Events

January

Gatlinburg Winterfest Illumination and Decoration Contest

Held all of January and February

865-436-0500

The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town.  Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone.  Special lighting displays added in January for "Smoky Mountain Romance". 

Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Rides of Lights

Saturdays in January

865-436-3897

Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m.

Night Magic Skiing

Held all of January and February

Location: Ober Gatlinburg

865-436-5423

Traditions of Christmas

Held the first week of January

Location: Christus Gardens

865-436-5155

Experience the true meaning of Christmas at one of America's most visited nativity settings.  Colorful banners, award-winning lighting displays, presentations of Christmas around the world and St. Nicholas, too! 

Special Olympics

Held in late January – early February

Location: Ober Gatinburg

800-251-9202

Winter sports competitions for ice skating and snow skiing. 

February

Gatlinburg Winterfest Illumination and Decoration Contest

Held all of February

865-436-0500

The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town.  Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. 

"People of Color from the Bible"

Held all of February

Location: Cristus Gardens

865-436-5155

Exhibit commemorates Black History month using illustrations and stories of influential characters from the Bible who were of African descent. 

Lou Vuto's Reflections Theater - Salute to Elvis

Held a variety of days in February

965-436-2200

A riveting tribute to the King of Rock & Roll. 

Show times are at 7:30 p.m. 

March

Annual Spring Fest

Early – mid March

865-436-0500

A county-wide festival, which includes the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.  Festival will include special events, local craft show and much more. 

Easter Arts & Crafts Show

Held at Easter time

Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center

865-436-0500

Admission Free

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community members assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for which they are nationally known. 

April

Annual "Rib Fest"

Usually held the third week of April

Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

865-436-0500

Enjoy award winning ribs from the area's finest restaurants and entertainment. 

Wildflower Pilgrimage Week

Held in late April

Events take place at Mills Auditorium, Gatlinburg Convention Center and the National Park

865-436-7318

Enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by participating in the "Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage".  The Wildflower Pilgrimage offers over 150 different hiking tours, motorcades, demonstrations and classroom lectures centered on the flowers, plants and wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is led by experts from the Park and the University of Tennessee in nearby Knoxville. 

May

Gatlinburg Highland Games

Held in mid May

Location: Mills Park

865-436-0500

Highland athletic games, food vendors, Highland dancers, bag pipe bands, border collie demonstrations, entertainment, Scottish clans and whiskey tasting and much more. 

Gatlinburg's Fine Arts Festival

Held in mid May

Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

865-436-0500

Enjoy a beautiful relaxing day along the river at the gorgeous Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies at an art exhibit with local & international artists. 

July

Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade

Held over the 4th of July weekend

Location:  Downtown Gatlinburg

865-436-0500

Enjoy lighted floats, marching bands, & giant helium balloons.  Parade begins at 12:01 a.m. on the 4th of July, (which is one minute after midnight on July 3). 

Annual River Raft Regatta

Held July 4 and 5

Location:  Starts at Christus Gardens bridge and finishes at the Aquarium Bridge

865-436-0500

Admission Free

Enjoy a fun, unmanned, floatable object race for the whole family.  Unmanned, floatable objects are launched in the river and they compete for prizes. 

Fourth of July Fireworks Show

Held on the 4th of July

Location: City of Gatlinburg

865-436-0500

Held in downtown Gatlinburg to celebrate the nation's "Independence Day" with a magnificent fireworks show.  The City of Gatlinburg lights up its beautiful mountain skyline downtown 1 hour after dark with this grand show. 

Gatlinburg's Craftsmen's Fair

Held in late July

Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center

865-436-7479

Over 180 of the finest craftspeople gifted in woodcarving, pottery, broom making, stained glass, metal work, basket weaving, calligraphy, jewelry and much more gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to offer their unique art for sale. Country and bluegrass music performed daily.  

August

Annual Gatlinburg Heritage on Display - Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community

Held in late August – early September

865-436-0500

Enjoy two weeks of "Heritage" in the arts and craft community.  Visit over 80 shops filled with traditional and contemporary crafts, handmade gifts, collectibles and one of a kind pieces. 

September

Old Fashioned Hayrides

Held during the entire month

Location:  Departure is at traffic light #6 at the Mountain Mall

865-436-3897

Admission Charged

Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends downtown Gatlinburg.  As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage. 

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival and Fall Decorating Contest

Held mid – late September

865-436-0500

A county wide festival, which includes cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge.  Festival will include decorating contest, special events, local craft shows and much more. 

The Annual "Taste of Autumn"

Usually held the third week of September

Location:  Mills Auditorium

865-436-0500

Admission Charged

Sample Gatlinburg's finest restaurants and homemade desserts for a United Way of Sevier County Benefit Event.  Enjoy live entertainment, benefit auction and door prizes for a wonderful countywide cause. 

