There’s nothing quite like the holidays in the Great Smoky Mountains. With its blend of Southern hospitality, Appalachian charm, and nostalgic family fun, this corner of East Tennessee reaches enchanting new levels of wonder during the festive season as the old-time towns deck the halls with twinkling lights and, if you’re lucky, a light dusting of snow.
The triplet towns of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville each have their charms and unique holiday highlights that make a last-minute Christmastime getaway to the Great Smoky Mountains a quick and easy trip for just about anyone — the idyllic spot lies within a day’s drive to nearly three-quarters of the continental U.S! So pack your ugly Christmas sweaters and some extra holiday cheer, and get ready to discover eight ways to celebrate the holidays in the Smoky Mountains.
The Holidays in the Smoky Mountains: What To Do, See, and Eat
1. Sip Festive Cocktails in Igloos at The Wayback Hotel
The Wayback Hotel in Pigeon Forge might be brand-new, but it has the nostalgic vibes down pat. The retro Palm Beach-inspired hotel is a stylish stay all year long with an extra-festive flair during the Christmas season. When the holidays roll around, the hotel’s trendy pool club transforms into a winter wonderland with igloo pavilions adorned with twinkle lights and fire pits for an extra cozy touch. Festive cocktails are served from a vintage AirStream trailer via bartenders donning Santa hats and a cheerful smile. Try a spiked hot chocolate complete with toasty torched marshmallows or the pool club’s signature sip: A spicy pomegranate paloma garnished with a rosemary sprig for an extra festive touch.
2. See Historic Decor at The Titanic Museum Attraction
The world’s largest Titanic museum is a sight to behold any time of year, but during the holidays, it decks the halls (…or decks) with extra festive flair. Using photos from Titanic’s sister ship Olympic, Titanic Museum Attraction staff adorn the recreated staterooms and Grand Staircase with miles of green garland, red ribbon, and twinkling lights in a historically accurate representation of what Titanic would have looked like if she had survived to sail during the festive season. Explore the exhibits on a guided tour before popping into the Pigeon Forge museum’s newly opened ice cream shop for frozen custard and signature sundaes with cheeky names like the Heart of the Ocean milkshake or the sharable First Class Banana Split. Be sure to book your ticket in advance — the ever-popular attraction tends to book up for the day, especially around the holidays.
3. Catch the Dancing Fountains at The Island
Need to do a little last-minute Christmas shopping? The Island in Pigeon Forge has you covered. The 23-acre development is home to more than 80 shops, dozens of carnival attractions, restaurants, and even two Margaritaville-branded hotels. During the holiday season, The Island gets a festive makeover with sky-high Christmas trees and thousands of twinkling lights, but the star of the show is the central water feature. A dancing fountain designed by the same minds behind the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Island Show Fountains dance to music all year long but are extra spectacular on holiday nights as twinkling lights reflect in the shimmering waters. Arrive early to grab one of the coveted waterside rocking chairs for a front-row seat to the show.
4. Discover Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
No one does a Smoky Mountain Christmas quite like Dollywood. With more than six million lights taking over the Pigeon Forge theme park, the signature holiday festival is a must for anyone craving an over-the-top Christmas celebration. Highlights include themed entertainment ranging from alfresco acapella performances to Broadway-caliber stage shows, festive foods and drinks, a decked-out Dollywood Express (the park’s signature coal-powered locomotive), and, of course, meet and greets with Santa. All of the theme park’s rides and roller coasters are also available for those who prefer their holiday getaway with a side of thrills. Top Dolly fans can enjoy an extra dose of cheer when they explore the newly opened Dolly Parton Experience for a peek behind the rhinestone curtain at the star’s storied career.
5. Make Handcrafted Gifts at Fowler’s Clay Works
Looking for a unique gift in Gatlinburg? The East Tennesee enclave is home to one of the country’s largest artist communities, all located along a convenient 8-mile loop just outside of town. Explore the full Great Smoky Arts & Crafts community to find handmade gifts, or try your hand at creating your own at Fowler’s Clay Works. The family-owned pottery studio offers make-your-own mug classes that include small-group instruction and all the materials you need to build your own work of art from scratch — with Mike Fowler’s help, of course. The roughly 90-minute experience costs just $65, inclusive of materials, firing, glazing, and even shipping of your final product to your front door so you don’t have to worry about packing your fragile handmade mug in your suitcase. It’s the perfect way to prepare for the holidays in the Smoky Mountains.
6. Explore Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta
Perched atop a mountain in the heart of Gatlinburg, Anakeesta takes Smoky Mountain holiday cheer to exhilarating new heights. The mountaintop theme park is beloved for its outdoor adventures like zip-lines, skywalks, and mountain coasters, but its Enchanted Christmas festival is reason enough to visit this holiday season. In addition to plenty of twinkling lights and festive decor, Anakeesta offers a festive feast of seasonal treats all around the park, including a hot cocoa crawl. The eight-stop trail includes flavorful twists on classic hot chocolate with strawberry, orange, peppermint, and even cotton candy varieties. Splurge on the souvenir mug for the best photos and a fun souvenir. Stay after dark to explore the lights in full force along with the park’s newly opened nighttime attraction: Astra Lumina.
7. Cruise Through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Instead of shutting down during the holiday season, Sevierville’s Soaky Mountain Waterpark takes full advantage of its sprawling parking lot to spread some seasonal cheer. Starting at 6 p.m. each night through the Christmas season, the parking lot transforms into Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland, a drive-through experience with more than one million lights twinkling in time to festive tunes accessible via your car radio. Highlights include cheerful elves causing mayhem in Santa’s workshop, arctic animals doing yoga, and a forest of towering Christmas trees.
8. Experience the Festival of Lights at Skyland Ranch
Miniature animals, mountain coasters, half-a-million lights, oh my! Skyland Ranch’s annual Festival of Lights continues to grow bigger and better, and this year is no exception. Hop on the lift and head up to the 100-acre mountaintop ranch and be greeted by miniature ponies, llamas, and even a highland cow calf before exploring lights and festive entertainment at the newly built courtyard. Pose for Christmas card-worthy photos in front of a 25-foot, beautifully trimmed tree and stop for seasonal snacks inside the North Pole Gingerbread Bakery. Don’t leave without taking a ride on Skyland Ranch’s signature Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster — at 1.25 miles, it’s the longest mountain coaster in the Southeast. Now that’ll give Santa and his reindeer a run for their money.