10 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Gatlinburg
Are you planning on celebrating Christmas in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains? If so, we have a few events that you’ll want to add to your itinerary for a perfect holiday season in the mountains!
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
On Friday, December the 6th the city of Gatlinburg will be filled with everything you could envision a magical land of Christmas to be! The 2019 season will be the 44th year that families from all over the world have rolled into town to be a part of this special celebration and kick off to the Christmas season! If you’ve seen the movie, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” movie and like we have fallen in love with the film and of course Dolly, you’ll be thrilled to know that our 2019 Grand Marshal is Alyvia Alyn Lind that played the role as young Dolly. The parade will begin at 7:30p.m but you’ll want to arrive early to save your spot, dine at one of Gatlinburg’s top-rated restaurants and knock off a few items on your Christmas shopping list!
Tis the Season for Shopping!
The season for shopping has arrived! In Gatlinburg you can stroll through the charming shops of town and enjoy the energy of the season in a way that you won’t find in a crowded mall or even down the road at the Tanger Outlets in Sevierville. However, it’s not only your experience that will be more special and filled with lifetime memories but the gifts that you give those you love will be extra wonderful too! You can purchase gifts from local artists, items that can only be found in the Smokies as well and therefore the presents that you give this holiday season will not be forgotten any time soon!
Ober Gatlinburg is Snow Much Fun!!
Guests that will be in town for the holiday season will want to add some play time at Ober Gatlinburg to their Smokies bucket list! Tennessee’s only ski resort is the hub for winter fun! Sitting just above the downtown area of Gatlinburg is every activity involving snow that you can possibly think of! There are opportunities to ski, snowboard, snow tube, ice skate and more! They even have a Cubbies Snow Zone for the little ones! Ober offers the option to drive and park at the top or you can enjoy the views of the Smoky Mountains while enjoying a ride on their Aerial Tramway from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg.
Enchanted Winter Celebration at Anakeesta
Anakeesta as yet to fail us during any season when it comes to creating a dream like place to hang out and play, this winter will be no different! Their Enchanted Winter Celebration will be running from November 19th to February 17th, allowing even the Valentine’s Day love birds to enjoy in on the fun! And, we’re not trying to drop any hints but they do have some epic spots for magical holiday proposals! If you’re not looking to make that type of once in a lifetime memory, you can still make plenty of your own memories with family and friends on Anakeesta mountain this season! From a canopy of twinkling lights to toasty fire pits, a walk among the tree-tops filled with lights and even the Anakeesta Snow Globe photo op spot, they’ve thought of everything! You can dine, shop or take in the views of snow-covered mountain tops! And, we even hear that our favorite jolly old elf will be there checking his nice and naughty list! Check Anakeesta’s website for exact dates and times!
“Lights Over Gatlinburg” on The SkyBridge
The Gatlinburg SkyPark has been one of the hottest spots in the Smoky Mountains this year and although it’s not exactly hot up there anymore, it is absolutely beautiful and where you’ll want to be this holiday season! The lights will remain through the end of January and are obviously best viewed at night! Tickets are good all day, so you can visit more than once if you want. Ride up to the top early and then roam town, shop, grab a bite to eat then head back up to the top and sit around the fire pits while you watch the sunset and wait for the Christmas beauty to light the way! We have to give props to the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park as well. Because during the “Lights Over Gatlinburg” event guests can donate a new, packaged toy at the ticket window for a $4 discount on their ticket. All donated toys will go to the children of the Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains.
Gatlinburg’s Festival of Trees
If you’re visiting Gatlinburg between November 27th and December the 1st and you’re looking for Christmas tree ideas, family time activities, entertainment, Santa Claus and more you’ll want to check out the Festival of Trees! Special times during the event include Breakfast with Santa on the 30th and a Gingerbread House Competition. If you don’t make it this season, it’s an annual event and you can add it to the list for next year!
Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Holiday Show
The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Holiday Show is a great event for supporting local artists and purchasing gifts and decor that you won’t find anywhere else! The event will be held through December 8th but after that the many artists that participate can be found in the Arts and Crafts Community along highway 321, Glades Road and Buckhorn Road just outside of downtown Gatlinburg!
Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights
If you’re heading to Gatlinburg for the holidays and have never taken time to ride the Gatlinburg Trolley, now is the time to hop on and experience the beauty of our town from the comfort of the iconic trolley! You’ll want to make sure that you’re riding on the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights though if you’re looking to add a little extra Christmas magic to the tour of town! There is a $10 fee but your time is extra special with a costumed storyteller that you will join you as you sip on a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and you’ll receive a special token as the ride comes to an end! You can also take a self guided tour by downloading the Visit Gatlinburg app!
The special holiday trolley runs three times a day from November 22nd until December 31st and will not run on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or on December 6th due to the Christmas Parade. Bonus opportunities to ride after the holidays will also be offered three times each Saturday until January 25th.
Winter Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
Can it really be a Hallmark kind of Christmas in the Smoky Mountains without carolers and storytellers? We don’t think so! That’s why we absolutely love that throughout the Christmas season guests and locals will enjoy characters and storytellers roaming throughout downtown. A little something simple that adds storybook fun and beauty to the holidays! Take a 15 minute walk to downtown, grab a $2 all day trolley pass from our front desk staff and hop on the Gatlinburg Trolley next to our hotel or ask for a free downtown parking pass before you head out and saunter around the city. If you’re lucky a few fluffy snowflakes will fall and add icing to the already wonderful experience of Christmas in Gatlinburg and the Smokies!
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show
Why wrap up the year in Times Square and surrounded by skyscrapers when you can attend Gatlinburg’s Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks show and be surrounded by the beautiful peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains instead? Music, fireworks, fun and 50,000 of your newest Smokies friends!
We’re pretty confident that we’ve given you plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas in Gatlinburg, but we have one more way and it’s our favorite! Stay with us! Let The Appy Lodge be your Christmas time home away from home! We have everything you’ll need! From the holiday decor to fresh baked cookies, fire pits, fireplaces and comfy beds to rest your weary heads after all the shopping and fun.
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