Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Winterfest Events Keep The Season Festive
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 3, 2019
We're just three weeks away from Christmas, but in the Great Smoky Mountains, the annual celebration known as Winterfest will continue all season long, bringing lots of holiday cheer to the mountains through February. From festive décor to fun special events for the whole family, Winterfest gives visitors more reasons than ever to come to the Smokies during the off-season.
Our Smoky Mountain ziplines will only be open for a few more weeks, but this week, we'll fill your stocking with lots of suggestions for other things you can do to enjoy Winterfest in the Smokies, through the end of the year and beyond. So read on, mark your calendars and get ready for a Christmas and winter season you'll not soon forget.
• Winterfest lights
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville have been decked out in lights for weeks now, and you've still got three months to see them. Each city has its own collection of unique animated light displays that brighten the night skies with a colorful and twinkling glow. Also, local homes and businesses are putting on their finest as well, which truly transforms the area into a magical sight. You can tour the lights on your own, by car, or visit Gatlinburg, where they offer special trolley tours of that city's light displays through the end of January. Also look for Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium in Sevierville. This drive-through tour takes guests through a large-scale exhibition of animated light displays that twinkle in synch with a holiday soundtrack.
• Holiday shows
It's the time of year when many of our local music theaters switch from their regular-season shows to special holiday-themed productions featuring Christmas tunes, festive costumes and, typically, appearances by beloved characters like Santa, Rudolph and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Participating venues include Smoky Mountain Opry, Country Tonite Theatre, Hatfield & McCoy Family Feud, Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage, the Comedy Barn and Dolly Parton's Stampede, to mention a few.
• Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas
Speaking of Dolly Parton, her Pigeon Forge theme park is a destination in itself during the annual Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration. Through January 4, the park is quite the winter spectacle with its millions of holiday lights throughout the park, Christmas-themed shows (Christmas in the Smokies, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.) and special seasonal attractions like the nightly Parade of Many Colors and Glacier Ridge, home of a spectacular video-motion Christmas tree.
• Business promotions
Other local businesses are also getting in the swing of things with holiday decorations and fun, unique, themed activities. For example, during Enchanted Winter at Anakeesta (through February 17), the outdoor adventure park in Gatlinburg becomes a seasonal destination thanks to a thousand-foot canopy of lights, decorated Christmas trees, holiday shopping, a walk-in snow globe and much more. Also, the Skybridge in Gatlinburg will be decked out in lights through January 31, and the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge will host its own Christmas and Winter Celebration through the end of the year.
• And that's not all…
You'll have several Christmas parades to choose from this year, including events in Gatlinburg (12/6), Sevierville (12/7) and Townsend (12/8). Also, many businesses are offering breakfast and/or photo opps with Santa this month, including Old Mill Square (12/7), The Island (through 12/21) and Crave Golf Club (through 12/23). Add in events like Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales in downtown Gatlinburg and Christmas/holiday-themed movies at area cinemas, and you're looking at a winter season overflowing with fun and joy.
