b'Spring brings about the cities signature event, the 17th Annual Bloomin Barbecue and Bluegrass from May 14 - 15 in downtown Sevierville. The FREE event kicks off on Friday, May 14th from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm and picks back up on Saturday from 9:00 am - 10:00 pm. Come and enjoy live music, delicious food and awesome fun at this weekend festival that is perfect for the entire family. Sample some of the souths best BBQ at the official Barbecue Championship, let the kids have fun at the all new and updated Kids Area with all new games and activities, and settle back in your seats for the best bluegrass music anywhere. This year, downtown Sevierville has a facelift and has never looked better, with wider sidewalks, beautifully landscaped areas, andseveral new restaurants and shops to experience. This year will feature an all-new area for the Bushs Best Community Stage, where Shenandoah will headline an all-star lineup of musicians. Shenandoah is performing live on Saturday evening, joining acts such as the Trinity River Band, Grammy nominees The Po Ramblin Boys, Dave Peterson & 1946 just to name a few. This award-winning festival is free for the entire family to attend and is a CANT MISS event in the Smokies! Please be aware that the event will ask guests to wear masks while attending the event and to be mindful of social distancing. Together we can all make the event both safe and fun for everyone. Make sure to check out the Calendar of Events on page 19 to discover even more amazing and fun events in the smokies. If you are not in town for Bloomin, you may just be interested in some of the new offerings that Sevierville is serving up in 2021. Recently open is the Ogle Brothers General Store, located across the Parkway from Tanger Outlet Mall. This store wascreated to share the story of the generations of Ogle brothers that have lived, worked and played on this land since 1925. You will get an authentic experience in southern hospitality as you explore the general stores clothing, food, souvenirs, candy, toys and locally made arts and crafts. This authentic general store will take you back in time and allow you to experience the smokies of years gone bye.With the facelift that downtown Sevierville has had over the last year, more and more new businesses are moving into downtown. The newest restaurant to the area is The Appalachian, opened by the former executive chef from Walnut Kitchen. Located at 133 Bruce Street, directly across from the downtown gazebo, the 4,000 square foot dining space has two outdoor patios and is focused on upscale southern hospitality. Much of the food is locally sourced, and the menu is often changing in order to feature the use of local food. Enjoy fried chicken, blue crab spoon fritters, glazed duck, dry aged steak and rainbow trout. The Appalachian will be open Tuesday through Saturday, with the bar opening at 4:00 pm and dinner beginning at 5:00.SmokyMountainNavigator.com 25'