🌱 What Gatlinburg residents need to know about Tennessee’s new bear-feeding ban

What's up Gatlinburg! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What Gatlinburg residents need to know about Tennessee’s new bear-feeding ban
• Why Gatlinburg still ranks among America’s favorite family summer escapes

Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? 🤔 (Answer below!)

---

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Mostly sunny and very warm, with a high of 84 and low of 59 degrees.
• Saturday: Very warm with periods of sun, temps: high: 85, low: 48.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and cooler, with a high of 63 and low of 39 degrees.

---

📰 News we're reading

• Feed a bear, pay the price: New Tennessee law targets risky handouts (fox17.com) — Gatlinburg residents should know it’s now illegal statewide to feed black bears, after a new Tennessee law targeting risky handouts took effect. Officials say reports of people feeding bears in Gatlinburg have raised serious safety concerns, since food-conditioned bears are more likely to approach homes, businesses, and visitors and may ultimately have to be relocated or euthanized.
   

• Best family-friendly resorts for summer vacations (actionnewsjax.com) — Families in Gatlinburg get a nod as the Smokies are highlighted as a top summer pick, thanks to Dollywood, Anakeesta, waterfalls, and easy access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The article compares Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with other family destinations nationwide, focusing on resorts that bundle pools, kids’ activities, and flexible dining for smoother vacations.
   

---

📸 Around Gatlinburg

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

---

🗓 Upcoming Events in Gatlinburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Saturday April 18

• Signs of Spring
  Cades Cove
  9:00 am

Sunday April 19

• Blooming Trails: Wildflower Wonderland in the Smokies
  Kephart Prong Trailhead
  11:00 am

---

📣 Gatlinburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

---

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday April 17

• Free Create Friday (Kids)
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  10:30 am
• Impossibilities in Sevierville, Tennessee
  Impossibilities-Magic, Mindreading and Mayhem! , 1548 Parkway #306 , Sevierville
  11:30 am
• Tech Classes @ BCPL: Computer Basics III: Using the Internet
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  12:00 pm
• Tech Classes @ BCPL: Microsoft Word Part III: Mail Merge, References, & Collaborating with Word
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  12:00 pm
• Pinchy’s Sevierville
  Pinchy's Lobster + Rawbar , 212 Court Ave , Sevierville
  6:00 pm

Saturday April 18

• Signs of Spring
  Cades Cove
  9:00 am
• Sevierville, TN
  King Family Public Library , 408 High St , Sevierville
  11:30 am
• Open Chess Time
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  12:00 pm
• LEGO Free Time (All Ages)
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  2:00 pm
• Ole Smoky Moonshine Pigeon Forge, Tn (Zink & Co Bluegrass) 3-8
  Ole Smoky Distillery "The Barn" , 131 The Island Dr #9116 , Pigeon Forge
  3:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

---

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

---

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Emergency Alert
  Thanks for helping us spread the word! PREVIOUSLY POSTED: Alert. #TNSilverAlert We need your help to find Hedy Woods, who is missing from Robertson… (Nextdoor )

• McDonald's posted a job opening for Crew Team Member in Gatlinburg. Apply here.
• Garney posted a job opening for Loader Operator in Pigeon Forge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gatlinburg here.

---

🗞 Nearby News

Pigeon Forge

• Lady Hounds make annual Rocky Top trip (peoplesdefender.com)
• Area Entertainment: Stevie Lee Woods inducted into Hall of Fame (bransonglobe.com)
• Mike Colter & Rachel Keller Tease ‘Cupertino' Details at CBS Fest (themountainpress.com)

Sevierville

• Columbia State EMS Program Earns Awards at "Battle of the Smokies" 2026 (lewisherald.com)
• Tennova celebrates Doctors Day with gift to WS Nursing Program (themountainpress.com)

---

Ok Gatlinburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

---

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

---

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook