Gatlinburg nominated by USA Today for best small town arts scene

A couple gets married at the Heart Twigloo in Anakeesta, located in Downtown Gatlinburg.

Anakeesta’s wonderful home, the City of Gatlinburg, has garnered another nomination, this time for the buzz generated by small town artistry in the Great Smoky Mountains. Gatlinburg has been nominated by USA Today for Best Small Town Arts Scene. USA Today’s 10Best category is a competitive competition, and its editors have a multitude of categories. Gatlinburg venues and lodging accommodations have been nominated by USA Today before. Recently, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort landed on USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards for Best Glamping Resort. This time, the city that calls the Smokies home is in the lead as votes pour in for which small city in the country is the best among the arts. You can vote here. 

Ever since opening, Anakeesta has been dedicated to energizing local artistry and incorporating thematic art into the park’s immersive mountain experience. One of the most iconic and picturesque parts of the park, the Heart Twigloo, is an art piece created by a local Knoxville artist.

The park has continued to strengthen its dedication to local art with the turning of the seasons. For its first annual Blooms and Tunes event, a celebration of Spring in the Smokies, the park commissioned another local artist group, Brainchild Creative, to develop and create art themed around spring in the Great Smoky Mountains. The event features art such as a 20-foot-long daisy, tall paint brushes, paint tubes and other artistic creations all built by Brainchild Creative to complement the season of blossoming and growth.

Paint tubes built by Brainchild Creative are installed at Anakeesta.

“We have always celebrated art here in the park and we’re excited to feature commissioned art pieces for this event,” said Karen Bentz, a managing partner at Anakeesta.

The park appreciates the artistry which makes Gatlinburg such a unique place to live and visit. USA Today’s 10Best describes the art scene in the city as:

“You’ll find imaginative works of art at many of the galleries and shops in Gatlinburg. But the main draw for art lovers to this mountain mountain town is the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community, where more than 100 artists and craftspeople demonstrate their talents. The community is part of the eight-mile Tennessee Heritage Arts and Crafts Trail.”

With Gatlinburg nominated by USA Today for Best Small Town Arts Scene, it adds another perk to the city. To help Gatlinburg win in the category, go here and vote.