December is a magical time in the Smoky Mountains as the towns come alive with lights, sounds, tastes, and smells unlike any other part of the year. Below, we highlight five favorite things to enjoy throughout December for people of all ages!
Pigeon Forge Christmas Shows
For fun and entertainment for the entire family, Pigeon Forge offers numerous shows filled with music, dancing, animals, and even pirates!
Country Tonite Christmas Show: This wonderful show is filled with a talented cast performing a variety of Christmas classics that people of all ages will love. You’ll also find a few special guest performers during the Christmas production including Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, and the ballerina in the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Toys will also come alive in the magical song “Where are you Christmas”.
Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry: With the largest nativity scene, sugar-plum fairies, dancing elves, reindeer and Santa, your family is sure to be filled with the Christmas spirit after this show!
Comedy Barn Christmas Show: The Comedy Barn Christmas Show is one of Pigeon Forge’s most popular shows during the holidays. Filled with fun, jokes, and laughter everyone is sure to enjoy this hilarious, good time!
Hatfield and McCoy’s Christmas Disaster Dinner Show: Enjoy a southern, homestyle, holiday feast as you watch these two fuedin’ families try to get squash their issues for the holidays. With pranks, stunts, and more, it’s the most fun you can have this holiday season.
Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Pirate Voyage: This pirate’s spin on the classic “A Christmas Story” provides stunts, hijinks, and a cast of characters taking Captain Scrooge on a journey through time and space to try to find the meaning of Christmas.
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
Christmas at Dollywood combines parades, Christmas Shows, interactive characters, magical light displays, delicious food, and rides for the entire family. Available through January 4th, this fun time for the entire family is sure to delight people of all ages.
For more information visit:https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/Festivals/Smoky-Mountain-Christma
Anakeesta Enchanted Winter
Be immersed in the joys of the holidays at the Anakeesta Enchanted Winter in Gatlinburg. From holiday food and spirits, to a walk-in snow globe to over 1000 light displays, Anakeesta is the very best place to go to get in the holiday spirit. You’ll be able to do your holiday shopping, cozy up and relax by the fire, and take a selfie at the many beautiful displays.
For more information visit: https://www.anakeesta.com/enchanted-winter/
Winterfest Lights
What’s a holiday celebration without a tour of the beautiful light displays? During the holidays the Smokies literally light-up, revealing a beautiful display of twinkling lights to its visitors. This is a fun, free activity to enjoy as you can simply hop in your vehicle and drive the Pigeon Forge Parkway and downtown Gatlinburg to enjoy the displays. Don’t feel like driving? Hop on a Pigeon Forge Trolley right outside our front doors and then sit back and enjoy the sights!
For more information about the Winterfest Lights please visit: https://pigeonforgewinterfest.com/
Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
On December 6th, Gatlinburg celebrates its 44th Christmas Parade, a celebration that combines traditions, floats, light displays, marching bands and many more.
For more information please visit: https://www.gatlinburg.com/event/fantasy-of-lights-christmas-parade/
Stay in the Heart of it All
Whether you’re looking for traditional holiday magic or something a bit off the beaten path, the Smokies have so much to offer. No matter what brings you to the area, make sure you book your stay in the heart of it all: The Ramsey Hotel and Convention Center.