The winter season is already just around the corner, and the holiday season will be in full swing soon enough. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. This traditional holiday often sees families get together to spend time with another. Of course, one activity that is always looked forward to is the Thanksgiving feast someone in the family will cook up. You can keep your family tradition the same by spending Thanksgiving at home again, or you can live it up and schedule a vacation getaway to Gatlinburg! Our Tennessee home is the perfect spot to create new family traditions while also exploring the area. Take a look at how Thanksgiving can be enjoyed right here in Gatlinburg this year:
Cook Up a Thanksgiving Feast
No matter where you spend your Thanksgiving holiday, you will want to have a delicious feast waiting for you. Our vacation rentals have all the space to comfortably prepare a meal just for the family. The gourmet kitchens inside each property are very spacious and can come with extended countertops, separate islands, and full-size appliances. You will find there is more than enough room to prepare each entrée such as the turkey and mashed potatoes while also storing any leftovers you will probably have. Cabinets are equipped with all the needed utensils and pots and pans. Once everything is said and done, find room at the dining room table where everyone can sit down at once. No one ever said you had to skip out on your favorite meal of the year when you visit Gatlinburg!
Enjoy a Meal Out on the Town
If spending your Thanksgiving in the kitchen does not sound like a great time, you can always hit the town and see what restaurants will be open. Pigeon Forge down the road has several different restaurants that can host your family for Thanksgiving. Old Mill Restaurant is open every Thanksgiving with their special Thanksgiving menu full of classic favorites such as turkey, veggies, and of course dessert. There are several other restaurants that will also be open with their normal menu, including Calhoun’s Restaurant and JT Hannah’s Kitchen. You will have plenty of options when it comes to finding a delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day nearby Gatlinburg.
Lights Over Gatlinburg
During your stay around Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg you will also have plenty of exciting activities to join in on. One popular favorite is Lights Over Gatlinburg at SkyLift Park. Each year from November 1st through January 31st the SkyBridge and SkyDeck at SkyLift Park are covered in over 40,000 holiday lights. A variety of decorations will also be set up to help brighten the mood just in time for the holiday season. SkyLift Park offers some of the most incredible views in town and is a worthy activity no matter what time of year you come to visit Gatlinburg.
Shadrack’s Christmas Lights Show 2021
Another close town that is just a short drive away from Gatlinburg is Kodak, where you can find this year’s Shadrack’s Christmas Lights Show. This is a drive through light show that is lit up with thousands of holiday lights. The event takes place at dusk (around 6:00 PM everyday) at the Smokies Stadium in town. The event is open every day including Thanksgiving so you can start your holiday tradition early after your meal and get ready for Christmas.
Winterfest Sevier County 2021
As you can see, there are plenty of light shows taking place across all of Sevier County, where you can find Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Another incredible event you can visit is the Winterfest, a county wide celebration that is one of the largest in the state. Altogether the county lights up over 5 million holiday lights and holiday décor for you to see. Winterfest has its kick off on November 11th at 5:00 PM for the annual Chili Cookoff where you can sample some of the best chili you have ever had.
Ice Skating at Wilderness at the Smokies
Last but not least, you can enjoy your Thanksgiving vacation getaway by trying out ice skating. Sevierville will have their annual ice skating event taking place at Wilderness at the Smokies. This 3,200-square-foot pool is transformed into a huge ice skating rink. This is the perfect all ages event to try out ice skating for the very first time. Sevier County knows how to bring in the holidays the right way!
More Thanksgiving Fun in Gatlinburg
As you can see, there is no shortage of fun and excitement right here in Gatlinburg this year for Thanksgiving. Book one of our vacation rentals today and find your new family tradition.
