A Gatlinburg Christmas is a magical time full of festive lights, fun events, and decorations galore. We’ve rounded up the “best of the best” holiday options in the area, from events and lights to restaurants and trip-planning tips.
Key Takeaways:
- Gatlinburg offers Christmas charm for everyone, regardless of your interests.
- Some top Christmas events include Winterfest and Lights Over Gatlinburg.
- Be sure to see a festive dinner show at Dolly Parton’s Stampede or the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud.
- There are plenty of holiday shopping opportunities in the Gatlinburg area.
- A little planning can help make your Gatlinburg Christmas as relaxing and memorable as possible.
Introduction to Gatlinburg’s Winter Charm
Nestled in the snow-covered Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is the perfect town to visit if you want to get into the Christmas spirit. Gatlinburg’s residents pull out the stops every holiday season to deliver a memorable experience for all, and Christmas 2023 is no different!
Embracing the Holiday Spirit in Gatlinburg
Every family has different holiday traditions. Some love to ooh and ahh over lighting Christmas lights displays, while others like to embrace the season with shopping trips to find the perfect gift. Still others prefer taking in snow-covered winter wonders with family. The beauty of Gatlinburg is that no matter your preferences and Christmas traditions, you’ll find something to love!
Gatlinburg: the Gateway to Winter Wonders
It’s impossible to discuss a Gatlinburg Christmas without mentioning the winter wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains. When you choose a stay in Gatlinburg over the holidays, you’re at the gateway to stunning winter hikes, sweeping vistas, and perhaps a view of mountains blanketed in snow.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Winter Festivals and Events
While Gatlinburg’s natural wintery beauty is hard to rival, you’ll find plenty of other things to do in the area. First up on our list of Gatlinburg Christmas specialties is a roundup of festivals and events to visit.
Smoky Mountain Winterfest
Smoky Mountain Winterfest is the backdrop to all of Gatlinburg’s holiday displays and events. This annual event occurs in Gatlinburg and the neighboring towns of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. It runs from November 10, 2023, to February 19, 2024, and brings local businesses and attractions together in a Christmas celebration. Highlights include light displays, festive music, and decorations.
Christmas at Anakeesta
Anakeesta’s Enchanted Christmas event runs from November 10th to December 31st. One of the highlights of this event is the display featuring millions of twinkling lights. In the Arctic Valley, the lights are programmed to sync with a Christmas musical soundtrack. Holiday entertainers are located throughout the park, from the Anakeesta Carolers singing festive songs to Lolly Swirly Canes, who delight audiences with an aerial hoop performance. If you have kids in your group, don’t miss Breakfast with Santa, offered on the mornings of November 24 and 25 and December 2, 9, 16, and 23.
Lights Over Gatlinburg
Lights Over Gatlinburg takes place in the Gatlinburg SkyPark, where you can experience the stunning views offered by the SkyBridge, with the added magic of thousands of Christmas lights. The entire length of the bridge is decked out in a tunnel of magical lights. Lights Over Gatlinburg is included in regular admission to the SkyPark, allowing you to check out the views of the wintery mountains during the day and return at night for the lights! The event runs from November 9th to January 31st.
Tunes & Tales
For a street performance with festive charm, look no further than Tunes & Tales! The free festival features costumed musicians and other performers portraying characters from the 1800s onwards. The event occurs on December 8th and 9th and the 15th and 16th from 6 pm to 11 pm.
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
The Arts and Crafts Community is the best place to find unique handmade Christmas gifts for everyone on your list! Explore the United States’s largest organization of independent artisans, selling everything from stuffed bears to dulcimers. Be sure to take time for a chat with the artisans, most of whom are happy to share the details and history of their craft.
Attractions and Christmas Shows
At Christmastime, the local attractions and dinner shows put on their holiday bests with memorable decorations and performances.
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
Prepare to soak in the season’s sights, sounds, and scents at Dollywood! Grab a bite to eat from the seasonal menu, enjoy bluegrass performances of traditional Christmas songs, and admire the light displays throughout the park. The festival runs until January 6, 2024.
Titanic Christmas & Winter Celebration
In the neighboring town of Pigeon Forge, the Titanic Museum decks out its model of the famous ship in a homage to Victorian Christmas traditions. It’s a great time of year to see the museum in its festive finery!
Ripley’s Festive Aquarium of the Smokies
Join Ripley’s for Santa’s Seaside Shellebration, an event that features photos with Santa, light displays, and the Aquarium’s incredible collection of underwater creatures. Be sure to catch the special Santa and Elf Dive Show, where “Scuba” Claus meets visitors while swimming in one of the aquarium’s massive tanks. You can see the themed shows until December 24th, and the last day for Breakfast with Santa is December 23rd.
