This week, Tennessee tourism is bringing “a little taste of its big flavours to Toronto” with the unique promotional event ‘Little Tennessee,” which invites visitors to immerse themselves in the music, sights, and culinary creations from Nashville, the Smoky Mountains, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Franklin.
Touting Tennessee as the fastest-growing tourism state in the US, state tourist development commissioner Mark Ezell told media at Little Tennesee’s launch on Wednesday that the free four-day event was designed as a way to showcase the state’s authentic “southern flavour” to Canadians, who comprise Tennessee’s top international market.
Top of mind will be the state’s outdoors, and especially its music – a taste of which launch attendees got courtesy of accomplished singer-songwriters Eric Arjes and Jimmy Robbins, who recounted tales of their writing exploits, some of which were, of course, performed (Note: See today’s music video for a Robbins composition, and next week for one from Arjes).
The Drake also boasted three performance stages that were transformed into iconic Tennessee venues including Robert’s Western World from Nashville, Ole Red Gatlinburg, and Memphis’ world-famous Beale Street.
The media preview kicked off the event at The Drake, with the event continuing through Sunday (June 18), throughout Toronto’s Liberty Village neighbourhood, including Lamport Stadium. Public events include whiskey tastings, specialty cocktails, Nashville Hot Chicken, Memphis-style barbeque, and a rock-climbing wall.
And in collaboration with Canada’s North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival, more than 20 of Tennessee’s hottest and emerging acts are performing, highlighting the state’s vibrant musical heritage.
Of course, the goal is to inspire attendees to visit Tennessee in the future and
Deana Ivy, president of Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., noted that Music City is only a two-hour flight from Toronto.
The state – also home to Graceland, Dollywood, Jim Beam, and a portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited park in the US) – is also a requisite drive-through state for snowbirds, and offers ample opportunity to spend a extra day or more to sample all that it has to offer.
Most Little Tennessee events are free; for more details and schedule, visit www.LittleTN.com.