Smoky Mountain Forge: Blended Signature Event

General Info

Venue

Sevierville Convention Center

Address

202 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville, Tennessee 37876, United States

Dates

October 9 – 10, 2026

Grade Level

All

Skills Challenge

Yes

Judging Format

Remote Engineering Notebooks

Registration & Logistics

Event Type

Open Tournament

Event Format

In-Person

Field Control

Smart Field Control

Capacity

120

Spots Open

17

Event Region

Tennessee

Priority Registration Opens

22-Jul-2026 12:00 EDT

Standard Registration Opens

5-Aug-2026 12:00 EDT

Registration Deadline

30-Sep-2026 12:00 EDT

Payment Deadline

1-Oct-2026 12:00

Price

$450.00

Agenda

Stream

https://www.youtube.com/@AlchemyGlobalSTEM

Webcast Can't make it to the Smokies? We've got you covered! Smoky Mountain Forge will feature a professionally produced livestream , allowing friends, family, mentors, and fans from around the world to experience the excitement as it happens. From qualification matches to elimination rounds and awards, we'll bring the action straight to your screen with high-quality coverage designed to make you feel like you're part of the event. Whether you're cheering from the stands or watching from across the country, we're committed to delivering the same level of excellence that defines every part of the Smoky Mountain Forge experience. Because the SMF experience isn't just for those in the building, it's for everyone. https://www.youtube.com/@AlchemyGlobalSTEM

Travel Info

Date: 9-Oct-2026 - 10-Oct-2026 Sevierville Convention Center 202 Gists Creek Road Sevierville, Tennessee 37876 United States Travel Info Lodging Information Bear Tracts Vacation Cabins is proud to sponsor this exciting robotics competition, taking place October 9–10 at the Sevierville Convention Center. After the robots power down, give your team and family a comfortable place to recharge. Our Smoky Mountain cabins offer spacious gathering areas, full kitchens, and a variety of amenities for relaxing and having fun together. Your adventure doesn’t have to end when the competition does! Coupon code is: SMOKYBOT26 ****** You can use the code for your competition stay or a return visit through March 31, 2027. Come for the robots. Stay for the Smokies. Build. Compete. Explore. Recharge. Find Your Happy Place with Bear Tracts Vacation Cabins. Offer valid on qualifying new direct reservations for stays completed by March 31, 2027. Offer applies to nightly rent only and is subject to availability and applicable restrictions. Free attraction program eligibility and participating attractions are subject to program terms and availability. Wilderness at the Smokies Smoky Mountain Forge attendees can book their stay at Wilderness at the Smokies using our special event rate. Book Online: Visit Wilderness at the Smokies and enter promo code STEM when booking @ https://www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/ Book by Phone: Call 1-877-325-9453 and let the reservation agent know you are attending Smoky Mountain Forge. Promo Code: STEM We encourage teams to book early, as availability is limited!

Judging Format

Judging Format Team Interviews • All team interviews will be conducted in-person at the event venue on the day of competition. • Teams should be prepared to discuss their design process, teamwork, and engineering practices with judges during their scheduled interview time. • Interview schedules and locations will be provided at team check-in or posted at the event. • Engineering Notebook Submission • Engineering notebooks must be submitted digitally for evaluation prior to the event. • Teams must upload their digital notebook via the link found in the "My Account" panel of the team contact on events.vex.com . • All notebooks must be submitted by September 23rd by 11:59pm to be eligible for judging. • Late submissions or failure to submit may result in ineligibility for judged awards that require a notebook (e.g., Excellence Award, Design Award).

Volunteer

Volunteer It takes an incredible team of volunteers to make Smoky Mountain Forge a success, and we'd love for you to be part of it! At Smoky Mountain Forge, we're passionate about creating a fair, welcoming, and unforgettable experience for every student. Before the event, each volunteer will have a brief conversation with our event leadership team to review their role, answer questions, and ensure everyone understands our expectations for professionalism, consistency, and impartiality. Protecting the integrity of the competition and providing the best possible experience for every team is one of our highest priorities. As a thank-you for your time, all volunteers receive a complimentary event t-shirt and meals during their volunteer shifts. Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/WKvDOPn If you have questions about volunteering, we'd love to hear from you. Julie Moss jmoss@agsi.tech

Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy The safety of all participants, volunteers, staff, and attendees is our highest priority. This policy outlines the procedures we will follow in the event of emergencies or inclement weather before or during the event. General Policy The event will proceed as scheduled unless conditions pose a clear risk to health, safety, or travel. We will monitor weather alerts and emergency notifications from local authorities, and decisions will be made accordingly. Weather-Related Cancellations or Delays • Before the Event Day: A decision to cancel or delay the event due to weather will be made by the Event Committee] no later than 6:00 AM on the day of the event. Announcements will be made via: • Email to registered teams • Our official website and/or event page • Social media platforms • During the Event: If severe weather develops during the event (e.g., tornado warning, lightning storm, flooding), an announcement will be made over the PA system. Attendees will be directed to designated shelter areas or instructed on next steps. Emergency Situations In the event of a medical emergency, fire, security threat, or other serious incident: • Notify the nearest event volunteer or staff member immediately. • Event staff will contact emergency services if needed. • Evacuation or shelter-in-place procedures will be initiated if required. Refunds and Rescheduling • In the event of a full cancellation, we will make every effort to reschedule. • Refunds may be issued at the discretion of the event organizers and only after event expences have been covered based on the timing and circumstances. • Teams unable to attend a rescheduled event should reference our refund policy. Team Responsibility Each team is responsible for: • Ensuring they receive communications about weather and emergencies. • Having a team emergency plan, including a meeting location and contact list. • Bringing weather-appropriate gear (umbrellas, jackets, etc.) as needed.