Winter is a Magical Event in Gatlinburg
We’ve had the pleasure of seeing the lights in Gatlinburg several times, and the spirit of the season rings true with each bell that jingles. There are many things to do, despite the cold—and sometimes warm—weather during the winter. We’ve even visited after the new year and were still blanketed with that lingering Christmas vibe. Here’s a quick list of what will welcome you during your magical winter visit to Gatlinburg.
The Winter Magic Lights
I have not hesitated in sharing a few photos of what it looks like currently in Gatlinburg with the Winter Magic lights. It fills me with regret that I can’t be here to see the display right now, but it’s a nice flickering moment to my day when I see the incredible pics on social media. They stay on all the way through February, so you still have plenty of time even after the new year to see them. Click on the link here to plan a self-guided tour of the many colorful bulbs of electricity.
Breakfast with Santa at Anakeesta
The innocence of childhood can be a lasting memory that gets rekindled with Breakfast with Santa at Anakeesta. This attraction is my favorite, and I see no reason to think this will be anything less than outstanding, especially if you have small children that believe in the magic of Santa. The bearded man in red will surely get plenty of nourishment for a breakfast you’ll be able to attest. Information and dates can be found here.
Holidays at the Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is already an extraordinarily kid-friendly place, so it makes perfect sense to visit during the Christmas season. Magical holiday displays will be seen inside and outside the awesome aquarium giving you plenty of reasons to gawk at more than just the fish in the water. Jolly old St. Nick will be there to greet guests of all ages. He’ll even take a dip into the Ray Bay and Coral Reef displays inside to interact with the fellow sea swimmers. I know that now I have you intrigued, so you can click the link here to find out more!
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
Everybody loves a parade! If it’s in Gatlinburg, then it’s a bona fide win-win. The Christmas Parade, scheduled for December 2nd, is now in its 47th iteration, and it’s always a hit with local and tourists alike. Floats, bands, balloons, and all the things you can expect to find in a parade and more is what it’s all about in a mega-popular tourist town. All the information you can use is highlighted in the link here.
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show
If you love a crowd and you love to party, you’ll feel right at home with this New Year’s Eve celebration in Gatlinburg. Live music will precede even louder sounds as the ball drops to signal a new beginning and new resolutions that may be broken before the night ends. The town will come alive as various special events will be occurring all throughout Gatlinburg. Some of the main festivities are featured in the link here.
As you can see, there are many adult and kid-themed adventures provided during the Christmas holiday season. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s such a beautiful thing to witness the many different light displays in Gatlinburg, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg for everything else you can do when you’re here. Have fun, everyone!