Events
January
Gatlinburg Winterfest Illumination and Decoration
Contest
Held all of January and February
865-436-0500
The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the
winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays
throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid
in everyone. Special lighting displays added in January for "Smoky Mountain
Romance".
Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Rides of Lights
Saturdays in January
865-436-3897
Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m.
Night Magic Skiing
Held all of January and February
Location: Ober Gatlinburg
865-436-5423
Traditions of Christmas
Held the first week of January
Location: Christus Gardens
865-436-5155
Experience the true meaning of Christmas at one
of America's most visited nativity settings. Colorful banners, award-winning
lighting displays, presentations of Christmas around the world and St. Nicholas,
too!
Special Olympics
Held in late January – early February
Location: Ober Gatinburg
800-251-9202
Winter sports competitions for ice skating and
snow skiing.
February
Gatlinburg Winterfest Illumination and Decoration
Contest
Held all of February
865-436-0500
The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the
winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays
throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid
in everyone.
"People of Color from the Bible"
Held all of February
Location: Cristus Gardens
865-436-5155
Exhibit commemorates Black History month using
illustrations and stories of influential characters from the Bible who were of
African descent.
Lou Vuto's Reflections Theater - Salute to Elvis
Held a variety of days in February
965-436-2200
A riveting tribute to the King of Rock & Roll.
Show times are at 7:30 p.m.
March
Annual Spring Fest
Early – mid March
865-436-0500
A county-wide festival, which includes the cities
of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Festival will include special
events, local craft show and much more.
Easter Arts & Crafts Show
Held at Easter time
Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center
865-436-0500
Admission Free
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community members
assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for
which they are nationally known.
April
Annual "Rib Fest"
Usually held the third week of April
Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
865-436-0500
Enjoy award winning ribs from the area's finest
restaurants and entertainment.
Wildflower Pilgrimage Week
Held in late April
Events take place at Mills Auditorium, Gatlinburg
Convention Center and the National Park
865-436-7318
Enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park by participating in the "Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage".
The Wildflower Pilgrimage offers over 150 different hiking tours, motorcades,
demonstrations and classroom lectures centered on the flowers, plants and
wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is led by experts from
the Park and the University of Tennessee in nearby Knoxville.
May
Gatlinburg Highland Games
Held in mid May
Location: Mills Park
865-436-0500
Highland athletic games, food vendors, Highland
dancers, bag pipe bands, border collie demonstrations, entertainment, Scottish
clans and whiskey tasting and much more.
Gatlinburg's Fine Arts Festival
Held in mid May
Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
865-436-0500
Enjoy a beautiful relaxing day along the river at
the gorgeous Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies at an art exhibit with local &
international artists.
July
Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade
Held over the 4th of July weekend
Location: Downtown Gatlinburg
865-436-0500
Enjoy lighted floats, marching bands, & giant
helium balloons. Parade begins at 12:01 a.m. on the 4th of July, (which is one
minute after midnight on July 3).
Annual River Raft Regatta
Held July 4 and 5
Location: Starts at Christus Gardens bridge and
finishes at the Aquarium Bridge
865-436-0500
Admission Free
Enjoy a fun, unmanned, floatable object race for
the whole family. Unmanned, floatable objects are launched in the river and
they compete for prizes.
Fourth of July Fireworks Show
Held on the 4th of July
Location: City of Gatlinburg
865-436-0500
Held in downtown Gatlinburg to celebrate the
nation's "Independence Day" with a magnificent fireworks show. The City of
Gatlinburg lights up its beautiful mountain skyline downtown 1 hour after dark
with this grand show.
Gatlinburg's Craftsmen's Fair
Held in late July
Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center
865-436-7479
Over 180 of the finest craftspeople gifted in
woodcarving, pottery, broom making, stained glass, metal work, basket weaving,
calligraphy, jewelry and much more gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to
offer their unique art for sale. Country and bluegrass music performed daily.
August
Annual Gatlinburg Heritage on Display - Great
Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
Held in late August – early September
865-436-0500
Enjoy two weeks of "Heritage" in the arts and
craft community. Visit over 80 shops filled with traditional and contemporary
crafts, handmade gifts, collectibles and one of a kind pieces.
September
Old Fashioned Hayrides
Held during the entire month
Location: Departure is at traffic light #6 at
the Mountain Mall
865-436-3897
Admission Charged
Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends
downtown Gatlinburg. As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun
filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage.
Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival and Fall
Decorating Contest
Held mid – late September
865-436-0500
A county wide festival, which includes cities of
Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge. Festival will include decorating
contest, special events, local craft shows and much more.
The Annual "Taste of Autumn"
Usually held the third week of September
Location: Mills Auditorium
865-436-0500
Admission Charged
Sample Gatlinburg's finest restaurants and
homemade desserts for a United Way of Sevier County Benefit Event. Enjoy live
entertainment, benefit auction and door prizes for a wonderful countywide
cause.
