When it comes to the holiday season it is always wonderful to spend it in an exciting new environment to start new family traditions. This year, look no further than Gatlinburg for an exciting Christmas holiday with your loved ones. The area is known for its wonderful holiday events and activities. Gatlinburg and the surrounding communities also offer winter-based fun that can be enjoyed during your stay. Take a look at how you can enjoy Christmas in Gatlinburg this year:

Fantasy of Lights

One of our favorite parts of the holiday season is seeing all of the Christmas lights be set up around Gatlinburg. Christmas lights always make the holiday so much better. This year Gatlinburg will be hosting the 45th annual Fantasy of Lights Parade. This delightful parade takes place at night as the holiday lights are decorated on the trees and light poles in downtown. You will see some incredible displays of floats and marching bands that will participate in the festivities. This year’s event is scheduled to take place on December 3rd. Don’t miss out on this long-standing tradition here in Gatlinburg!

Christmas Arts and Crafts Show

If you are looking for some exciting holiday gifts for loved ones this season, look no further than the Christmas Arts and Craft Show taking place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. This free event brings together a variety of arts and crafts vendors who will be selling their handmade goods. The hosts are the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, the biggest organization in the country of independent artisans. You will find handmade goods such as hand dipped candles, pottery, stuffed animals, woven baskets, and much more. This year’s Christmas Arts and Crafts Show is taking placed from December 1st through December 5th and starts at 10:00 AM every morning.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Christmas Light Show

Another great way to see a dazzling display of Christmas lights is by joining the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Christmas Light Show right here in Gatlinburg. You can experience your own Tennessee Christmas with this massive tunnel of lights. The Christmas Wonderland is made up of a giant light up display of Santa and a 300-foot drive through tunnel. The 70-foot Christmas tree is also decked out for this special event. Once you are done, explore Santa’s Village, where you can get a photo with Santa Claus himself. Additional activities include concessions, a train ride, and animal viewings. This experience is one to not be missed so make sure to visit the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Christmas Light Show taking place December 9th through the 12th.

Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival

If you are looking for a truly unique holiday experience look no further than our neighbors in Seviereville that is just a short drive away. They will be hosting their annual Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival on Saturday December 4th. This incredible festival is all things blue grass so any music fans will not want to miss this. Prepare for an all-day event that starts at 11:00 AM with a different blue grass artist playing on the hours. Local bands who will be performing include Deeper Shade of Blue, Larry Efawy and Bluegrass Mountaineers, and Jesse Alexander Band to name a few. This year’s Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival will be taking place at the Sevierville Convention Center.

Breakfast with Santa

Pigeon Forge will also be hosting a fun Christmas event with their annual Breakfast with Santa at the Smoky Mountain Pancake House. On December 11th, Santa Claus himself will be stopping by the pancake house for some tasty flapjacks along with taking pictures with the kids. This exclusive event does not require any tickets or reservations. Simply stop by between the hours of 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM to get your chance at meeting Santa. Make sure to stick around for a stack of pancakes for yourself too!

Winter Activities

Of course, you will want to experience all of the fun winter activities that can be enjoyed in Gatlinburg too. The Great Smoky National Park will continue to remain open for some hiking; don’t worry, hiking in winter is just as fun and local wildlife are more likely to be out too. Just make sure you are prepared for any cold temperatures by layering up. Visitors can escape the cold by visiting local attraction such as the many museums in the area. Having a winter journey to Gatlinburg is one of the best ways to spend your holiday break.

Time to Plan for Christmas 2021

As you can see, there are plenty of options for you and your family when it comes to exciting events and activities for Christmas. Book one of our vacation rentals today to get ready for the best holiday season yet.