When strategizing on how to price the nightly rate of your Short Term Rentals, don’t forget to consider all of the events that the towns in the Great Smoky Mountains have lined up! Some events are annual events that will recur within the same time frame each year while others are one time events. Find a few “calendar of events” sites, take some notes, and you will be able to capitalize on dates that will have a higher than usual influx of visitors to the Smokies. Strategies like this are a form of dynamic pricing, where you adjust pricing according to the market and accounting for various factors. Don’t miss an opportunity to optimize your pricing!

In addition to helping you anticipate busier than normal dates, familiarizing yourself with events in the Smokies will also be useful because you can use events to attract guests. Imagine someone is trying to decide between a stay at your cabin in the Smokies or another cabin elsewhere and your listing shares events in town that they know their vacation group will enjoy. Now a visit to the Smokies is even more appealing and your cabin is at the top of their list!

And the best part of this plan is that you did not have to plan anything, the great towns that make up the Smokies did it for you! Be sure to share information on events/attractions with your renters. Show them that the Smokies have so much to offer! 

We’ve compiled a short list of events but encourage you to search for additional comprehensive calendars of events. Please note that dates for festivals and events can change. 

Some events are one time / one day events but many have extended dates. These entertainment opportunities are perfect for visitors who need a little bit of flexibility when choosing their dates. 

Annual Events and Festivals

 

June 6 – June 9, 2022

A Mountain Quiltfest

 

July 8 – July 17, 2022, October 13 – October 30, 2022

Gatlingburg Craftmens Fair

 

Jul 23, 2022 – Jul 23, 2022

Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference

August 18-21, 2022

Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival

August 20, 2022

Great Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival

August 30 – September 5

Sevier County Fair

September 10 – 11

Smoky Mountain Air Show

 

September 15-17

Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival

 

September 23 – October 30, 2022

Oktoberfest at Ober

 

September 24, 2022

Pigeon Forge Bluegrass Festival 

 

October 1 – October 2, 2022

Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament

 

December 9 – December 11, 2022

Yama-Con Anime and Comic Convention

 

Local Attractions Hosting Events

Don’t forget to check the websites of local attractions to see if they have special events going on. 

 

April – June

Gatlinburg Skylift Park: Fireflies and Flowers

 

Jun 18, 2022 – Aug 07, 2022

Dollywood’s Summer Celebration

 

September 23 – October 29, 2022

Dollywood’s Harvest Festival

 

November 5 – January 1, 2022

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas

 

Ongoing:

Country Tonite: Celebrity Concerts and Shows

Events and Pricing

Being aware of factors that can impact the number of visitors to the Smokies during specific time frames can be helpful to owners of short term rentals wanting to optimize their AirBNB price. Even if you use a dynamic pricing tool like Price Labs, you are able to adjust your pricing using information about events. Events being held in the Smokies directly impact tourism and the number of people looking for short term rentals. Familiarizing yourself with events can help you optimize your pricing and promote your properties.