Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2016! Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville Sparkle for the Holidays!

This year marks the 27th year for the annual Smoky Mountain Winterfest celebration in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tennessee. Beginning on November 7, 2016 the mountain towns are filled with sparkling holiday light displays that keep on twinkling until February 28, 2017. Each town holds their own special kickoff events and offer Winterfest Lights tours. Here’s all you need to know to enjoy this sparkling time of year in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2016

Millions of LED lights decorate downtown Gatlinburg during Smoky Mountain Winterfest!

Sevierville Smoky Mountain Winterfest Kickoff
Monday, November 7, 2016 @ Sevierville Municipal Complex
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lots of free food, fun and games, and fireworks at Sevierville’s Winterfest Kickoff. Lighting ceremony begins at 7:45 p.m. with fireworks show following. Lots of music and dancing, and you may even catch an early glimpse of the big guy in red! For more information, call 865-453-6411.

Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountain Winterfest Kickoff
Tuesday, November 8, 2016 @ Patriot Park
4:00 pm
It’s fireworks, food, fun and more at the City of Pigeon Forge’s Smoky Mountain Winterfest Kickoff. A special countdown for the official lighting begins around 5:15 p.m. followed by a fantastic fireworks show. Girl Scout Troops will be selling hot beverages and cookies to enjoy. There is a children’s play area with old-fashioned games. Musical entertainment will be provided by Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, and the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus. At 6:00 p.m. hop aboard the Fun Time Trolley for a Free Trolley Tour of Lights!

Smoky Mountain Winterfest 2016 LogoBe sure to stop by the Fun Time Trolley office at Patriot Park or the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center at traffic light #0 on the Parkway to pick up Winterfest Lights Driving Tour brochure to enjoy the holiday lights at your leisure. For more information, call 865-453-8674.

Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 @ Downtown Gatlinburg Parkway
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
This annual event is free; however, a $10 ticket gets you a spoon to sample over 25 different types of chili and vote on your favorites! You can also participate in chili eating contests held at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The official lighting ceremony will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the Bush’s Best Stage. Entertainment will be provided by The Greenbrier Band, The Grassabillies, and Tara Thompson as the headline act. For more information, call 800-588-1817.

Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic features millions of enviromentally-friendly LED lights designed to create a magical winter forest landscape throughout the town.

 

More Hey Smokies Features:

No thumbnail available
LeConte Lodge 100th Birthday...
LeConte Lodge 100th Birthday. Nestled among the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, Mount LeConte Lodge stands as a testament to both[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
Smoky Mountain Spring Time Activities...
Smoky Mountain Spring Time Activities. Spring is in the air in the Smoky Mountains! In addition to fine dining, go karts and live music get[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
The Island St. Patrick's Day Celebration...
The Island St. Patrick's Day Celebration. The Island will host a free St. Patricks Day celebration with a jam session with Tuatha Dea. Tuat[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
Cades Cove Burns...
Cades Cove Burns. Harnessing Fire: The Ecological Benefits of Prescribed Burns in Cades Cove. Nestled within the expansive Great Smo[Read More >>]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway...
Did you know that the Blue Ridge Parkway is connected to Great Smoky Mountains National Park? That's right; another National Park is attached to[Read More >>]
Smoky Mountain Full Wolf Moon
Smoky Mountain Full Wolf Moon...
Smoky Mountain full wolf moon is on the rise! Smoky Mountain Full Wolf Moon. Full Wolf Moon to rise on January 25, 2024. Mother Nature is g[Read More >>]
Wilderness Wildlife Week 2024
Wilderness Wildlife Week 2024...
Wilderness Wildlife Week 2024. Wilderness Wildlife Week is a week-long event that celebrates the natural beauty and wildlife of the Great S[Read More >>]
Smoky Mountain Black Bears Winter
Smoky Mountain Black Bears Winter...
Smoky Mountain black. bears. Always stay at least 50 yards away from Smoky Mountain wildlife. Smoky Mountain Black Bears Winter. Nestled wit[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
New Year Black-eyed Peas And Greens Recipe...
New Year Black-eyed Peas And Greens Recipe. What is behind the Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Years[Read More >>]
New Year's Eve Celebration At The Island In Pigeon Forge
New Year's Eve Celebration At The Island In Pigeon Forge...
Join the fun this New Year's Eve at The Island in Pigeon Forge! New Year's Eve Celebration At The Island In Pigeon Forge. The Island in Pige[Read More >>]
Christmas Cookie Recipe
Christmas Cookie Recipe...
Christmas Cookie Recipe. When the holidays arrive in the Great Smoky Mountains there are many HeySmokies sweet treat favorites but the tradition[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
Smoky Mountain Parking Pass Scam Alert...
Smoky Mountain Parking Pass Scam Alert! Great Smoky Mountain Park officials are investigating an online scam selling fraudulent parking tag[Read More >>]
Aerosmith Rocks Smoky Mountains
Aerosmith Rocks Smoky Mountains...
Aerosmith Rocks Smoky Mountains on January 13, 2024. Get ready to welcome rock royalty, Knoxville! Aerosmith, the iconic band that has def[Read More >>]
Fun Filled Christmas Activities At Biltmore Mansion
Fun Filled Christmas Activities At Biltmore Mansion...
Fun-Filled Christmas Activities at Biltmore Mansion. As the holiday season sweeps across the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore Estate tran[Read More >>]
Smoky Mountain Campfire Ban Expires
Smoky Mountain Campfire Ban Expires...
Smoky Mountain Campfire Ban Expires beginning Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Precipitation, cooler temperatures and shorter days allow for [Read More >>]
Smoky Mountain Aero Club
Smoky Mountain Aero Club...
Smoky Mountain Aero Club. Since 1936 Radio controlled model airplanes have been cruising the skies at local airfields across the country. M[Read More >>]
No thumbnail available
Smoky Mountain Lakeview Drive Opens...
Smoky Mountain Lakeview Drive Opens. GSMNP is rehabilitating Lakeview Drive in North Carolina through Great American Outdoor Act funding. L[Read More >>]
Cades Cove Loop Lope
Cades Cove Loop Lope...
Cades Cove Loop Lope Cades Cove Loop Lope will be held Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 11 a.m. The park’s philanthropic partner, Friends of the[Read More >>]
Smoky Mountain Veterans Day Free Parking
Smoky Mountain Veterans Day Free Parking...
Smoky Mountain Veterans Day Free Parking! In honor of Veterans Day, visitors to Great Smoky Mountains will not be required to display or bu[Read More >>]
Gatlinburg Winter Magic And Chili Cookoff
Gatlinburg Winter Magic And Chili Cookoff...
Gatlinburg Winter Magic And Chili Cookoff. Join us for the kickoff of Gatlinburg's Winter Magic at the 34th Chili Cookoff presented by Bush[Read More >>]