PIGEON FORGE — The LeConte Center is no longer requiring some religious events to follow state and local pandemic guidelines, as long as those events consist entirely of worship service.
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The center hosted the Pentecostal Fire Youth Conference this week, and next week will host the NQC Spring Break, the spring event for the National Quartet Convention.
“Events consisting solely of worship services taking place in the LeConte Center will be exempt from state and local pandemic guidelines,” said Leon Downey, director of tourism for the city.
“In addition, safety protocols for attendees of these events consisting solely of worship services will be determined by the event owners and enforced accordingly by event officials.
“The City of Pigeon Forge and the LeConte Center, in continued compliance with the Tennessee Pledge for Large Venues, strongly encourages and recommends that all event owners make every practical effort and take all precautions to support public health.”
The facility is moving ahead with a spring schedule that features the return of events like the Rod Run and new events like NQC Spring Break.
The National Quartet Convention was one of the first events to come to the facility, which has hosted the fall convention for several years.
But their Spring Break event had been held at other venues in the past. This year it’s set for the Leconte Center on April 8-9, with a lineup that includes Triumphant, the Kingdom Heirs, Tribute, and other gospel acts.
“We are excited to be moving the NQC Spring Break event to the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge,” states NQC Executive Vice President, Clarke Beasley.
“We feel this move and the offering of reserved seats to our attendees will give this event the opportunity to become one of Gospel Music’s premier Spring events.”
Many events had to postpone or cancel plans last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state ordered facilities like the LeConte Center to close for weeks last spring, and placed restrictions on capacity when they reopened.
“We have hosted a total of nine events at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge since January,” said Leon Downey, director of tourism for the city.
“All of these events have been smaller than in previous years due to concerns by attendees and vendors about COVID,” he said. “Even though the events have been smaller so far this year, the event owners are happy to be able to hold their events once again.”