Tennessee Smoky Mountain Christmas' have been a yearly pilgrimage for families from all around the nation. An opportunity for families to come together in one festive destination and enjoy the Christmas spirit together! Centrally located from most directions, families require less travel time and find the Tennessee Smokies offers a large array of activities for the entire family to enjoy when visiting for Christmas.
November is the start of the Smoky Mountains Winterfest, when Christmas lights adorning streets and buildings are turned on throughout Sevierville, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Family members walk through festively decorated shops for special gifts. The mountain carries the occasional whiff of spiced cider and is filled with the scent of log cabin fireplaces.
Sevierville Winterfest kicks off at the Sevierville Municipal Complex November 7th 3p.m.-7:30pm with music, lights and magic. There's free food, local entertainment, kids' games and fireworks with the evening wrapping up with the ceremonial "flipping the switch" for the area's first Winterfest lights. Pigeon Forge Winterfest's Celebration follows with their kick off event starting at 4:30p.m. at Patriot Park with fun food and games. Gatlinburg's Winterfest Kickoff takes place November 9th and warms things up a bit with their Chili Cook-Off, for more info call 800-568-4748.
Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Trolley Drive of Lights will start the same night as their respective Winterfest ceremonies. To see the lights of Pigeon Forge, you can pick up a driving tour map at the Patriot Park Trolley Office or at a Pigeon Forge Welcome Center. Gatlinburg's Tour of Lights trolley originates at the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.
Gatlinburg invites several local area businesses to decorate and donate Christmas trees for the November 22nd to 27th Festival of Trees, at the W.L. Mills Conference Center. Come view the spectacular array of themed trees and other displays. Place your bid to take one of these ornately decorated trees home with you. For more info call 800-588-1817. The Gatlinburg Convention Center is also host to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Holiday Show from November 22nd to November 27th.
The Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge is shipping into shape for their annual Christmas season with a spectacular Thanksgiving fireworks display on November 24th. The evening sky will blaze into colorful light as the Titanic Museum attraction’s annual fireworks display honors the lives of the ship’s passengers, crew and rescuers.
The Island in Pigeon Forge will hold their annual lighting of a 35-foot tall Christmas Tree! This lighting ceremony will take place on Nov. 26th at 6:00 PM and the festive decorations at the Island will be up all December. Additionally, Paula Deen will be attending this festive event complete with pictures from Santa and a ginormous snow globe.
Starting after Thanksgiving is Gatlinburg's Winter Magic Tunes & Tales, a great opportunity for the family to stroll the streets of Gatlinburg taking in the festive Christmas lights and listening to musical street performers. These fun carolers roam Downtown Gatlinburg on weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Cabins USA would like to help make your holiday stay extra special. We in invite you to book one of our Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge cabin rentals online, where you get an immediate cabin rental discount, and share a most memorable Christmas with family and friends in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains!
Written by Brittany Tipton