Preparations are under way for the National Quartet Convention to be held Sept. 21-27 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—a change in location that has drawn more Southern gospel music fans than ever. Organizers also are pleased that 30% of the crowd this year will be first-time attendees of the event.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the response our move to Pigeon Forge has received,” said Clarke Beasley, executive vice president of the convention. “We set high goals and high expectations when we decided to move to Pigeon Forge, but we would not have dared to project this kind of attendance. Not since the late 1990s have sales been this high, and an all-time attendance record is a real possibility.”

“The NQC is the biggest prolonged group event in Pigeon Forge’s history, and everyone in the tourism and hospitality industry is geared up and ready,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Beasley emphasized that city, county and state officials have all been supportive, and many of them will be present at a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Sept. 22, at the brand-new Leconte Center.

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