
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So, in case you haven't been caught up to date, at the beginning of November I made the decision that it was time for me to have a new adventure and I picked up my life and I moved to Orlando, florida.
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If anyone of you know me personally.
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You know that hospitality, tourism and theme park management have played a large role in my life, and this was something that I've wanted to do for almost the last 10 years, pretty much since 2014.
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So I made the decision that if I was going to do it, I needed to do it.
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So I celebrated my 30th birthday, wrapped everything up back home in East Tennessee and have decided, for at least the time being, that I was going to relocate to Orlando, florida, and, before any of you do ask questions, yes, I am already heavily involved in the hospitality and tourism sector down here.
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Not going to give anything away as to what I'm doing, I want to keep that private, but those of you that know me personally know where I'm at and what I'm doing, so I am super excited to see what that adventure holds, and it already sounds like 2024 and 2025 are potentially some pretty big years for me.
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So that's exciting, but that is enough as updates on me.
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So, without further ado, let's just go ahead and jump on right in and let's discuss what it's like to have Christmas in the Smokies.
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It's no secret that East Tennessee is one of the top travel destinations in the country, with the largest free national park, the Great Smoky Mountains, dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival, thousands of parades and good old Southern hospitality.
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It is no wonder that generations of families flock to the area to enjoy some holiday cheer.
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East Tennessee is a beautiful place to visit any time of year, but it is especially magical during the Christmas season the lights are twinkling, the area is filled with the smell of fresh baked cookies and the mountains are covered in snow.
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Well, while many people love to think that Country Music Star Amy Grant's song Tender Tennessee Christmas depicts a forecast snowy white, the last time we saw snow on Christmas was in 2010.
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The National Weather Service in Morse Town recorded 2.5 inches of snowfall in Knoxville.
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It's safe to say that it doesn't happen often.
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As a matter of fact, the National Weather Service has recorded just five white Christmases in over 121 years.
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Snowfall in the area happens between January and February, and data supports that we only typically see 4.6 inches on average during that entire time.
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Now, during this time, the average temperature floats between 31 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 and 8.8 degrees Celsius, so let's not focus on that time of year just yet.
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Christmas in Appalachia, particularly East Tennessee, often has a unique and warm cultural flavor, but it isn't always like what you see in the Hallmark movies.
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Appalachia, as we have discussed previously, is known for its strong sense of tradition, and Christmas it's no exception.
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Families often engage in long-standing customs, which might include caroling, tree decorating and attending local holiday events.
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However, as we continue to venture further into this millennium, we have often seen those old traditions, like caroling, fade away as people feel less neighborly as the modern age of technology has taken over.
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Still, there are parts of Appalachia that hold true to these holiday festivities, as music and storytelling are an integral part of Appalachia.
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Christmas is no different.
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This time of year you can find local musicians playing traditional Appalachian carols and folk songs, provided you can tune out Mariah Carey from every public speaker in existence.
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If you do some research, you can often find storytelling sessions where tales from the region are shared, adding a touch of folklore to the holiday season.
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One of the most famous ways to hear of these old folk tales and music is by attending a session of the Smoky Mountain Toons and Tales.
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Here holiday music fills the air, as sacred and secular mixture of Appalachia, bluegrass and country music fill the air.
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Visitors will also enjoy visiting with Santa's elves, frosty Rudolph and a little bit of history, humor and more.
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This interactive program is a holiday favorite, staged against a backdrop of millions of lights, making a truly magical experience in Geltlenburg.
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For more information, you can check out Smoky Mountain Toons and Tales on Facebook.
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One thing that Appalachia doesn't skimp on during the holiday season is decorations.
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These often reflect a more rustic and natural style.
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Homemade ornaments, pinecone and other locally sourced materials might be used to decorate homes.
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Many families take pride in creating their own wreaths and decorations.
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Some decorations are passed down from generation to generation.
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For example, I have a string of red beads that belong to my great grandmother.
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I design my whole tree around the red beads and other ornaments that I've inherited over the years.
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Even though traditions like caroling are becoming more uncommon, community involvement plays a significant role in the lives of people of Appalachia.
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Christmas often involves the whole community, with local churches, schools and community centers holding festive gatherings.
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Parades, holiday markets and tree lighting ceremonies are also common.
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However, during these times, we must remember those who are less fortunate.
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Not everyone will have a homeless Christmas.
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The Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless always works to provide for those in need.
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As a matter of fact, now, through December 31st, some of their donors will match a portion of donations made to expand programming and deliver direct services to the people who call in their organization for help.
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I'll link their contact information in the description box if you're interested in finding out more information on how you can help in homelessness in East Tennessee.
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Now this brings us to another great tradition of Appalachia the spirit of giving.
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Appalachians are known for their hospitality and generosity, and the Christmas season often brings out a strong spirit of giving which many individuals and organizations organizing charity events, food drives and other initiatives to help those in need.
