Anakeesta Blog

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day at Anakeesta! It’s a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Find your inner Irish at Anakeesta’s celebration this St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy culinary delights with food and drink specials (think Green Beer, Irish themed cocktails and Bangers and Mash!) at Cliff Top.  Then sit back and relax at Black Bear Village for LIVE MUSIC from authentic Irish bagpiper, Kelly Shipe.  This FREE musical event is included in general admission About Kelly Shipe Kelly began studying and playing bagpipes in 2001. She competes in individual competitions at all the Highland Games. Kelly was awarded Piper of the Day at the Gatlinburg Highland Festival in 2007 and placed top three in most of the competitions that year. Kelly attends the Sandy Jones Academy of Piping and Drumming in North Carolina each year for a week of intense instruction. Kelly, who has studied music from the age of five, is a professional harpist and a choral director. She graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a degree in Music Education and Concentration on the harp. Kelly is the bagpiper who plays the Catholic football team onto the field every Friday night in Knoxville. Kelly is also a member of the Knoxville Pipes and Drums “A” Band. The band performs and competes at all the surrounding Highland Games. Look for Kelly at the Dandridge, Tennessee, Scots-Irish Festival in September. She will be the “Lone Piper” who will close the festival at the end of the night. Kelly plays Piobaireachd and Light Music for any occasion. She has music samples and types of functions on this site and welcomes new venues and ideas. Her list of songs is extensive and not restricted to these tunes. Among the styles of music she performs are slow airs, marches, hymns, popular tunes and fun songs.

Plan Your Spring Break in the Smokies at Anakeesta GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Spring break is coming soon, and it’s the perfect time to plan your vacation to the Smokies and here at Anakeesta! Table of Contents Zipline Through the Smokies Gatlinburg’s most exciting zipline course just happens to be here at Anakeesta! Zipline in the Smoky Mountains on our three-tower course that takes adventurers through the forest and offers everyone a thrill, but it’s popular so we encourage visitors to purchase zipline passes several days in advance of your visit. Don’t forget about your close-toed shoes! Don’t Forget Your ID! Tennessee requires restaurants and bars to check for proper ID before serving alcohol, so don’t forget to bring yours when you visit us on top of the mountain! Incredible drinks can be found at our Cliff Top Restaurant, Tap House bar, Smokehouse Restaurant, and bar. Read through our restaurants and bars here.  Expect A Day of Fun! Families can find all sorts of activities to enjoy when visiting Anakeesta! Take a family adventure through the forest on our TreeTop Skywalk or enjoy three levels of fun on our TreeVenture Challenge course. Check out all the wonderful activities Anakeesta offers visitors by going here! Timing Is Everything If you know when you want to visit Anakeesta, you’re in luck! Purchase our Express Pass and choose the day and time of your visit. Our express admission offers you VIP access to our Gondola, allowing you to skip the general admission line. It’s the fastest way to the top! Learn More About our VIP Pass Here Don’t Forget Your Binoculars! Last, but not least, don’t forget to bring some binoculars with you on your visit! You never know when you might spot a beautiful bird or even a black bear!