October
Old Fashioned Hayrides
Held during the entire month
Location: Departure is at traffic light #6 at
the Mountain Mall
865-436-3897
Admission Charged
Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends
downtown Gatlinburg. As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun
filled hayride and enjoy breathtaking views of the beautiful mountain foliage.
Fall Celebration - Great Smoky Arts and Crafts
Community
Held during the entire month
865-436-4313
Drive the 8 mile loop and celebrate fall in the
historic Arts & Crafts Community, one of the longest running craft show in the
nation.
Ripley's Haunted Adventure Annual Fright Night
Shows
Held a variety of dates in October
Location: Ripley’s
865-430-9991
Hours: 6:13pm until close.
Ripley's Haunted Adventure becomes even scarier
during its special Halloween shows. Live actors, street performances, and
nightly character parades make the haunted house the place to see.
Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg
Held during the entire month of October
865-556-0674
Tours leave nightly at 9:30, 10:30 & Midnight
Not a "spook house" tour. Lantern led journeys
into an exciting mix of drama, horror, humor, and history.
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair
Held early – mid October
Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center
865-436-7479
Admission Charged
Over 180 of the finest Craftspeople gifted in
woodcarving, pottery, broom making, stained glass, metal work, basket weaving,
calligraphy, jewelry and much more gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to
offer their unique art for sale. Country and bluegrass music performed daily.
November
Old Fashioned Hayrides
Held during the entire month
Location: Departure is at traffic light #6 at
the Mountain Mall
865-436-3897
Admission Charged
Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends
downtown Gatlinburg. As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun
filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage.
Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights
Held the entire month
Location: Departure at traffic light #3.
865-436-3897
Hours: Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm
Enjoy a trolley ride of Gatlinburg's spectacular
light displays.
Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest Kick-off & Chili
Cook-off
Held in early November
Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
and River Road
865-436-0500
Admission Charged
Join the City of Gatlinburg as they light the
city with millions of sparkling winter lights. Sample award winning chili from
approximately 20 booths.
Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest
Held most of November
Location: Throughout Gatlinburg
865-436-0500
Admission Free to View
The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the
winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays
throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid
in everyone.
Annual Veteran's Day Celebration
Held of the Monday of Veteran’s Day
Location: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
865-436-0500
Hours: Begins at 11am
The celebration includes two events to recognize
America's veterans. A patriotic celebration saluting America's heroes is
presented on the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies plaza and a musical tribute to
America's veterans is presented at the First United Methodist Church.
Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show
Held Thanksgiving Week
Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center
865-436-0500
Admission Free
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community member
assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for
which they are nationally known.
December
Old Fashioned Hayrides
Held during the entire month
Location: Departure is at traffic light #6 at
the Mountain Mall
865-436-3897
Admission Charged
Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends
downtown Gatlinburg. As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun
filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage.
Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights
Held the entire month
Location: Departure at traffic light #3.
865-436-3897
Hours: Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm
Enjoy a trolley ride of Gatlinburg's spectacular
light displays.
Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest
Held all of December
Location: Throughout Gatlinburg
865-436-0500
Admission Free to View
The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the
winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays
throughout town. Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid
in everyone.
Traditions of Christmas
Held during the entire month
Location: Christus Gardens
865-436-5155
Experience the true meaning of Christmas as
visitors view one of America's most visited nativity setting. Colorful banners,
award-winning lighting displays, presentations of Christmas around the world and
St. Nicholas, too!
Gatlinburg's Annual “Fantasy of Lights" Christmas
Parade
Held in early December
Location: Downtown Gatlinburg
865-436-0500
Hours: Parade begins at 7:30pm
Enjoy lighted floats, marching bands and giant
helium balloons.
Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
Held in early December
Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center
800-568-4748
Admission Free
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community members
assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for
which they are nationally known.
Christmas on Ice
Held in early December
Location: Ober Gatlinburg
800-251-9202
Enjoy the spirit of the holiday season as local
skaters display their talents on ice to a wide variety of holiday music.
Gatlinburg's Annual New Year's Ball Drop and
Pyrotechnic Show
Held on December 31
Location: Space Needle on Historic Nature
Trail-Airport Road
865-436-0500
The Space Needle will come to life at the stroke
of midnight with a fabulous pyrotechnic show.
Arts & Entertainment
Lou Vuto’s Reflections Theater
570 East Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
877-822-7437
Don't miss a chance to celebrate once again the
King of Rock-n-Roll with a "Salute to Elvis" and hear the Show Band perform
those "oldies but goodies".
Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre & Music Hall
877-388-5784
Shows at 8pm nightly
This live on-stage, comedy show is one of the
most visited attractions in Gatlinburg and was officially declared A National
Historical Treasure.