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Now this brings me to a very big point.
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While giving is important, it's important to remember that most of those large organizations they're just going to use your donation as a tax write off and not care where your money goes.
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It's important to remember to support local.
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Give your time and attention to organizations that look to make an impact specifically in your area.
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In East Tennessee there are hundreds of thousands of people that come together over the years to attend East Tennessee's Children's Hospitals Fantasy of the Trees.
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This annual event is the hospital's largest fundraiser, attracting nearly 60,000 people during the week of Thanksgiving.
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The guests can travel through a forest of more than 350 beautifully designed trees, holiday accessories, storefront windows, door designs, table centerpieces and an adopt a tree forest decorated by local school children, all priced to sell.
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Guests can also enjoy live entertainment at the Fantasy Theater or stroll through the gingerbread village.
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The event raised more than $1.3 million in 2022, which enabled the hospital to purchase a lifeline ambulance to transport pediatric patients to and from the hospital.
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Now we can't forget about one of the most famous and personally my favorite parts of Appalachia the food.
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Like in many southern traditions, food is a big part of the Christmas celebration.
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You might find a spread of traditional southern dishes like ham, biscuits, sweet potatoes and various casseroles.
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Local ingredients and recipes passed down through generations contribute to the unique Appalachian holiday cuisine.
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Now, I've had friends attend Christmas breakfast, which our family hosts the week after the holiday.
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Now, one thing that has stumped most of my out of town friends is that we always have dumplings around the holidays.
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Now, this tradition goes back to the 20th century and even farther.
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Families in Appalachia didn't always have money to buy a Christmas ham or turkey.
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They would live off the land.
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So in its place, many homesteads would take one of their chickens, which they could afford to lose, and they would make chicken and dumplings as their main dish, with the famous Appalachian sides to accompany them.
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Now, in more modern times, it is more customary to see ham and turkey around the center of the table.
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As time has continued, median household income has increased and more families are able to participate in these modern Christmas traditions.
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Are you enjoying today's episode?
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Stay safe and stay educated with Tennessee Roads Podcast.
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As winter's chill settles over the scenic landscapes of East Tennessee, the Appalachian spirit comes alive, with a festive energy that transforms the region into a holiday haven.
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From charming small towns adorned with twinkling lights to the breathtaking vistas of the great smoky mountains, east Tennessee offers a Christmas experience steeped in tradition, warmth and southern hospitality, whether you're a local seeking new ways to celebrate the season or a visitor eager to discover the unique holiday charm of this region.
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We're about to discuss a tapestry of yuletide activities capturing the essence of East Tennessee's Christmas magic.
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So let us journey through the heart of Appalachia as we explore the best of what this picturesque region has to offer during the most wonderful time of the year.
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One of the most famous events taking place in Appalachia this holiday season is the award-winning Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival.
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Dollywood is known for having over 6 million lights adorning every surface of the park, and this year they adorn the sky as well, as the park debuts the new joyful drone show.
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It features hundreds of drone on display in the sky above Wildwood Grove displaying festive reds, greens and whites.
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In addition to the new drone show, guests can watch one of the classic Dollywood Christmas line-ups oh Holy Night.
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Candlelight, carolers and the mistletones will be held in the outdoor venues throughout the park and you can catch a full-length musical in the various indoor theaters.
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Dollywood's Twas the Night Before Christmas takes you back 13 years to the Baxter family's favorite Christmas memory.
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The show follows the Baxter siblings Grace, sarah and Jim.
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Sarah's stuck at school in Vermont when her friend's car breaks down and the last bus home to Tennessee is full.
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Jim gets bumped from his transport plane home from the Navy.
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This is when young Grace decides to write a letter to Santa asking her family to be home for the holidays.
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Grace's parents warn her not to expect too much from Santa, as it is the night before Christmas Eve when things get crazy, when a ragtag group of mice start their hunt for this year's holiday cookies.
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Sarah meets Grandpa Nick, jim meets Captain Dasher, and the next thing you know the entire house on stage begins to rotate.
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But you will have to find out what happens if you attend the show yourself.
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Located in the Pines Theater, this is a great show for children 1 to 99.
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Another show that I would highly recommend is Dollywood's Christmas in the Smokies, which has been their resident Christmas show since the company began its Christmas celebration in the 90s.
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The show has had a few different interpretations, but in recent year the show follows a family celebrating Christmas in Appalachia Mountains in the late 18 to early 1900s.
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As the family's son returns from the city with his girlfriend, they are welcomed by the extended family as they celebrate the holiday season.
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The show features traditional folk music, christmas hymns and a cabin exterior that opens into an expansive set.
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The show was housed in the Dolly Parton Celebrity Theater, which can host more than 1,700 guests per show.
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When Santa isn't hard at work at the North Pole, he's hard at work at East Tennessee when he comes to visit his favorite songstress, dolly.
