by Tom Adkinson
posted April 2, 2008
Spring in the tourist town of Pigeon Forge, next door to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has attracted 101 units, some from as far away as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The namesake grand marshal, of course, is Tennessee native Dolly Parton, who
grew up just a few miles outside of Pigeon Forge. She is tied to the local
tourism economy because of Dollywood, the theme park that is Tennessee's
most popular ticketed attraction.
The parade is April 11, starting at 6 p.m. Spectators are expected to line
the complete parade route, more than two miles along the Parkway in the
project of the city of Pigeon Forge¹s Department of Special Events.
Details of Ms. Parton's float are a tightly held secret, a tradition throughout the parade's 24-year history.
Marching bands from Pigeon Forge High School and Sevier County High School
(Ms. Parton's alma mater) will be joined by bands from Southern Fulton High School in Warfordsburg, Pa., Wilmington Area High School in Ambridge, Pa., Rockmark High School in Rockmart, Ga., and Indian Valley High School in Gnadenhutten, Ohio.
The most distant entrant is the Jack Links Beef Jerky F-650 show truck that
was featured on cable TV's "Trick My Truck." Its home base is Minong, Wi.
Another automotive entrant is a 1948 Ford pickup truck owned by Maurice
Putnam from Seymour, Tn. Mr. Putnam's truck is featured in the photography
for Ms. Parton's newest CD, "Backwoods Barbie."
The parade lineup also includes equestrian units, car clubs, floats
representing Pigeon Forge's theaters, dance teams, twirlers and a float from
the Knoxville Zoo that celebrates the zoo's 60th anniversary.
Complete information about Pigeon Forge is available online at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll free to 1 800 251-9100.
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