It's that time of year again!

If you love classic cars, then you've probably been to or heard of the famous rod run shows taking place in Pigeon Forge during the month of September.

The participants in these car shows are so eager to get the weekend started that the Parkway and hotel parking lots begin to fill with classic cars on Tuesday of that week. The events feature more than just rare and unique autos, though. Throughout the event weekend, visitors can enjoy interactive displays presented by vendors from all over the country. Those who enjoy the mechanical aspects of the auto world will savor the opportunity to participate in workshops and get answers to technical questions.

Dolly Parton created Imagination Library 13 years ago to provide books to children to encourage literacy. Now the entertainer known to many kids as "The Book Lady" will have her own children's book, "I Am a Rainbow," featured in the international philanthropy.

The 63-year-old Parton says working on children's projects like the book gives her a chance to play and live her second childhood. The book, which Parton says is for children of all ages, describes how colors can be used to explain emotions children might have.

She wrote it with plans for the sale proceeds to benefit Imagination Library, which supplies books to 1,000 communities in 47 states, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Please be advised that the contractor will start the temporary widening of the inside shoulders of State Route 66 on Monday, July 27. The work will be performed at night to avoid conflicts with peak business hours. The contractor will close the inside lane of southbound SR-66 each night at 7:00 p.m.; starting at Boyds Creek Highway and working southbound toward town. The lane will reopen each morning at or before 6:00 a.m. The contractor will work Sundays through Thursdays 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The temporary widening of the inside lane of northbound SR-66 will begin once the southbound temporary widening is complete. Crews will also be working during the day during this time but will not require lane closures. Information obtained from MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, inc.

More than a festival, Celebrate Freedom is a discount program exclusively to honor our heroes. If you're active military, active reservist, a member of the National Guard, retired military or veterans, law enforcement, firefighter or emergency medical workers, you're entitled to special discounts from a wide variety of Pigeon Forge merchants when you show your ID at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center. Save at shopping centers and on attractions including indoor skydiving, golf, canoe trips, helicopter tours, restaurants and shows throughout the month of August.

On September 2 a rededication of the park, reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's historic 1940 park dedication speech, will be enacted at the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap. Special invitations to attend the ceremony will be issued accompanied by live broadcasts at the parks gateway communities. Visit our seventy-fifth anniversary page for more events celebrating this park milestone.