Tag: winter in the Smokies

Local Attractions July 13, 2026

SkyLand Ranch Festival of Lights 2026: Dates, Displays & What to Expect

SkyLand Ranch's Festival of Lights returns November 6, 2026 through January 1, 2027 — nightly from 6 to 9 p.m. — with over one million lights, the only chairlift light show in the Smoky Mountains, a projection mapping show, Jingle Bell Jamboree for kids, and 360-degree views of the Sevierville valley from hundreds of feet above the Parkway. Here's everything you need to plan your evening at one of the Smokies' most distinctive holiday attractions.

Local Attractions July 10, 2026

Drive-Thru Christmas Lights in Sevierville: Shadrack's Wonderland 2026 Guide

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland returns to Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville for the 2026 holiday season — a drive-through light show featuring thousands of lights synchronized to music on your car radio, custom-built themed displays, and Snowy Mountain Village after the show with Santa visits, bounce houses, cookie decorating, and carnival games. Tickets are priced per vehicle, not per person, making it one of the best-value holiday outings in the Smokies. Here's everything you need to know before you go.

Local Attractions July 8, 2026

New Year's Eve in Gatlinburg 2026: Free Celebration, Drone Show & Firework

Gatlinburg's New Year's Eve Ball Drop features the biggest and brightest New Year's Eve ball in the world — a 15-foot Mega LED Ball that drops 200 feet down the Space Needle, the longest ball drop anywhere. Add a choreographed drone show, fireworks launched from the rooftop, and 50,000 people on the Parkway, and you have one of the most distinctive free New Year's celebrations in the country. Here's everything you need to plan your December 31 in Gatlinburg.

Smoky Mountains July 6, 2026

Gatlinburg New Year's Eve 2026: Ball Drop, Fireworks & What to Know

Gatlinburg's New Year's Eve Ball Drop features the biggest and brightest New Year's Eve ball in the world — a 15-foot Mega LED Ball that drops 200 feet down the Space Needle, the longest ball drop anywhere. Add a choreographed drone show, fireworks launched from the rooftop, and 50,000 people on the Parkway, and you have one of the most distinctive free New Year's celebrations in the country. Here's everything you need to plan your December 31 in Gatlinburg.

Smoky Mountains July 3, 2026

Pigeon Forge Winterfest 2026-2027: A Complete Guide to the Lights

Pigeon Forge Winterfest has been running for more than 35 years, transforming the town into a free, three-month holiday lights celebration spanning November through February. More than six million lights line the Riverwalk Walking Trail alone, with The Island, Old Mill District, and the Driving Tour of Lights adding even more to see. Here's how to plan your visit to one of the longest-running free light festivals in the Smokies.