Pigeon Forge Snow
Visit America’s first indoor snow park for guaranteed winter fun, regardless of the outside temperature! Enjoy a trip down the tubing slopes, or build snowmen and snow forts in the facility’s 100% real snow. The facility uses no additives in their snow–just water–so you can enjoy clean winter fun any day this season!
Hatfield and McCoy’s Christmas Disaster
The Hatfield and McCoy dinner show offers a unique Christmas feud this holiday season. Enjoy a Southern Homestyle Holiday Feast–featuring favorites like fried chicken and barbeque–while you watch the feuding families settle their differences in Christmas style. You can catch the Christmas Feud until January 6th in nearby Pigeon Forge.
Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas
Another favorite in Pigeon Forge is Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas. The arena features poinsettias, holiday costumes, festive lights, and holiday music. Be awe-inspired by the Stampede’s 32 horses as you enjoy a scrumptious four-course dinner served by elves! January 5th is your last day to catch the 2023 Christmas show.
Polar Express
You won’t regret the hour-long drive from Gatlinburg to catch the Polar Express in Bryson City! This magical train ride recreates the trip from the famous book, complete with singing hot chocolate servers and a special gift from Santa. Tickets for the 2023 season are already sold out, so if you want to enjoy this festive tradition with your family, we recommend booking for 2024 today!
New Year’s Eve
There’s no better place to ring in the New Year with your loved ones than at a special Gatlinburg area celebration.
Ball Drop and Fireworks Show
The base of the Gatlinburg Space Needle is the place to be on New Year’s Eve because of the annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show taking place right there! Enjoy a musically choreographed fireworks show set off at midnight from the top of the needle, with rhythmic LED lights synchronized on the tower’s side! This FREE event includes live music starting at 10 p.m. and a ball drop from the side of the space needle. We recommend finding a spot early, as the event regularly attracts 50,000 people from across the nation!
Lights of Wonder
Take your fireworks viewing experience up a notch by experiencing the lights from 100 feet above the launch spot! At the Gatlinburg SkyPark, you’ll get an exclusive viewing spot 500 feet above Gatlinburg, putting you up close to the action. This year, you’ll also get to kick off the new year with a dance party on the SkyDeck! Grab your free Studio Quality headphones and join Ear Jams Silent Disco for a DJ’d dance party to remember. Grab your tickets here.
Natural Wonders in Winter
Winter brings a unique charm to the natural wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains. Experience the breathtaking beauty of frozen streams and snowy landscapes in the Gatlinburg area.
Explore Smoky Mountain National Park
For the intrepid explorer, winter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an opportunity to see the park in a new way. Hike to Rainbow Falls for a beautiful view of the frozen-over falls. Take the Alum Cave Trail for a particularly scenic hike, or visit one of the many overlook points to see the Smokies blanketed in snow.
If you’re visiting the park in the winter, you will want to take extra precautions. Be sure to dress warmly–insulated boots are a must! Keep track of time; sunset comes early in the winter, and you don’t want to get caught in the dark accidentally. Finally, be sure to check the weather and current park closures, as trails and roads in the park may be closed due to weather.
Cades Cove
Want to experience the outdoor beauty of the Smokies without braving the winter weather? The motor trail through Cades Cove is an excellent way to see the sights from the comfort of your car. The loop is open every day, year-round, from 8 a.m. to sunset. You can expect 11 miles of beautiful scenery, plus a view of historical spots like the Primitive Baptist Church. The Cades Cove Loop Road is free and a great addition to your Gatlinburg winter trip.
Restaurants and Dining Options
After a full day of seeing the Gatlinburg Christmas sights, you’ll be ready to fuel up with some delicious winter-weather fare! Below are some great restaurants to satisfy your cravings with seasonally appropriate offerings.
Old Mill Restaurant
Grab some satisfying Southern-style grub from the Old Mill Restaurant in nearby Pigeon Forge. The restaurant is located in a historic gristmill, and Old Mill Square is decked out in decorations every Christmas to give you a festive dining experience! Warm up with hot biscuits, followed by a delicious pot roast or serving of fried chicken. Don’t leave without trying a homemade dessert, like pecan pie or chocolate cake!
Apple Barn
A hot biscuit topped with homemade spiced apple butter is a delicious way to warm up from a winter day spent exploring. You can find this and more at the Apple Barn complex, just outside Sevierville! Grab a souvenir along with some homemade apple butter, jam, or syrup from the general store, then head over to the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant for pork chops, fried chicken, and more!
Shopping
You won’t need to worry about finishing your Christmas shopping list at the end of a Gatlinburg visit! The area is filled with unique spots to find the best gifts for everyone on your list. Below are some places to check out in the region:
The Old Mill Square
Before (or after) a delicious meal at the Old Mill Restaurant, check out the shops on the square for unique Christmas gifts! Pigeon River Pottery offers incredible locally-made items backed by 70 years of pottery-making experience. Other shops include the General Store, Toy Bin, and Farmhouse Kitchen, so you have plenty of chances to find a gift for that special someone.
