Winterfest & Smoky Mountain Lights

Winterfest & Smoky Mountain Lights

PIGEON FORGE, GATLINBURG AND SEVIER COUNTY, TN - A sky full of lights and a city full of special events await winter visitors to Sevier County, Tennessee this November and December. Pigeon Forge's Smoky Mountain Winterfest celebration, preparing for its ninth season, has made East Tennessee an increasingly popular winter destination. And in Gatlinburg, the famous Smoky Mountain Lights festival gets everyone into the holiday spirit.

To kick off this year's event on November 11, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hold lighting ceremonies, flipping switches to instantly create a sparkling winter wonderland. Lighting displays this year in Pigeon Forge include trains, winter scenes, teddy bears, majestic eagles in flight, and an exquisite mountain waterfall. Many of the displays are animated and celebrate the history of Pigeon Forge.

Guided trolley tours are available from the trolley station at Patriot Park. Tours are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in November and December, and Fridays during January and February.

In Gatlinburg, the whole town sparkles with giant displays ranging from 20- to 60 feet high.These are so complex that it takes 40 men nearly two months to set them up. Over one million dollars worth of lights sparkle and shine throughout Gatlinburg.

Everyone can experience Gatlinburg's Festival of Lights Christmas Parade December 4 at 7:30 p.m. It includes lighted floats, marching bands and floating balloons. The after-dark parade takes full advantage of the Smoky Mountain Lights on display around town.

For shoppers, both towns offer great fun. In Pigeon Forge, the World's Largest Outlet Sale will be of special interest to last-minute Christmas shoppers. From December 10-20, Pigeon Forge's six outlet malls will offer even bigger savings on their wares.

In Gatlinburg, 80 shops and 100 artisans offer handmade brooms, pottery, beautiful paintings, and other unusual items from the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community.

Pigeon Forge's Winterfest activities are located approximately 35 miles southeast of Knoxville, five miles north of Gatlinburg, five miles north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, accessible by I-40, I-74 and I-81.

For a complete details on Pigeon Forge, call 1-800-WINTERFEST. For information about Smoky Mountain Lights, call the Gatlinburg Dept. of Tourism, 800/267-7088.