What’s Happening
What's Happening in the Smokies?
Winter is a special time to visit the Wonder of the Smoky Mountains!
The 36th Annual Smoky Mountain Winterfest Celebration is glowing bright – with more than 15,000,000 lights decorating the Parkway in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Add in holiday shows, shopping, and great places to enjoy warm winter meals and you’ve got Smoky Mountain Winterfest.
More than just the lights, Winterfest fun can be found throughout the area, including the outdoor ice rink at Wilderness at the Smokies. Tickets are available to anyone who wants to enjoy ice skating. Skate rental is included with the price of admission. The ice rink is open from November 7 through January 11. If you’re visiting Gatlinburg, Ober Mountain offers ice skating, skiing down the slopes, snow tubing and the perfect cup of hot cocoa to warm your spirits following the day of fun! You can enjoy the view of the tram or drive yourself up Ski Mountain Road to Ober! Pigeon Forge Snow also offers snow tubing year-round and is right off the Parkway. So regardless which city you are visiting, there is always fun to be found during your smoky mountain winter adventure!
Soaky Mountain Waterpark once again is playing host to Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland – the most immersive Christmas drive-through light show in the world. Drive through the magic in the comfort and safety of your own car, surrounded by lights dancing in perfect rhythm to Christmas music played over your radio. Afterwards, park and head inside Soaky Mountain for more holiday cheer and festive fun with kids activities, crafts, and more at Snowy Mountain Village on select dates November 15-17, 22-30, and December 1-30. This seasonal light attraction will run from November 14 – January 4.
SkyLand Ranch is also creating Winterfest memories for guests this year with their Festival of Lights at SkyLand Ranch Sponsored by Food City event (November 7 – January 2). Nearly a million twinkling lights create displays, archways, and tunnels for a magical holiday experience. Enjoy realistic nativity scenes, Christmas characters, projection mapping show, scavenger hunt, and so much more, plus enjoy some sweet treats in the North Pole Gingerbread Bakery. You can purchase tickets for the nightly event, or add them to your admission.
What would Christmas be without the shopping? Holiday shopping is nothing short of an event in the Smokies. Kick-off the season with Tanger Sevierville at their annual tree lighting on November 7, featuring crafts, face painting, pop-up vendors, and more. Then, get ready for unbeatable deals as major sales begin just after Thanksgiving night and run throughout the weekend. Then don’t miss stores like Stages West, Smoky Mountain Knife Works, The Old Mill, and countless more for amazing options for sales, savings and holiday shopping fun!
But, there is even more… Be sure to make plans to attend the 63rd Annual Sevierville Christmas Parade (December 6) beginning at 11am. This hometown Christmas Parade is a holiday delight and winds its way through historic downtown Sevierville. Pro parade tip: enjoy optimal parade viewing along Court Avenue. Just the day before, on December 6th, Gatlinburg hosts their Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, running along the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg.
Beginning in early November, the smokies begin to  transform, embracing the Christmas spirit in every way. Area theaters feature their holiday themed shows, including the Array Variety Show, Pirate’s Voyage, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Lumberjack Feud and Country Tonite Theatre… just to name a few. There is certainly no shortage of holiday fun to be had when experiencing Winterfest in the Great Smoky Mountains!