The Incredible Christmas Place
It’s Christmas all year at the Incredible Christmas Place–a store where you can find all the festive decor and gifts you’ve been looking for. You can also get many items personalized for a special touch.
The Village
At the Village in Gatlinburg, you can visit 27 family-friendly shops in the same accessible area. The Square features plenty of Christmas decorations to enjoy as you browse the shops to find that perfect gift! Find gifts for the little ones on your list at Toy Crazy, smell some candles at the Candle Cottage, find handmade soaps at Misty Mountain Soap Co., and explore the many other shops in the Village…you won’t leave empty-handed!
Choosing Where to Stay: Accommodations & Insights
Christmas is a great time to visit Gatlinburg, but choosing an accommodation can feel overwhelming. Not to worry, we can help you weigh the pros and cons of each lodging type so you can confidently choose!
The Benefits of Choosing a Hotel
There’s a lot to love about a Gatlinburg hotel stay. You’ll be close to the action, and you can dump shopping bags in your room if needed or stop back for a quick nap. You won’t need to worry about the weather impacting roads, either–you’ll most likely have clear roads to your stay. As a bonus, some hotels offer live music and festive entertainment to get you in the Christmas mood.
If you’re passionate about visiting a hotel that embraces the season, you can’t go wrong with The Inn at Christmas Place in nearby Pigeon Forge. You can expect visits and photos with Santa, hot chocolate in the lobby, and a fully decorated hotel! The Greystone Lodge on the River is another hotel that gets especially festive at Christmas. That said, most hotels decorate and get in the holiday spirit, so it’s hard to go wrong!
The Benefits of Staying in a Cabin
While a hotel offers the convenience of being right in the heart of city festivities, a Christmas cabin stay provides a chance to get away from it all. Gather with friends and family around a roaring fire and enjoy personal views of the Smokies wrapped in winter. A cabin stay is an excellent choice if you’ll have a larger group, as you can book a large cabin and fit everyone instead of worrying about booking multiple hotel rooms. Many cabins also decorate for Christmas with garlands, wreaths, and much more! Most cabin rental sites allow you to search for festively decked-out cabins so you can ensure a great stay. For more tips on planning a cabin getaway, check out our article here!
Managing the Festive Crowds
Part of the fun of a Gatlinburg Christmas is sharing your experiences with other visitors. While crowds of happy people add to the Christmas spirit, they can be challenging to navigate. Below are some strategies to ensure that you navigate the hustle and bustle with ease!
Strategies for Navigating Gatlinburg’s Popularity
- Book ahead. Is there a Christmas dinner show you want to see or a restaurant you’ve been dying to try? Make reservations in advance so you avoid long lines and wait times.
- Limit your driving. The main challenge with Christmas crowds is traffic, so if long car waits frustrate you, try to walk more than drive. On the other hand, if you love a slow pace so you can take in all the lights and decorations, feel free to take your time in the car!
- Plan for a slower pace. Life will be a lot less frustrating if you make a realistic schedule that factors in possible delays and wait times. Slow down and soak in the season! If there are places that you really want to see, consider looking up their peak hours and going at a quieter time of day.
Tips for Planning a Stress-Free Vacation
You’ve found your dream spots, planned an itinerary, and booked lodgings. Now what? Below are a few last-minute tips to help ensure that your Christmas Gatlinburg visit is as relaxing and stress-free as possible.
Book your stay early
Prime lodging spots fill up quickly for the holidays! Consider booking as early as possible to save money and get your preferred spot. If you’re unsure of your plans and want peace of mind, get a place with free, no-hassle cancellation so you have flexibility if plans change.
Take advantage of group discounts
Any vacation can get pricey quickly when you add special events and attractions tickets. Stick to your budget by looking for group discounts, especially if you’ll have the whole family together for the trip. Many places also offer discounts if you buy tickets online rather than at the door, so take advantage of those deals as well.
Go to events during off-peak hours
If the Gatlinburg holiday crowds are part of the fun for you, then by all means, visit places at peak times! If you’d like more space, try planning your visits during less busy times. Google often offers a helpful snapshot of busy hours so you can research and schedule your visits ahead of time.
Make meal reservations when possible
Again, restaurants get packed quickly during the holiday season! Beat the line by making a reservation. If your chosen restaurant doesn’t take reservations (or if you just forgot–it happens!), consider getting an afternoon meal at an off time, like 3 or 4 pm–before the dinner rush. Or, consider a later meal at 9 or 10 pm.
A Christmas visit to Gatlinburg is a magical experience that you won’t soon forget! From shopping for gifts at the Village to seeing the Christmas lights at Winterfest and Lights Over Gatlinburg, Christmas is one of the best times to experience the Smokies. With a bit of planning and some advance reservations, you can ensure that your visit is relaxing and full of festive magic.
