In a part of the country better known for arts and crafts festivals, youthful vacationers are the subject of a new summertime festival-KidsFest at the Dollywood theme park.
KidsFest, which the park describes at the largest kids' festival in the South, unites kid-friendly personalities such as Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato from the VeggieTales series and Garfield from the comic pages with acrobatic dogs and some of the world's best BMX riders, skateboarders and inline skaters.
"Pigeon Forge always has been a family-friendly destination, and Dollywood's KidsFest is a great addition. Great family memories are made here," said Kay Powell, assistant director of tourism for the town that is next-door neighbor to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Pigeon Forge's permanent population is tiny, about 5,000, but its annual visitation is quite large, approximately 11 million people, according to Powell.
Dollywood, which brands itself as "The Smoky Mountain Family Adventure," is a diverse theme park that reflects the heart and soul of the Smokies through music, crafts, food and entertainment, as well as the persona of its namesake, Dolly Parton. It is a mainstay of the area's tourism industry.
The inaugural presentation of KidsFest continues through Aug. 10 featuring stage productions, street performances and hands-on activities for youngsters.
For instance, America's most sarcastic cat is the star of "Garfield Presents 'Happy Birthday To Me,'" a live stage show marking his 25th birthday. His syndicated comic strip appears in more newspapers than any other strip.
Another stage show features VeggieTales characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, kid-popular stars who are fresh from their first major motion picture, "Jonah." They appear in the 1,000-seat Showstreet Palace Theatre.
"Reality entertainment" at KidsFest comes in two shows that draw amazed gasps from their audiences. One is a canine gymnastic spectacle staged by the Purina Dog Chow Incredible Dog Team, and the other is an extreme sports show produced by sports industry giant ASA Events.
The Incredible Dog Team, many of whose stars were rescued from shelters around the country, performs in Dollywood's Celebration Hall, showcasing high jumps, balancing tricks, feats of flying disc catching and other stunts.
The extreme sports show features a full stadium-size half-pipe ramp built to the specifications of world championship competition. Youthful spectators will recognize some of the performers: world champion skateboarder Richie Lopez (only the second skateboarder to accomplish a 900-degree maneuver on a vertical ramp), BMX medalist Jimmy Walker and Inline Skate Tour champion Matt Lindenmuth.
"I love kids," said Dolly Parton. "Things are so much bigger and brighter when seen through the eyes of a child, and KidsFest certainly gives them a lot to see."
Visitor information about all Pigeon Forge activities is available at www.mypigeonforge.com or by calling toll-free to 800-251-9100.
