Get into the spirit of the holiday season this year by experiencing some of the best Christmas lights in the Smoky Mountains! While you’ll notice the joyful ambiance of the holidays almost everywhere you visit in the Smokies this December, there are a few special destinations with incredible light displays that make the season even more magical! Here are the top 4 places to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge:
1. Pigeon Forge Parkway
You’ll never have to go far to see some of the best Christmas lights in the Smokies, as you can simply take a drive down the Pigeon Forge Parkway! During the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights, the famous Parkway comes alive with over 12 million shining lights! The light displays continue all the way down into Gatlinburg, so get your family and friends in the car, put on your favorite Christmas music, and enjoy this self-guided tour of a winter wonderland! Keep your eyes out for special light displays with fairytale characters, wildlife scenes, and covered bridges!
2. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival
Another one of the top places to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival! During this popular event, the beloved theme park celebrates the holiday season with more than 6 million twinkling lights, dozens of towering Christmas trees, heartwarming holiday shows, festive flavors, and much more! The best part is that it is all included as part of your admission to Dollywood, where you can also enjoy the park’s fantastic steam train excursion, thrill rides, and other exciting attractions! Be sure to stick around until the end of the night to see the “Merry & Bright, Holiday Light” fireworks display!
3. Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyPark
Take your Christmas celebration to all new heights with Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyPark! This festive event features a huge 30-foot Christmas tree and thousands of sparkling lights, including lights that span the entire length of the park’s record-setting SkyBridge! Lights Over Gatlinburg is included with your SkyPark admission at no additional cost, so you can take in the breathtaking views during the daylight hours and then come back at night to enjoy the light displays! As a bonus, you’ll have an incredible vantage point of the holiday lights in downtown Gatlinburg as you relax on the SkyDeck or journey back downhill on the SkyLift chairlift ride!
4. An Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta
No list of the top places to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is complete without the Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta! At this fun event, the beauty of the season comes alive with over a million sparkling lights illuminating the mountaintop theme park! You’ll also have the opportunity to take a stroll on a hot cocoa crawl, cozy up by a fire pit, enjoy captivating live entertainment, and sample some amazing seasonal food! The Enchanted Christmas is included with your Anakeesta admission, where you can also enjoy the park’s thrilling mountain coasters, dueling ziplines, treetop skywalk, and other great attractions!
Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to stay close to all of these wonderful places to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! We look forward to seeing you this holiday season!
