With more than 15 million lights along the 25-mile long Parkway in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Smoky Mountain Winterfest is a magical time to visit the Smokies.
Sevierville and her sister cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg put on their brightest event yet from the Friday before Thanksgiving through President’s Day each year. Beautiful lights and fun special events add to the enjoyment of winter in the Smoky Mountains — as do the Christmas-themed attractions, incredible shopping and holiday shows.
Special Winterfest attractions, like Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smokies Stadium (Nov. 15, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020) add to the excitement. This 1.5-mile drive through LED light and music experience features fun extras for the kids, including crafts and photos with Santa (Nov. 15 – December 23).
Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort offers year-round water park fun inside the Wild WaterDome. But winter visitors to this tropical oasis can also enjoy some cool activities — including taking a spin at the seasonal outdoor ice-skating rink.
Christmas events highlight the joys of the season. From Sevierville’s traditional Christmas Parade (Dec. 7) and events like Santa Hustle Smokies 5K and Half Marathon (Dec. 15) to tree lighting ceremonies and more, there are plenty of ways to put some extra jingle in your step.
Shopping in Sevierville is the perfect way to check off your list — twice. With nearly 150 name brand outlet stores where shoppers can find everything from fine China and clothing to tools and furniture, Sevierville is a retail haven. Tanger Outlets Sevierville is particularly popular with more than 100 high end name brand stores. Events like the Moonlight Madness and After Thanksgiving Sales kick off the holiday shopping season in the Smokies and are a great reason to plan a Smoky Mountain Winterfest vacation.
Specialty retail shops featuring items like fine art, antiques and collectibles and outdoor items are also popular. Find something for the person who has everything at Smoky Mountain Knife Works, a 100,000 plus square foot store featuring cutlery, collectibles, kitchen gadgets and authentic relics. Visitors can even bring a little Winterfest home by visiting stores like Country Christmas and Collectibles where Winterfest style lighting displays are for sale and custom displays are built to order.