These days, you’ll find more and more music theaters in Pigeon Forge offering meals along with their entertainment programming, and this Southern-themed music and variety show is one of them.

The show stars a cast of real-life actors, singers and dancers who team up with unique, life-sized animatronic bears in telling the story of the making of a movie called “The Black Bear Jamboree.” The bears observe the humans—most notably the director, Mr. Schlemielberg, and the nerdy assistant director, Dexter—as they make their movie, which, as the bears ultimately learn, is about the spirit and culture of the Smoky Mountains region.

Along the way, the large human cast performs dozens of songs presented in a revue format. A wide variety of musical genres are represented, including movie themes, country favorites, disco hits, patriotic songs and gospel tunes, and a dozen different dance styles are featured as well. Collectively, the cast makes more than 250 costume changes in a multimillion-dollar production that also incorporates elaborate sets, colorful lasers and state-of-the-art sound and lighting.

Each Black Bear Jamboree starts out with dinner—a three-course feast consisting of Southern-style chicken, hickory-pit barbecue ribs, buttery corn on the cob, seasoned potatoes, seasoned green beans, golden brown rolls, creamy vegetable soup, a signature dessert and unlimited beverages. Vegetarian lasagna is available upon request.

The Pigeon Forge theater is also home to a breakfast variety show starring gospel music’s Blackwood family. The theater is open year ‘round.

Other Sevier County Attractions