BEN & JERRYS IN THE SMOKIES SCOOPS UP AWARDS

Ben & Jerry's in Sevierville and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, are know for scooping up great ice cream flavors of their customers, but now they have scooped-up a couple of big awards from Ben and Jerry themselves.

Julie Williams, Lineta and Bill Pritchard, Phyllis Schultz and Matt Gromet are the owner-operators of the Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops in the Smokies, and they received the "Big O" award as the Operator of the Year for ALL of Ben & Jerry's locations. Their stores had wins in sales, operations, community involvement, marketing, cost management and staff development, and everyone at the store had fun setting and meeting goals. Gatlinburg also won the Summer of Specialty Cone contest two weeks in a row.

So if you thought Ben & Jerry's was just a place for great ice cream, ice cream treats and delicious new flavors, you are right! But the people that scoop all of that love LOVE what they are doing and it shows in great customer service, a great recommendations, and a smile when  you walk in. So now that you know a little more about the people behind the scoop, treat yourself to fun and flavors at the Sevierville or Gatlinburg Ben & Jerry's. The 2017 "Big O" Award Winner for ALL of the Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops!

THERE'S A NEW BLUEGRASS CELEBRATION IN PIGEON FORGE!

If you love bluegrass music then you need to be in Pigeon Forge, TN on Friday, February 10th and Saturday, February 11th. That's when 9 top-rated bluegrass bands will be performing at the LeConte Center. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Dollywood Foundation Wildfire Scholarship Fund.

LeConte Center

Newtown

The groups on Friday include Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, the Grascals, Flatt Lonesome and Volume 5. On Saturday it is The Lonesome River Band, Barry Bales & Friends, Newtown, Dave Adkins Band and Jimbo Whaley and Greenbriar. General admission tickets are available for each day as is a two-concert ticket. Tickets go on sale on January 18 at either the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism offices at the LeConte Center, at 135 Jake Thomas Road, or online at knoxvilletickets.com.

Doyle Lawson

Doyle Lawson is an East Tennessee native and he said that, "I am excited and humbled to participate in this two-night bluegrass celebration offering relief and support for some well-deserving folks".

Leon Downey, the executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism stated, "..this two-night music event will help ensure that Sevier County students receive scholarship funds and that's an important investment in the students' future - and ours".




For more information go to http://mypf.social/smokymtnstrongbluegrasscelebration. And for information on other things to do while you are in the Smokies, click back to the Best Read Guide website at http://bestreadguidesmokymountains.com/ for coupons, theaters, attractions, dining, accommodations and more!