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                   Winterfest In Sevierville kicked off Monday night

   With warmer temperatures lingering in the air, it hardly seemed like winter in Sevier County. But, that did nothing to discourage the thousands of Sevier Countians that converged at the City Hall and Civic Center to celebrate the official beginning of Winterfest Monday night.

  Inside the Civic Center sat a dazzling array of trees decorated and donated by local businesses to create  the Enchanted Forest. Attendees munched on cookies as they walked through the forest admiring the trees that had been converted into a holiday art form.

 Outside the center thousands were entertained and dazzled by the acrobatic wizardry of the acrobats of Cirque De Chine and Thornton's Unicycles. Several dance schools entertained including Donna's Majorettes,  the 3D Studio of Dance, area school dance teams and the Elizabeth Williams School of Dance.

  Musical entertainment was provided by the Pathways Church Band and B.B. Rodrique and Undivided.

  Inside the Civic Center, parents sipped on hot chocolate and other holiday beverages while their children were photographed with the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, who listened intently as the children told him their Christmas wishes.

  The grand finale of the evening was the ceremonial lighting of the Winterfest lights and a dazzling fireworks display that lit up the Autumn sky.

  The City of Pigeon Forge kicks off Winterfest tonight and the City of Gatlinburg kicks off the Chili Cookoff Wednesday at 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Featured entertainment for the Chili Cookoff is the Tams.