If you love everything about the holiday season, there is no better place to be than Gatlinburg TN! The beloved mountain town comes alive every Christmas with millions of twinkling lights, festive displays, and all kinds of holiday-themed events at your favorite attractions! You’ll also find lots of fun special events throughout the season, ranging from the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade to the New Year’s Eve Balldrop and Fireworks! Here are 5 festive ways to celebrate the magic of Christmas in Gatlinburg TN:
1. Gatlinburg Winter Magic
Gatlinburg Winter Magic is a celebration of the holiday season with millions of twinkling lights on holiday displays throughout the city, and it continues all the way up into Pigeon Forge! You can soak up the spirit of the season from the comfort of your own vehicle or by taking a stroll along the streets of Gatlinburg. Take advantage of the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Lights Self-Guided Tour map to plan your journey! The lights shine well after Christmas into mid-February, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the displays even past the holidays!
2. Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyPark
If you think the light displays of Gatlinburg Winter Magic are impressive at ground level, just wait until you see them from a bird’s eye view with the Lights Over Gatlinburg event at Gatlinburg SkyPark! In addition to the spectacular nighttime views of downtown Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Skypark is covered with all things Christmas, including thousands of holiday lights, photo ops for the whole family, two huge Christmas trees, and lights that span the entire length of the record-setting SkyBridge!
3. Sea of Trees at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Wander through a forest of beautifully decorated trees, each sparkling with festive cheer and unique charm, with the Sea of Trees at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! This is the perfect way to soak in the magic of the holidays with your family and friends, and you’ll find pure joy and twinkling lights around every corner! The best part is that the Sea of Trees is included for free with your aquarium admission!
4. Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta
Another one of the festive ways to celebrate the magic of Christmas in Gatlinburg TN is with the Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta! During this special event at the mountaintop theme park, you can enjoy sparkling light displays, tasty seasonal treats, live entertainment, and even breakfast with Santa Claus! Don’t miss the chance to experience the Hot Cocoa Crawl, where you can sample a variety of delicious cocoa flavors as you explore the park and take home a souvenir mug!
5. Winter Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
You can meet characters, listen to storytellers, and enjoy caroling along the Parkway on Friday and Saturday evenings during the annual Winter Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales event! Holiday music will fill the air with a sacred-secular mixture of Appalachia, bluegrass, and country, all against a backdrop of the stunning light displays! Keep your eyes open for Santa's Elves, Frosty, Rudolph, and other characters as you stroll through downtown Gatlinburg!
Check out all the rooms at our hotel in downtown Gatlinburg today to plan your holiday getaway to the Smokies, where you can enjoy the magic of Christmas in Gatlinburg TN! We look forward to seeing you soon!
