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A trip to Gatlinburg is always in season, with festivities and celebrations from January to December. We’ve pulled together a highlight reel of attractions to pencil in for 2023. Be sure to check out the full details and a comprehensive list of Gatlinburg events.
Through February 15, Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic Celebration illuminates the night with one-of-a-kind LED lighting displays along the Parkway. Meanwhile, Gatlinburg SkyLift Park sparkles all month during Lights Over Gatlinburg, with dancing trees, snowflakes, seasonal displays and a light-enveloped SkyBridge. Icy competitions round out the month at Tennessee Winter Special Olympics, January 29-31.
Love is in the mountain air this February, bringing music, magic and romance. Gatlinburg Winter Magic, February 1-15, sets the city aglow with dozens of spectacular LED light displays, while the Tunnel of Love at Gatlinburg Skybridge February 3-28 invites guests to promenade through red and white lights. Tennessee Songwriters Week, February 19-25, promises soulful tunes at Ober Mountain Ski Area & Amusement Park.
As luck would have it, Gatlinburg rolls out the green carpet for spring. Gatlinburg SkyBridge kicks off the fun March 10-26 with shamrock-green lights and St. Patty’s Day décor. The Gatlinburg St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 11-18, is a family-friendly festival of Irish music, food and more. Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales storytellers, musicians and cloggers will convene on the Parkway to share their timeworn traditions and lore with visitors March 16-19.
New creations pop up throughout Gatlinburg in April, from the arts to nature. Shop for unique handcrafted items at the Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, April 5-8. Blooms and Tunes at Anakeesta, April 14-May 29, includes larger-than-life art installations, live music, chef-inspired seasonal items and thousands of blooms at Vista Gardens. The Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 26-29, features hiking tours, motorcades, demonstrations and lectures about local flora and fauna.
The mountains are calling, and May invites you to get outside in Gatlinburg. Blooms and Tunes at Anakeesta, May 1-29, features art installations, live music, menu items and thousands of flowers. Meanwhile, area artists and artisans invite you to Hands On Gatlinburg, May 5-7, when they host make-your-own creation sessions at the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.
For a healthy mountain getaway, check out the Gatlinburg Farmers Market, open Saturdays June-September, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1222 East Parkway. from Food City from May through October. Featuring local producers, you’ll find fresh produce and homemade goods. Anakeesta’s Summer in the Smokies runs June 9 - August 13, celebrating beach season in the mountains with menu specials and kid-friendly fun at the Black Bear Village Splash Pad.
From Fourth festivities to mountain music, it’s a party all July in Gatlinburg. Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales features storytellers, musicians and cloggers performing nightly on the streets of Gatlinburg. July 7-16, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair will feature demonstrations, art for sale and bluegrass music at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade kicks off our Independence Day festivities at 12:01 a.m. July 4’s River Raft Regatta and fireworks show fill the day with fun from morning to midnight.
The annual Gatlinburg Songwriter’s Festival welcomes visitors to enjoy three days of authentic mountain music each August. With nightly performances by hit songwriters in intimate settings around Gatlinburg, the festival fills the town with tunes. It’s also a great opportunity for songwriters to perfect their craft, get advice and meet industry leaders and other creatives. Dates remain TBD for 2023 – visit Gatlinburgsongwriters.com for updates.
Fall for Gatlinburg this September! Autumn-themed events beckon guests to the mountains. The Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival Tunes and Tales runs weekends between September 15-October 31, bringing music, dance and storytelling to the streets of Gatlinburg. Don’t miss Hallow Mountain at Anakeesta, featuring live entertainment, seasonal menus, drinks and décor. Save your appetite for GatlinBURGER Week in September where participating restaurants feature gourmet burgers.
There’s nothing frightful about Gatlinburg in October. SkyLift Park’s Boo Bash! ushers in spooky season October 1-31 with witches, ghouls, fog and more. The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, October 5-22, brings more than 200 artisan and crafts booths to the city. Ripley’s Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival wins with contests, costumed characters, inflatables and Halloween candy at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza, benefitting United Way of Sevier County.
Gatlinburg Winter Magic Celebration on November 9 rings in the holidays with the lighting of the city Christmas tree. Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta, November 10-January 1, shines with thousands of lights twinkling across magical mountaintop villages, plus seasonal food and drinks. Gatlinburg’s Festival of Trees, November 22-26, benefits the Boys and Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, while the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Holiday Show, November 22-December 2, provides holiday shopping at its most artisanal. For all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Gatlinburg’s Veterans Day Celebration is November 11.
Make merry at Gatlinburg’s 48th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade on December 1. The city continues to charm with Gatlinburg winter magic, December 1-February, and its captivating lighting displays and installations. Its accompanying Winter Magic Tunes & Tales brings carolers, characters and storytellers to the Parkways Friday and Saturday nights (Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16). Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta delights all ages with lights, food and seasonal attractions. Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show & Ball Drop, dubbed the “Best New Year’s Eve Show in the South,” ends the year with a bang.