Winterfest 2016 in the Great Smoky Mountains! Celebrate the Season November 7 to February 28!
Winterfest 2016 in the Great Smoky Mountains! Come celebrate the season at Smoky Mountain Winterfest beginning November 7, 2016 all the way through to February 28, 2017! Smoky Mountain Winterfest features over 14 million twinkling lights in enchanting displays throughout Sevier County, Tennessee! Check out all the great Special Events that make Winterfest 2016 in the Smoky Mountains a true celebration of lights!
Enjoy a Trolley Tour of Lights during Winterfest 2016! (photo: Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism)
November 4, 2016 – January 8, 2017
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium
Dusk to 10:00 pm or later on weekends
The ever popular Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland is an exciting and fun drive-thru musical light show featuring hundreds of LED lights. New this year is the Santa Safari display! Don’t forget to get out of your car and enjoy the activities (like pony rides!) and refreshments at Santa’s Village where the big guy in red will be making special guest appearances! For more information and ticket prices visit shadrackchristmas.com.
November 5, 2016 – January 3, 2017
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
No one gets quite as excited about Christmas as Dolly Parton and to celebrate this year she’s added a Parade of Many Colors to the holiday traditions at her theme park! Beginning on November 16 at 8:00 p.m. guests will enjoy a parade to celebrate her new NBC holiday movie, “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.” Also new this season, is the production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” showing at the Showstreet Theater. For more information and ticket prices, visit dollywood.com.
November 8, 2016 – February 28, 2017
Winterfest Lights Self-Guided Driving Tour
6:00 pm nightly
Pick up a tour guide there and see the city’s millions of twinkling lights from the comfort of your own car. Tour guides available at the Pigeon Forge Welcome Center at traffic light #0. For more info, call the City of Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism at 800-588-1817.
November 9 – January 31, 2016
Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights and Winterfest Lights Self-Guided Driving Tour
6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:30 pm
Specially designated trolleys tour guests through downtown Gatlinburg’s one-of-a-kind LED light displays. It’s a magical journey through a winter forest of evergreens with foxes, rabbits, squirrels, and even dancing snowmen! Tickets are $5 (children 3 and under are free). Self-guided tour maps are also available at Gatlinburg Welcome Centers. For more information, call Gatlinburg Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-588-1817.
November 27 – December 17, 2016
Winter Magic Tunes & Tales in Downtown Gatlinburg
Begins at 5:00 pm nightly on weekends
In downtown Gatlinburg on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas enjoy the sights and sounds of costumed a capella carolers and other musical performers as they stroll along The Parkway entertaining visitors and getting everyone into the holiday spirit. For more information on Gatlinburg’s Tunes & Tales street performance festival, visit them on Facebook!
Friday, December 2, 2016
41st Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade in Downtown Gatlinburg
7:30 pm
This award-winning parade featuring floats full of twinkling lights, marching bands, and balloons attracts hundreds that line the streets of The Parkway each year to enjoy all the holiday fun. Grand marshal of the parade is, of course, ol’ St. Nick himself! Bring your lawn chair or this year the City of Gatlinburg is offering special bleacher seating for $20. For more info and to purchase tickets online, visit Gatlinburg Christmas Parade Bleacher Seating or call the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-588-1817.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
54th Annual Christmas Parade in Sevierville
11:00 am
On this Saturday morning the City of Sevierville celebrates with a more traditional, hometown parade featuring local pageant winners, baton twirlers, dance teams, marching bands, and floats. Santa didn’t stay up too late in Gatlinburg the night before, so he’ll be ready to greet everyone along Forks of the River Parkway and Court Avenue in downtown Sevierville. For more info, please call 865-453-6411.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
New Year’s Eve Celebration at The Island in Pigeon Forge
6:00 pm
The Island in Pigeon Forge welcomes Jackie Lee to the stage as part of the celebration for the whole family! Have all kinds of fun until the big countdown at midnight complete with fireworks! For more info on the free event, visit islandinpigeonforge.com.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
New Year’s Eve Concert Ball Drop in Gatlinburg
10:00 pm
All the fun begins this year at 10:00 p.m. with a free concert by popular country music star Beau Braswell and rising country star Cassidy Diana. The concert takes place in the area adjacent to the Gatlinburg Convention Center near traffic light #8. Then seconds before the stroke of midnight, the lighted ball will drop from roof of the 400-ft. tall Space Needle to specially choreographed music. The Space Needle is located near the intersection of The Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at traffic light #8. For more information, call the Gatlinburg CVB at 800-588-1817.
