Summer in the Smokies is back at Anakeesta from June 10 through Sept. 4! This season-long spectacular at Anakeesta is one of the most popular events in Gatlinburg during the summer. Our popular summer event will run from June 10 through Sept. 4. Get ready for a mountain of Gatlinburg fun and summertime adventure with extended park hours. Dance the evening away with daily live music featuring local artists, indulge in savory seasonal eats and treats, and marvel at Sean Kenney’s stunning exhibition.
New this year, Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO® Bricks produced by Imagine Exhibitions will make its debut at Anakeesta. The award-winning and record-breaking exhibition features larger-than-life works of art made entirely of LEGO bricks! For the first time in Gatlinburg, the limited time exhibition explores the interconnectivity of all living things and humanity’s relationship with nature. As stewards of the living earth, Anakeesta hopes the whimsical exhibit inspires guests to appreciate and preserve nature.
Fun facts:
• Kenney uses only standard, off-the-shelf, commercially available LEGO pieces for his sculptures – no special colors or shapes.
• Each piece is connected to another, and the sculptures are built within the rules of the LEGO system.
• Each sculpture is completely unique and requires tedious detail and countless hours – for example, the towering Hummingbird Feeding Over a Trumpet Flower took over 4 weeks to design and 5 weeks to build with 31,565 LEGO pieces!
Summer inspired dishes and drinks will be on the menu at our four dining venues. Seasonal dishes include Heirloom and Burrata salad, Chicken Piccata, and Southern Fried Chicken. Stay cool for the summer and sip on seasonal cocktails including a Summer Sangria, Mountain Margarita, Raspberry Mojito and more! Beer enthusiasts can enjoy Highland Brewing blends like Hazy Heights and seasonal Peachful.
With extended hours from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., enjoy cool morning breezes and catch breathtaking sunsets over the smokies and twinkling lights and colorful light displays throughout Vista Gardens and the Treetop Skywalk. Summer in the Smokies is included free with admission and annual pass membership. See you this summer!
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