The Big List of Must-See Holiday Events & Festivals in the Great Smoky Mountains
Would you like to save this full guide?
We'll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!
If Clark Griswold could pick a place to visit during the holiday season, you can bet your Marty Moose eggnog cup that it would be the Great Smoky Mountains. The only thing you’ll see more of than people is holiday lights, and that spans from the bustling parkway of Gatlinburg across the national park to the North Carolina side.
With so much to see and do, it’s worth noting that the dates listed below are correct. Many attractions stay open throughout January and even into February. You don’t have to pack it all into one weekend.
Here are some of the highlights of the Great Smoky Mountains in December.
Smoky Mountain Christmas | Dollywood
Through January 4, 2026
Dollywood turns into a full holiday village with millions of lights, giant trees that change colors with the music, and entire themed areas glowing in every direction. The atmosphere feels warm and upbeat with live Christmas shows, roaming performers, and seasonal treats tucked around every corner. The park’s steam train runs with its own festive look. The whole place feels like a small mountain town celebrating together.
Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta | Gatlinburg, TN
Through January 4, 2025
Anakeesta lights up the mountain with glowing trails, oversized ornaments, and views that stretch across Gatlinburg at night. The park adds extra magic with its sparkling light tunnel, the huge Anakeesta tree, and festive music floating through the treetop village. Fire pits, warm drinks, and those sky-high observation points make it feel like a cozy winter celebration above the city.
Enchanted Island of Lights | Cherokee, NC
Through January 4, 2025
This event transforms Oconaluftee Island into a glowing holiday stroll filled with intricate light sculptures, illuminated tunnels, and seasonal music drifting through the trees. There’s a cozy fire-pit area for hot cocoa and pops of Santa appearances for the kids. It’s the kind of experience that blends Smoky Mountain magic with festive fun under the night sky.
This attraction is in addition to the 2025 Winterfest celebration that happens in Cherokee on December weekends.
Winter Magic | Gatlinburg, TN
Through February 8, 2026
Gatlinburg transforms into a softly glowing wonderland when more than three million lights sparkle throughout downtown and along the Parkway. The atmosphere mixes holiday cheer with scenic city charm as trolleys stop by light tunnels, Christmas trees rise behind lampposts, and souvenir shops stay open late. Couples and families alike wander the illuminated streets, sip hot cocoa, and soak in those Smoky Mountain vibes under festive light.
Skyland Ranch Festival of Lights | Sevierville, TN
Through January 3, 2026
This event takes the phrase “holiday lights” to a mountain level. More than a million lights sparkle across the hillside, and you even ride a chairlift up to the display area for sweeping Smoky Mountain views. It blends western-themed light scenes (think cowboy sleighs) with giant tunnels of twinkling bulbs, a 25-foot LED Christmas tree, and campfire zones for kids and adults.
Christmas on the Green | Cashiers, NC
Through early February 2026
In the heart of Cashiers at The Village Green, the town wraps its arms around the holiday spirit with thousands of twinkling lights, a 65-foot spruce at the center, fire pits for cozy cocoa moments, and a warm gathering spot where locals and visitors come together. Artisan vendors fill Lewis Hall with handmade gifts, Santa pops by for photos, and the park glows into the evening with seasonal music and community cheer.
Lights Over Gatlinburg | Gatlinburg SkyPark, TN
Through January 31, 2026
This event turns the SkyPark into a mountaintop winter wonderland. Thousands of lights illuminate the record-setting SkyBridge, while illuminated tunnels, photo spots, and giant trees strewn across the mountain trail draw in families and couples alike. The experience combines expansive Smoky Mountain views with a festive holiday ambiance up high and above the town lights.
Polar Express Train Ride | Bryson City, NC
Through December 31, 2025
This is the kind of holiday experience that makes you believe again. Board a vintage train in Bryson City, sip hot cocoa, and hear the story of The Polar Express as you take off for the “North Pole.” When you arrive, Santa is waiting, and he personally gives each child a silver sleigh bell. The ride ends with carols and warm memories all the way back to the depot.
NOTE: Book early. These rides sell out quickly!
Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular | Bryson City, NC
December 2, 2025 – January 4, 2026
While you’re in Bryson City, don’t miss this walk-through light show that fills a riverside park with glowing tunnels, towering displays, and plenty of colorful photo spots. The whole setup feels playful and easygoing, with music drifting through the trees and local vendors selling treats nearby. It’s an easy add to a Polar Express day and a fun way to cap off a Smoky Mountain evening.
Winterfest | Pigeon Forge, TN
Through February 15, 2026
This multi-week celebration turns Pigeon Forge into a glow fest with millions of holiday lights draping the Parkway and the Riverwalk trail. Beyond just walking or driving through countless displays, you’ll bump into festive pop-ups like “Wonders of Light” walking trails, light-show fountains, and seasonal treats. It’s a full winter-in-the-Smokies vibe where the lights are the show and the mountain air only makes it better.