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Santa's list Naughty or Nice allows kids and kids at heart a chance to see inside Santa's cabin in the Smokies.
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As he reviews the list, families can discover whether their names are on the Naughty or Nice list and they even have their photo made as they peer through the window.
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During this once in a lifetime chance to catch Santa at work, dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival operates daily from now until January 6th of 2024, from 11 am to 9 pm, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
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Another fun thing to do in the Smokies is Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland, a drive through holiday experience.
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After a recent move, the event is now held at Soakey Mountain Water Park.
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The new location provided a longer drive route filled with new additions and the addition of the Snowy Mountain Village.
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Inside Soakey Mountain Water Park, guests can enjoy refreshments, souvenirs and activities for the kids.
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This runs until January 7th of 2024.
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And we can't forget the holidays.
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You tell ghost stories around the fireplace, right?
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Well, frightworks Haunted Holiday show returns December 8th and 9th.
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Now you can enjoy the spooky side of the holidays, as Frightworks does a complete Christmas layover of their 13,000 square foot attraction.
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Guests are provided a single candle or glow stick and are sent through Frightworks to meet with holiday classic characters such as Christine the Red Nosed Reindeer, genji the Gingerbread man, krampus, dark Santa, and, if you're lucky, you may catch Grandpa and he'll tell you his own scary stories.
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While the event is still a haunted house, frightworks has been known to take this event into the theatrical camp route, providing tons of scares and laughs to create memories this season.
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As a matter of fact, here's a clip from their holiday catalog.
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Now it's the most frightening time of the year.
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Oh, the Sandman is dreaming, the Krampus is scheming, so be of great fear.
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It's the most frightening time of the year.
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Evil Santa is lurking, the Butcher is working, so it's Doctor's casting his spell, bloody Mary appearing with wicked clowns leering and creatures from dark pants up ahead.
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Help, ah.
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Join us at Frightworks haunted house and celebrate the spooky side of the season with our Haunted Holidays event.
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Scary stories from the season aren't just for telling around the fireplace.
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Frightworks brings them to life.
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Get dates, times and tickets now at Frightworkscom.
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Ha ha ha.
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The Frightworks Haunted Holidays will happen December 8th and 9th from 7 pm to 10 pm.
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You can get tickets at Frightworkscom Now if you're in the Knoxville area and you're looking for a super fun way to explore the downtown area that's not quite as spooky as Frightworks, you can take a stroll on the Peppermint Trail.
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Follow the trail of peppermints of the sidewalks of downtown Knoxville to discover all sorts of treats featuring the favorite red and white candy, from candy cane coffees at Morning Brunch to craft cocktails sipped by candlelight.
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You'll find peppermint treats around almost every corner, along with plenty of gingerbread, cinnamon, cranberry, apple spice and other holiday flavors.
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Plus, boutiques and gift shops feature peppermint-themed t-shirts, scented soaps, candles and all sorts of holiday surprises.
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And you can end your trip at the Peppermint Trail Grove at Market Square in Crutch Park.
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You can enjoy the Peppermint Trail November 24th and January 8th, and you can post your photos at hashtag NoxPeppermint on Instagram.
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If anyone is looking to lace up and try their luck on the ice, there are plenty of locations in the area to do so.
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Market Square in downtown Knoxville is hosting holiday on ice presented by Home Federal Bank.
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The rink is open daily now until January 2nd, weather permitting.
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Tickets are $12 for adults or $9 for children.
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This is a fun place to go, as they have special themed nights like Ice Bear's Night, decade nights, popular artist's nights, college night with admission for $2 with a college ID or $2 off, and other themes.
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If you prefer indoor skating with a larger rink, you can also check out the Ice Chalet, which has been a Knoxville family destination since 1962.
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Or if you're up in the mountains, feel free to check out Obermountain, formerly Oberg Outlandberg.
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They feature a scenic and exciting Four Seasons Adventure Park and Ski Area.
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Obermountain features ice skating daily and ice bumper cars at select days.
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Also, ober has multiple alpine coasters, scenic chairlifts, snow tubing, skiing shops and dining.
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You know, I think we might actually have to circle back and do a whole episode on Ober, because it is a historical landmark for many Now.
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I wanted to put something together for you all for Christmas, but I didn't have all the time in the world.
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There's so much more crazy stuff happening in this area during the holiday season and so much more history.
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But from my family to yours, we hope you have a merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa, happy Hanukkah, merry Yule and Boxing Day and any other holiday that I might have missed, please remember.
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If you enjoyed today's show, please like it, leave a review, share it with someone you know.
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Turn on your notifications so you can be notified when I publish new content.
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Oh and Jen, thank you so much for your email.
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I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hear from you and hearing how much you love the show.
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Thanks again, until next time, stay safe, stay educated and Merry Christmas.