What are the best scary Halloween activities in Gatlinburg?
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You can’t go wrong with Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, a year-round walk-through haunted house with live actors, special effects, and frightful surprises at every turn. Ripley’s Fright Nights keep guests screaming in terrifying fun on weekends through October.
The Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg takes pride in scaring scores of Smoky Mountain tourists for 40 years and counting. Gather your courage, and enter if you dare! Open 7 days a week through fall and fun for big kids and teens, the Mysterious Mansion ramps up the fear factor every October. Check out their website for special Halloween events and details on holiday hours.
Mountain folks take hocus-pocus seriously, spinning yarns about haints in hollers and Appalachian apparitions. It’s no surprise that USA Today named the “Haunted Historic Gatlinburg GhostWalk” by Appalachian GhostWalks among the 10 Best Ghost Tours in America. The lantern-led nighttime GhostWalk winds through our most haunted hideouts, weaving in real history and timeworn ghost stories. Perfect for kids, too, tours are available all year with reservations required.
What Are Some Not-So-Scary Halloween Activities for Kids?
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For all treats, with no tricks, Gatlinburg hits the sweet spot. Get the festivities started at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Annual Trick or Treat kickoff, October 31, 11am-3pm. Local businesses will give guests candy and toys at this free event!
The Gatlinburg Harvest Festival paints the town orange! You’ll see seasonal decor galore, including over-the-top fall displays and three-dimensional, life-sized scarecrow people. Don’t miss the Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt on the Visit Gatlinburg app!
What are the best fall activities in Gatlinburg?
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Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg pours pints for adults and provides plenty of all-ages fun through Nov. 1. Keep the mountaintop festivities going at Anakeesta’s Bear-Varian Fall Festival, where Bavarian-inspired bites, seasonal décor, and Smoky Mountain views serve up autumn adventure. Grown-ups can head up to Gatlinburg SkyPark to wind down at BrOO Fest on October 31.
Back in town, follow your sweet tooth to Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen or Aunt Mahalia’s Candies for candy and caramel apples that taste like fall. Gatlinburg restaurants serve even more seasonal flavors, from fine dining to grab-and-go. For a little handmade mountain magic, browse the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, where artisan demonstrations and handcrafted finds might inspire an early start on holiday shopping.
Looking for ghostly history? Check out our roundup of legendary haunted sites to visit this fall. From restaurants and hotels to cemeteries and lodges, ghost stories abound in the Smokies. Head this way for more spooky fun than you can swing a broom at in Gatlinburg!
Where can I see fall colors in the Smoky Mountains?
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If you’re looking for autumn splendor, you’re headed in the right direction to Gatlinburg! Don’t miss the beauty on a scenic drive through the Cades Cove Scenic Loop or the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Whether you stay in your vehicle or get outside to explore a bit, don’t miss a chance to savor Great Smoky Mountains National Park this autumn.