Christmas in the Village | Townsend, TN
December 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 2025
This annual event transforms the historic village in Townsend into a nostalgic holiday scene: horse-drawn wagon rides, live carolers in period costumes, and twinkle lights guiding your steps through quaint shop windows full of handmade crafts. It’s casual, charming, and far from the modern spectacle. The “quiet side of the Smokes” gives a most subdued, cozy mountain-town feeling than you’ll find on the Parkway.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland | Sevierville, TN
Through January 4, 2026
Step into this drive-through light extravaganza where more than two million lights sync to holiday music right in your car or on the lawn. Giant light sculptures, themed zones like Candy Land, and a “Disney meets Smokies” vibe keep things lively. Bonus: after the show, you’ll find hot cocoa, s’mores kits, and maybe even a skating rink to round off your night.
Christmas Never Ends Drive-Thru Light Show | Newport, TN
Through February 15, 2026
Drive your car through a sparkling tunnel of holiday lights in the foothills of the Smokies. This family-friendly show keeps you cozy behind your windshield while the yard swells with festive scenes, animated displays, and good-old Christmas magic without stepping out of your vehicle. Perfect for a chilly night, hot cocoa optional.
Redneck Comedy Bus Christmas Lights Tour | Pigeon Forge, TN
Through December 30 (dark Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)
While all the shows put their own spin on the holiday season, this one actually takes you for a ride. You hop on a decked-out bus with a comedian who keeps the jokes rolling as you cruise past the holiday lights of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It mixes sightseeing with Southern humor and is perfect if you want holiday cheer with a side of pure Smokies entertainment.
Titanic Christmas & Winter Celebration | Pigeon Forge, TN
Through January 1, 2026
This celebration at the iconic Titanic Museum Attraction turns the ship into a snow-dusted holiday spectacle with thousands of lights, garlands, and special winter displays. Inside, you’ll find life-sized snow sculptures, ice carvings, themed rooms from the era, and a festive feel that blends history with Christmas fun in one immersive stop more than a century in the past.
Christmas in the Village | Waynesville, NC
December 5, 6, & 7, 2025
This weekend-long event turns downtown Waynesville into full holiday mode with over 1,300 luminaries lining Main Street, costumed carolers and fire jugglers weaving through crowds, and horse-drawn carriage rides adding that small-town magic. The shops stay open late, Santa arrives on a fire truck, and there’s a heated tent for cocoa and music while you stroll, shop, and soak in the festive mountain cheer.
Drive Through Nativity | Wears Valley, TN
December 5, 6, & 7, 2025
This simple, peaceful holiday offering lets you roll through a softly lit nativity scene set along a forested loop in Wears Valley. Scenes with live actors, gentle lighting, and the occasional Christmas carol create a reflective moment under the stars. It’s low-key, no crowds, perfect for families who want something quiet and meaningful before the big light shows.
Christmas at Biltmore | Asheville, NC
Through January 4, 2026
This holiday season, the historic estate becomes a wonderland of wreaths, garlands, and thousands of twinkling ornaments inside the grand mansion and across the grounds. Visitors can stroll through the rooms where towering trees reach the ceilings, fireplaces glow, and festive music drifts through the halls. After dark, the experience shifts into “Candlelight Christmas Evenings,” where candlelit halls and live music turn the estate into a warm, golden-lit retreat.
New Year’s Celebration at the Island | Pigeon Forge, TN
December 31, 2025
This downtown-style block party at The Island in Pigeon Forge brings live music, big-screen countdowns, and tons of energy. The crowds gather in the open plaza among the rides and lights, then as midnight nears, the main attraction drops in: a giant glowing fireball that replaces the traditional ball. It’s flashy, festive, and perfect if you want to ring in the New Year in style.
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks | Gatlinburg, TN
This high-energy downtown event gathers crowds along the Parkway, where live music keeps the mood festive. As midnight approaches, the giant illuminated ball begins its descent, and right after it hits bottom, the sky lights up with fireworks above the Smokies. It’s a photo-worthy moment and a festive way to ring in the year with mountains all around.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks | Cherokee, NC
December 31, 2025
Ring in the New Year in the heart of the Smokies with one of the region’s biggest fireworks spectacles. As the night deepens, the sky above Cherokee explodes in color, with music, party favors, and a festive crowd gathered along open-view spots. It’s a show-stopping moment of light and celebration wrapped in mountain charm.
Holiday Magic Across the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains communities consistently rank as some of the best holiday towns in America. The region is anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is open daily. Just be sure to get a parking pass if you plan to stop more than 15 minutes inside the park.
