Dollywood, the No. 2 tourist attraction in Tennessee, will be adding a 500-foot water ride complete with "powerful soaker guns." The $5 million "River Battle" will open in 2008, giving the park more than 40 rides and attractions.

According to Dollywood, River Battle will be a themed water raft ride equipped with powerful soaker guns. Nine rafts, each with room for eight passengers, follow a 500-foot channel. As the rafts navigate the waters, the battle begins as passengers, each armed with a soaker gun, take aim at each other and more than 100 targets along the way, including large-scale "talking animals" beavers, skunks, otters, bears and more.

Riders beware some of the targets will retaliate by taking aim back at you. Others according to Dollywood will display a variety of special effects, creating surprises at every turn and ensuring that no two rides are ever exactly the same.

Onlookers will also be able to take part in the fun, as River Battle will engage guests along the ride's banks.

While rafters are soaking each other in raft-to-raft sparring, they also can "shoot" observers along the way in "raft-to-shore" fun.

Known throughout much of America as the Gateway to the Smokies and for its rich mountain heritage, Gatlinburg has a new event to offer this summer.

Gatlinburg's second MountainFest-A Celebration Of Our Heritage- kicks off Aug. 17, with two fun-filled days of bluegrass and genuine Appalachian mountain music, along with crafters and demonstrations in downtown.

As the city's Bicentennial Celebration continues, a new addition to MountainFest this year will be the tribute of "Old Timers' Day" in honor of the Gatlinburg Bicentenial. "Old Timers' Day" was originally started in 1923 as a way to bring the community together, especially the older folks, to share stories and crafts and have a fun time with old-fashioned entertainment. It was held every year until the changing lifestyles of the 1950s resulted in the events decline and eventual dissolution.

MountainFest will revive "Old Timers' Day" with storytelling, special demonstrations, husband calling and pig calling contests and a special panel discussion entitled "Remembering The Past," featuring a gathering of resident seniors recalling the early days of Gatlinburg. A special area will be set aside for the "Old Timers' Day" events as part of MountainFest.

Local crafters will demonstrate their skills as passed down from generation to generation, with pottery making, weaving, woodworking and glass blowing featured.

Entertainment will be featured throughout the festival on the main stage, highlighted by an appearance by Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier at 9 p.m. on Saturday night.

Bands scheduled to appear at MountainFest include: The Moonshine Boys, Smoky Mountain Rose, Smoky Mountain Four, The Tennessee Mountain Boys, Mike Grove and The River Road Ramblers, the Spring Lizards, Delmer Holland and the Blue Creek Ramblers, and the Lost Mill String Band.

On August 18, listen as music talents of all ages playing fiddles, banjos, and guitars compete for awards and cash prizes in the Mountain Strings Competition. There is no entry fee to compete.
"We invite musicians of all ages to come out and play," said George Hawkins, special events manager for the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism.

"This is a chance for anyone to get some exposure and a little bit of recognition for their musical talents."

Age categories for all instruments include 1 to 10, 11 to 20, and 21 and over.

The event will be held at the new downtown location on the Parkway parking lot near Traffic Light No. 3.