October

Old Fashioned Hayrides

Held during the entire month

Location:  Departure is at traffic light #6 at the Mountain Mall

865-436-3897

Admission Charged

Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends downtown Gatlinburg.  As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun filled hayride and enjoy breathtaking views of the beautiful mountain foliage. 

Fall Celebration - Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community

Held during the entire month

865-436-4313

Drive the 8 mile loop and celebrate fall in the historic Arts & Crafts Community, one of the longest running craft show in the nation. 

Ripley's Haunted Adventure Annual Fright Night Shows

Held a variety of dates in October

Location: Ripley’s

865-430-9991

Hours:  6:13pm until close. 

Ripley's Haunted Adventure becomes even scarier during its special Halloween shows.  Live actors, street performances, and nightly character parades make the haunted house the place to see. 

Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg

Held during the entire month of October

865-556-0674

Tours leave nightly at 9:30, 10:30 & Midnight

Not a "spook house" tour.  Lantern led journeys into an exciting mix of drama, horror, humor, and history. 

Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair

Held early – mid October

Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center

865-436-7479

Admission Charged

Over 180 of the finest Craftspeople gifted in woodcarving, pottery, broom making, stained glass, metal work, basket weaving, calligraphy, jewelry and much more gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to offer their unique art for sale. Country and bluegrass music performed daily.

November

Old Fashioned Hayrides

Held during the entire month

Location:  Departure is at traffic light #6 at the Mountain Mall

865-436-3897

Admission Charged

Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends downtown Gatlinburg.  As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage. 

Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights

Held the entire month

Location: Departure at traffic light #3.

865-436-3897

Hours: Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm

Enjoy a trolley ride of Gatlinburg's spectacular light displays.   

Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest Kick-off & Chili Cook-off

Held in early November

Location: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza and River Road

865-436-0500

Admission Charged

Join the City of Gatlinburg as they light the city with millions of sparkling winter lights.  Sample award winning chili from approximately 20 booths. 

Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest

Held most of November

Location: Throughout Gatlinburg

865-436-0500

Admission Free to View

The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town.  Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. 

Annual Veteran's Day Celebration

Held of the Monday of Veteran’s Day

Location: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

865-436-0500

Hours: Begins at 11am

The celebration includes two events to recognize America's veterans.  A patriotic celebration saluting America's heroes is presented on the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies plaza and a musical tribute to America's veterans is presented at the First United Methodist Church. 

Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show

Held Thanksgiving Week

Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center

865-436-0500

Admission Free

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community member assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for which they are nationally known.

December

Old Fashioned Hayrides

Held during the entire month

Location:  Departure is at traffic light #6 at the Mountain Mall

865-436-3897

Admission Charged

Enjoy a unique hayride with family or friends downtown Gatlinburg.  As fall begins in the Smoky Mountains, take this fun filled hayride and enjoy breath taking views of the beautiful mountain foliage. 

Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights

Held the entire month

Location: Departure at traffic light #3.

865-436-3897

Hours: Trolley leaves at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm

Enjoy a trolley ride of Gatlinburg's spectacular light displays.   

Gatlinburg's Annual Winterfest

Held all of December

Location: Throughout Gatlinburg

865-436-0500

Admission Free to View

The City of Gatlinburg magically lights up the winter nights with over 2 million spectacular lights in fantastic displays throughout town.  Displays are sure to dazzle the spirit and bring out the kid in everyone. 

Traditions of Christmas

Held during the entire month

Location: Christus Gardens

865-436-5155

Experience the true meaning of Christmas as visitors view one of America's most visited nativity setting.  Colorful banners, award-winning lighting displays, presentations of Christmas around the world and St. Nicholas, too! 

Gatlinburg's Annual “Fantasy of Lights" Christmas Parade

Held in early December

Location: Downtown Gatlinburg

865-436-0500

Hours: Parade begins at 7:30pm

Enjoy lighted floats, marching bands and giant helium balloons.  

Christmas Arts & Crafts Show

Held in early December

Location:  Gatlinburg Convention Center

800-568-4748

Admission Free

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community members assemble in downtown Gatlinburg to display the unique crafts and artwork for which they are nationally known.

Christmas on Ice

Held in early December

Location: Ober Gatlinburg

800-251-9202

Enjoy the spirit of the holiday season as local skaters display their talents on ice to a wide variety of holiday music.

Gatlinburg's Annual New Year's Ball Drop and Pyrotechnic Show

Held on December 31

Location: Space Needle on Historic Nature Trail-Airport Road

865-436-0500

The Space Needle will come to life at the stroke of midnight with a fabulous pyrotechnic show. 

Arts & Entertainment

Lou Vuto’s Reflections Theater

570 East Parkway

Gatlinburg, TN 37738

877-822-7437

Don't miss a chance to celebrate once again the King of Rock-n-Roll with a "Salute to Elvis" and hear the Show Band perform those "oldies but goodies".

Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre & Music Hall

877-388-5784

Shows at 8pm nightly

This live on-stage, comedy show is one of the most visited attractions in Gatlinburg and was officially declared A National Historical Treasure.