Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Get The Spirit Of Christmas - In The Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 15, 2020
We know that some of you out there tend to be more like the Grinch than Buddy the elf. And that's okay; getting into the festive spirit of the holiday season comes easier to some than it does others. But even if you're still feeling a little ornery about Christmas as the big day approaches, it's not too late to turn that frown upside-down and find a way to celebrate all the great things about this most wonderful time of the year.
The good news is that all our tips for getting into the spirit of the holiday can be accomplished in one location-the Great Smoky Mountains. Whether you visit Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg or all three, you won't have to look very hard to find opportunities for plugging into the celebration of Christmas and the entire winter season.
Let Us Entertain You
You might consider a visit to a music theater to help you shake off the winter blahs. Right now, most of the theaters are staging their holiday-themed shows, which means you have two full hours to soak in everything that's great about Christmas and the whole Yuletide season. You'll hear Christmas carols and other seasonal songs, and you'll likely see Santa Claus and his elves, not to mention other favorite holiday characters like Frosty the Snowman and Sugar Plum Fairies. There's plenty of good cheer to go around at a number of different local music theaters, including Country Tonite, Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, Dolly Parton's Stampede, The Comedy Barn, Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud and more. Also, local attractions like the Titanic Museum Attraction, Anakeesta and Dollywood have their own unique ways of celebrating the season, including unique decorations and lights. Dollywood, for example, stages many Christmas-themed shows of their own, in addition to cool holiday attractions and millions of lights.
Speaking Of Lights…
We think you'd be hard pressed to take in the dazzling glow of all the Winterfest lights in the Smokies and not come away feeling all warm and fuzzy about the Christmas season. And the glow is inescapable. Each of our local communities has millions of lights on display, from utility poles to amazing animated displays. Pick up or download a map from each town's visitors' center, and you can create your own magical tour of lights. Or you can tour the lights of Pigeon Forge on a double-decker bus. Another option would be to visit Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium in Sevierville. That's where you'll find a drive-through tour of large-scale, animated light displays depicting a wide array of holiday-themed scenes.
All Aboard The Polar Express
You'll have to journey to the other side of the mountains to do this one, but it's a great way to get a full load of Christmas cheer. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad is running its annual Polar Express rides, beginning at their depot in Bryson City, North Carolina. It's a great way for families to ride a real passenger train through the mountains at night and see some magical sights along the way. Hot chocolate is included, and families are encouraged to wear their Christmas pajamas on the trip.
Take A Spin On The Ice
Ice skating goes hand-in-hand with the Christmas season, and this year, there are lots of places in the Smokies where you can lace up the skates and hit the ice. These include the indoor rink at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and outdoor rinks at the Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge and Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville. Also, the outdoor rink that is usually operating on Market Square in Knoxville is now set up at the Civic Coliseum downtown.
These are just a few of the ways you can help get yourself into the Christmas spirit this year in the Smokies. And there are plenty more, including shopping for gifts and simply having fun at the many Smoky Mountain-area attractions. Speaking of which, we'll be closing for the season in just a few weeks, so you don't have many chances left to get some ziplining in for 2020. And if you want to save a few dollars, use our Smoky Mountain Ziplines coupon before it expires.
