Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Say Hello To A Brand-New Year!
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 29, 2022
We're within days of ringing in 2023. Although our year is merely an astronomical unit of measurement, based on the earth revolving around the sun, there's something symbolic about flipping the metaphorical calendar from December to January that instills many with a sense of hope and renewal. It's a time for saying goodbye to the not-so-great parts of the previous year and starting clean with a fresh slate, a time for New Year resolutions and approaching life with a new perspective.
And it all starts with the ceremonial ringing in of the new year. If your plans include visiting the Great Smoky Mountains this weekend, we can't think of a more festive place in the Southeast to say farewell to 2022 and welcome 2023 with open arms. Here's our roundup of New Year's Eve celebrations throughout Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Gatlinburg New Year's Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show
The city of Gatlinburg will host its 34th Annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show on December 31 in the shadow of the Gatlinburg Space Needle in the heart of downtown. Kicking off the evening at 10 p.m. will be live music courtesy of Masterpiece Band ATL at the Shade Tree Lot. Their repertoire ranges from rock and disco to hip-hop, soul, jazz and more musical styles. That will lead up to the dropping of the ball at the top of the 400-foot-tall Space Needle at midnight. Once the new year arrives, onlookers will be treated to a spectacular fireworks show that will light up the night sky in explosive color.
Typically, tens of thousands of people gather in downtown Gatlinburg for this event, so our recommendation is either to reserve lodging somewhere near the Space Needle or drive into town early enough in the day to stake out a good place to hang out. Note that road closures, including Historic Nature Trail and portions of the Parkway, will begin around 10 p.m.
The Island
In Pigeon Forge, they'll be setting off fireworks too, including a festive year-end send-off at The Island. The multipurpose development's popular Show Fountain will ring in 2023 with dancing waters, followed by fireworks at midnight. The Island's celebration actually kicks off at 10 a.m. on New Year's Eve, so guests can enjoy rides, attractions, shops and eateries throughout the day, right up until the big fireworks event.
Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
This Gatlinburg theme park attraction, which overlooks downtown from a nearby mountaintop, is offering a scenic location for viewing the city's fireworks show at the Space Needle. Those interested will need to purchase special NYE Lights of Wonder tickets, which will allow viewing from SkyLift Park's mountain and SkyBridge attraction. From SkyBridge, you'll see the fireworks from 500 feet above the downtown spectacle - about 100 feet above the top of the Space Needle. The ticket also includes unlimited access to SkyLift Park the following day.
New Year's Eve At Mountain Mile
Meanwhile back in Pigeon Forge, the Mountain Mile development will be ringing in the new year with a whole slate of activities, beginning at 3 p.m. Look for face painting, street performers, obstacle courses, beverages like hot chocolate and apple cider, door prizes and a fireworks show that begins at 8 p.m. There will also be door prizes and a grand prize giveaway of a $2,023 Mountain Mile shopping spree.
Things will be quiet at Smoky Mountain Ziplines. This week marks the end of our 2022 season. Our Gatlinburg zipline attraction will be on hiatus until sometime in March, when Old Man Winter finally shuffles away for spring. We want to thank all of you who came to see us and play on our ziplines in 2022. We had a fantastic season, and we're grateful for all of you. We hope to see you back here in 2023. In the meantime, we wish all of you a safe and happy new year!
