🌱 Why did a man slap a black bear in Gatlinburg?

Hello again Gatlinburg! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why did a man slap a black bear in Gatlinburg?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Gatlinburg? Post it to Gatlinburg photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 55 and low of 36 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 57, low: 36.
• Thursday: Cloudy; p.m. rain, breezy, with a high of 59 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Man Slaps Black Bear In Wildly Stupid Moment, Gets Instant Karma: WATCH (outkick.com) — A viral video shows a man at a Gatlinburg Christmas celebration walking up to a large black bear and slapping it, prompting a tense moment as the animal quickly spins around. The writer criticizes the man’s risky behavior while noting some speculate he may have been trying to divert the bear from nearby families. The clip has sparked plenty of online debate about how people behave around wildlife in town.
   

📸 Around Gatlinburg

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📣 Gatlinburg Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• D Boone Pittman live @ Ole Red Gatlinburg
  Ole Red , 511 Parkway , Gatlinburg
  3:00 pm
• Adult ELA Class
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  5:00 pm
• Dungeons & Dragons (Ages 13+)
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  5:30 pm
• Holly Jolly Jubilee Concert Series: Knoxville Opera Quartet
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  6:00 pm
• Animal Center Advisory Board
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  6:00 pm
• Retirement Planning Dinner Event at Dancing Bear Lodge
  Dancing Bear Lodge Townsend , 7140 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy , Townsend
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 17

• BNI Weekly Networking Meeting
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  8:00 am
• Recovery Court
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  10:00 am
• Election Commission Meeting
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  11:00 am
• Unrated Chess Tournaments
  Blount County, TN Calendar Maryville, TN 37804
  5:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Admin Planning Meeting
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  10:00 am
• Community Breastfeeding Support Group
  Blount County, TN Calendar , 508 N. Cusick Street , Maryville
  10:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• US Government Jobs posted a job opening for (SEASONAL) Painting Worker in Gatlinburg. Apply here.
• Coca-Cola Consolidated posted a job opening for Merchandiser in Gatlinburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gatlinburg here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pigeon Forge

• Lady Cougars continue wins with victory against Scott (themountainpress.com)
• Signups open for Tennessee Songwriters Week 2026 (themountainpress.com)
• How Dolly Parton Became A Secular American Saint (awaken.com)

Sevierville

• Buc-ee's' weirdest, viral moments from 2025 (mysanantonio.com)
• Life With Ferris: The Golf Bug (chattanoogan.com)
• Winter Juniors Qualifiers Kuba Shaw, Yofang Yu Announce Commitments to UNC For 2026 (swimswam.com)

Ok Gatlinburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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