Nail Tech Event of the Smokies Celebrates 19 Years in Gatlinburg

The Nail Tech Event of the Smokies has been a staple in Gatlinburg for 19 years, providing a platform for beauty professionals to learn, network, and shop for professional nail products.

Attendees of the event, which took place recently, had the opportunity to develop new skills, connect with fellow nail technicians, and take part in various activities and workshops. The event's goal, as stated by Event Coordinator Jill Wright, is to give nail techs more than just a place to shop, but also to leave with new skills, industry connections, fresh inspiration, and lasting memories.

One of the highlights of the event was the "Nail Tech Trivia" session, led by Educator Paula Davies. Participants received small prizes for participating, and five nail technicians who answered questions correctly won nail swag and Gatlinburg souvenirs.

The event also featured a door-prize giveaway, with 26 winners notified by text to avoid loudspeaker announcements. Yolanda Beatty, a nail technician from Knoxville, Tennessee, won the $1,500 grand prize, sponsored by PinkPro Beauty Supply.

In addition to the educational and networking opportunities, the event also featured a fun and unexpected surprise - a real bear cub that ran along the Convention Center sidewalk and passed in front of guests seated on nearby benches.

The event's organizers have already started planning for next year's event, with tickets now available to all qualified beauty professionals at NailTechEvent.com. More than 25% of VIP tickets have already been sold, and approximately 85% of the companies that participated in 2026 have already secured booths for 2027.

The Nail Tech Event of the Smokies will return July 9-12, 2027, with the nails-only trade show taking place on Sunday, July 11, and optional workshops scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

### Event Highlights

| Event | Details | | --- | --- | | Nail Tech Trivia | Led by Educator Paula Davies, with participants receiving small prizes and five winners receiving nail swag and Gatlinburg souvenirs | | Door-Prize Giveaway | 26 winners notified by text, with Yolanda Beatty winning the $1,500 grand prize sponsored by PinkPro Beauty Supply | | Bear Cub Surprise | A real bear cub ran along the Convention Center sidewalk and passed in front of guests seated on nearby benches |

### Event Schedule

The Nail Tech Event of the Smokies will return July 9-12, 2027, with the nails-only trade show taking place on Sunday, July 11, and optional workshops scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

### Tickets and Booths

Tickets are now available to all qualified beauty professionals at NailTechEvent.com, with more than 25% of VIP tickets already sold. Approximately 85% of the companies that participated in 2026 have already secured booths for 2027, with remaining booths soon to become available to new professional nail companies.