AKC Conformation · McDonald, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountain Cluster 2026

Name: Great Smoky Mountain Cluster 2026
Start: 2026-09-24
End: 2026-09-27
Location: Tri-State Exhibition Center

September 24–27, 2026 — four all-breed shows at the Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald, Tennessee

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Weekend at a glance

The Great Smoky Mountain Cluster brings four all-breed AKC conformation shows to the Tri-State Exhibition Center in McDonald, Tennessee, September 24–27, 2026. The Tennessee Valley Kennel Club hosts Thursday and Saturday; the Oak Ridge Kennel Club hosts Friday and Sunday. Entries have closed — the cluster is in progress this week.

Dates: September 24–27, 2026
Venue: Tri-State Exhibition Center
Host club: Tennessee Valley Kennel Club (Thu, Sat) · Oak Ridge Kennel Club (Fri, Sun)
Format: All-Breed · Unbenched (per the 2026 premium)
Entries: Registration closed

More about this show

Listing reviewed Registration closed · Dates & club verified via premium

Dates: Thursday through Sunday
Venue: McDonald, Tennessee
Format: Four all-breed shows
Entries: Show in progress this week
Entry fees (2026 premium): $36.50 first entry of each dog · $31.50 each additional entry ($31.50 puppy & bred-by first entry) · $16.50 Junior Showmanship only ($11.00 as an additional class) · $22.00 4–6 Month Puppy · $15.00 Norwegian Buhund Junior Showcase

Superintendent: MB-F

Registration closed — Show in progress this week

Registration for this weekend is closed — entries are no longer being accepted.

Enter the show

Superintendent: MB-F
Closing: Registration closed

Entry fees: $36.50 first entry / $31.50 additional entry (same dog, same day) Listing reviewed

The days

Four all-breed shows, Thursday through Sunday, at the Tri-State Exhibition Center — the Tennessee Valley Kennel Club hosts Thursday and Saturday; the Oak Ridge Kennel Club hosts Friday and Sunday. Listing reviewed

01Thursday, September 24

Tennessee Valley Kennel Club

Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald, TN

All-Breed

Registration closed

02Friday, September 25

Oak Ridge Kennel Club

Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald, TN

All-Breed

Registration closed

03Saturday, September 26

Tennessee Valley Kennel Club

Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald, TN

All-Breed

Registration closed

04Sunday, September 27

Oak Ridge Kennel Club

Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald, TN

All-Breed

Registration closed

Build your day plan

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Judging program not yet published

No ring times or ring assignments have been verified yet. Ring cards will be built from the official program as soon as it’s out.

Breed judge finder

Search any breed to see which judge has it Thursday through Sunday. Panels are from the official 2026 Great Smoky Mountain Cluster premium list. Listing reviewed

* = provisional/permit, per the premium.

Best in Show & Group judges — from the 2026 premium

Thursday, September 24 — Tennessee Valley Kennel ClubBest in Show & group judges

Best in Show — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Sporting Group — Mrs. Danelle M. Brown
Hound Group — Mr. John P. Wade
Working Group — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard
Terrier Group — Mr. John P. Wade
Toy Group — Mrs. Cathy Delmar
Non-Sporting Group — Mr. Sean Delmar
Herding Group — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard

Friday, September 25 — Oak Ridge Kennel ClubBest in Show & group judges

Best in Show — Mrs. Danelle M. Brown
Sporting Group — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Hound Group — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard
Working Group — Mr. John P. Wade
Terrier Group — Mrs. Cathy Delmar
Toy Group — Mr. Sean Delmar
Non-Sporting Group — Mr. Walter J. Sommerfelt*
Herding Group — Mr. John P. Wade

Saturday, September 26 — Tennessee Valley Kennel ClubBest in Show & group judges

Best in Show — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard
Sporting Group — Mr. John P. Wade
Hound Group — Mrs. Danelle M. Brown
Working Group — Mr. Cledith M. Wakefield
Terrier Group — Mr. Sean Delmar
Toy Group — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Non-Sporting Group — Mr. John P. Wade
Herding Group — Mr. Cledith M. Wakefield*

Sunday, September 27 — Oak Ridge Kennel ClubBest in Show & group judges

Best in Show — Mr. Cledith M. Wakefield
Sporting Group — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard
Hound Group — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Working Group — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Terrier Group — Mr. Charles L. Olvis
Toy Group — Ms. Elizabeth Muthard
Non-Sporting Group — Mrs. Danelle M. Brown
Herding Group — Mrs. Danelle M. Brown

*Provisional/permit judge. Breed-panel judge abbreviations were expanded to full names from the premium’s judge roster. Listing reviewed

Juniors

Junior Showmanship runs all four days, verified from the 2026 premium. Listing reviewed

Thu Sep 24 — Tennessee Valley Kennel Club

Junior Showmanship — judge: Ms. Carol Pyrkosz (from the 2026 premium). Each day the club holds a Junior Showmanship Armband Drawing immediately after the Best Junior Showmanship Competition.

Fri Sep 25 — Oak Ridge Kennel Club

Junior Showmanship — judge: Mr. Draper A. Palmer* (from the 2026 premium). Each day the club holds a Junior Showmanship Armband Drawing immediately after the Best Junior Showmanship Competition.

Sat Sep 26 — Tennessee Valley Kennel Club

Junior Showmanship — judge: Mrs. Stevie Marie Duffek* (from the 2026 premium). Each day the club holds a Junior Showmanship Armband Drawing immediately after the Best Junior Showmanship Competition.

Sun Sep 27 — Oak Ridge Kennel Club

Junior Showmanship — judge: Mrs. Pamela Schroeder (from the 2026 premium). Each day the club holds a Junior Showmanship Armband Drawing immediately after the Best Junior Showmanship Competition.

*Provisional/permit judge. Junior Showmanship entry: $16.50 as a first entry, $11.00 as an additional class. Listing reviewed

Specialties & supported entries

Concurrent specialties, verified from the 2026 premium. Listing reviewed

Thu Sep 24 – Sun Sep 27 — 4 concurrent specialties each

Volunteer Vizsla Club of Tennessee — 4 concurrent specialties, Thursday through Sunday
Newfoundland Club of America, Inc. — 4 concurrent specialties, Thursday through Sunday

Sat Sep 26 & Sun Sep 27

Smoky Mountains Bulldog Club — 2 concurrent specialties, Saturday and Sunday
Norwegian Buhund Club of America — National Specialty (Junior Only Showcase), Saturday September 26

If you’re a specialty club supporting entries here, send us the premium and we’ll add your spotlight.

Plan your visit

The venue

All four shows are held at the Tri-State Exhibition Center in McDonald, Tennessee.