Dancing Bear Lodge

06/09/2026

Did you know the sound of Appalachia was shaped by more than the mountains?

Appalachian music is often described as old mountain music, preserved in isolation.

But the truth is more engaging.

The sound of Appalachia was shaped by British and Irish ballads, Scottish fiddle tunes, African American banjo traditions, gospel, blues, work songs, dance music, church gatherings, front porches, radio waves, and generations of people carrying songs from one place to another.

And before Appalachia was called Appalachia, Indigenous people knew these mountains. Their presence is foundational to this place — its land, foodways, language, memory, and cultural identity.

The story was never one people, one sound, or one simple origin.

At Appalachian Homecoming, we are celebrating the fuller story — the layered one.

Learn more at www.dancingbearlodge.com or visit the link in our bio!

06/05/2026

What happens when two family matriarchs help shape the next chapter of Appalachian food?

Sharon Benton of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams and Sharon Oldham of Oldham Hospitality bring two deeply rooted family legacies to the table.

Their influence comes together in Sharons’ Half Day Cafe, a new Townsend restaurant named in their honor and inspired by the kind of food that feels both familiar and foundational: biscuits, country ham, smoky bacon, locally roasted coffee, and the quiet hospitality of a meal made with meaning.

At Appalachian Homecoming, “The Sharons” will help open the day with a conversation around modern Appalachian cuisine, family legacy, and the way food continues to tell the story of this region.

Visit www.dancingbearlodge.com or the link in our bio for tickets!

Lodging | Award-Winning Appalachian Dining | Weddings & Events | Seasonal Concerts

06/02/2026

What happens when the story of a place is told by the people still shaping it?

Appalachian Homecoming brings together chefs, farmers, artists, musicians, makers, and culture keepers whose work is deeply connected to this region.

Throughout the day, guests will hear from Darrell Benton, Sharon Benton, Farmer Jonny, Sharon Oldham, William Wright, Ian Rutter, Chef Jeff Carter, and others as they explore Appalachian life through food, farming, art, music, family, and place.

No single voice can hold the whole story of Appalachia. But when these voices come together, the picture becomes richer, warmer, and more deeply rooted.

Tickets available here: https://dancingbearlodge.com/event/appalachian-homecoming-2026/

05/29/2026

A single day can hold a lot when it’s rooted in the right place.

Appalachian Homecoming was created to unfold with intention, beginning with morning coffee and conversation before moving into workshops, shared meals, time on the grounds, and an evening of music on the lawn.

Throughout the day, food, farming, art, music, and storytelling come together as different expressions of the same thing: a deep connection to Appalachia and the people who continue to shape it.

For those spending Saturday with us, the day offers a meaningful way to experience the culture of this region from morning to night.

Tickets available now at the link in bio or visit www.dancingbearlodge.com

05/26/2026

Some weekends are meant to be more than a getaway.

They become the kind of experience you settle into slowly. A quiet morning on the peaceful side of the Smokies. A day shaped by food, music, farming, art, and stories from the people who carry Appalachian traditions forward. An evening gathered around a shared meal, followed by live music on the lawn.

For those spending the full weekend at Dancing Bear Lodge, Appalachian Homecoming becomes more than a Saturday event. It becomes time to pause, reconnect, and experience this place with a little more depth.

The full weekend experience is available through our Stay & Play package.

Click here: https://dancingbearlodge.com/event/appalachian-homecoming-2026/

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

What does homecoming mean in Appalachia?

It can mean returning to the table. To the garden. To music on the porch. To stories passed down while something simmers on the stove.

For Dancing Bear's 4th Annual Appalachian Homecoming, we are thinking about homecoming as more than a place you return to. It is a feeling. A way of gathering. A way of remembering where traditions come from while still making room for what they can become.

This day is designed around those roots: food, farming, family, art, music, and the mountain landscape that continues to shape them all.

To learn more, visit www.dancingbearlodge.com.

05/15/2026

Meetings that feel less like work and more like a win. 🤝

Beyond the agendas and spreadsheets lies the real heart of your business: your people.

We provide the space for authentic connection, where your team can reset, recharge, and return stronger than ever.

Your vision, our backdrop.

05/12/2026

No cars. Just the Cove. 🦌🌿

Reminder: Every Wednesday through September 30th, Cades Cove Loop Road is reserved strictly for hikers and cyclists.

Grab your helmet, pack plenty of water, and come see the Smokies from a different perspective. Who’s joining us on the loop tomorrow? 🙋‍♂️🥾

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from Dancing Bear Lodge and Appalachian Bistro!