10 Best Things to Do in Winter in Gatlinburg

The Fantasy of Christmas Lights Parade rings in the holiday season with amazing lighted floats, marching bands, spectacular dancers, and giant balloons. The parade rolls through city centre Gatlinburg culminating in the arrival of the man in the red suit himself, Santa Claus.

Come along and spread the festive cheer with people from all over the world and see the glorious floats drive by. Arrive early to secure the best spots closest to all the action along the Parkway and get cosy. Don’t forget to bring your Santa hat. The entire parade typically lasts around an hour.

The scenic mountain adventure park and ski area of Ober Gatlinburg offers fun, excitement, and beauty high above the city. Board the Aerial Tramway in city centre Gatlinburg and arrive to the mountain without driving. After Thanksgiving, Ober Gatlinburg transforms into the only ski area in Tennessee. The state-of-the-art snowmaking systems guarantee the best possible conditions for you to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, or playing in the Family Snow Zone.

If you prefer to stay warm, this versatile resort provides excellent indoor activities and shopping options. When the tummies start to rumble, head to the cafés and restaurants in the area for a quick bite to eat or dinner, served with stunning views.

Hop on the Great Smoky Mountain Railway Polar Express and make your winter dreams come true. The magic begins the moment the train departs the Bryson City depot for a special journey to the North Pole. The just over an hour return is set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack. Sip your warm cocoa while listening and reading along with the wonderful and familiar storey.

When the train arrives at the North Pole, Santa Claus is waiting. Santa will greet each child and present them with their own silver sleigh bell, as in the storey. Join in the Christmas carols as you make your way through the quiet wilderness back to Bryson City.

The beauty of the mountains and the spectacular views at Anakeesta will take your breath away. This adventure park high atop Gatlinburg is the perfect mix of play, adventure, relaxation, and delicious dining options. Take the scenic ride with the Chondola chair lift ride to the whimsical Firefly Village with quaint shopping and dining. Stroll along the mountaintop and take in the gorgeous views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Continue your adventure on the TreeTop Skywalk, with over 800-feet of connected bridges hanging 50 to 60-feet in the air and enjoy the sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Mt. LeConte. To wind down after all the excitement at Anakeesta, take an enchanted night walk amongst the stars.

Join the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride Of Lights for a memorable journey through city centre Gatlinburg as you admire the twinkling lights on festive holiday displays. The trolleys are heated, so you can get comfortable and soak up the holiday spirit together with your family and friends.

The one-of-a-kind LED lighting displays transport you to glistening winter forests featuring animals indigenous to Great Smoky Mountains National Park such as deer, foxes, squirrels, and rabbits. And as you don’t have to worry about driving, this is fantastic opportunity to take the most magical holiday pictures.

The iconic Gatlinburg Space Needle offers panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg and an astonishing spot for spectacular photos of the snow-covered landscape. The 407-foot observation tower is a local landmark and open year-round. Just step into the glass lift and enjoy the ride to the observation deck.

At the top, check out Higher Learning, an educational experience to learn more about the history of the area. With the free view finders, you can try to spot your favourite sites in Gatlinburg or just take in the glory of a sunset on a winter’s night. For the gaming enthusiasts, the Needle also features Arcadia, a playground with the latest video and redemption games.

Cross-country ski on Clingmans Dome Road, a scenic 7-mile mountain road, which leads to highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and stunning, panoramic views of the Smokies. The road is closed to all motorised vehicles from December 1st to March 31st, so you’ll practically have the road all to yourself. The road is never ploughed and so it offers spectacular snow conditions for cross-country skiing, and it’s free.

While you are cross-country skiing on Clingmans Dome Road, you might spot some wildlife or at least some of their tracks in the snow. Cross-country skiing is easy to learn, excellent exercise, and a wonderful way to take in the fabulous winter scenery.

When it’s too cold to play in the snow, check out the curious museums in Gatlinburg for some indoor fun. To see the most famous film and TV cars in history, stop at the Hollywood Star Cars Museum. Among the highlights are cars from films like Avengers, Ghostbusters, and Transformers, and the famous Harley Davidson from Terminator 2. And try to guess who used to own and drive the Lamborghini on display.

Visit the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum to discover a unique collection of shakers from all over the world. You’ll also learn about the artists behind these incredible items which come in all shapes and sizes. For more museums, check out the neighbouring Pidgeon Forge and Pittman Centre.

Take one of the Gatlinburg distillery tours to get a taste of Smoky Mountain moonshine and the history and culture of the mountains. During a distillery tour, you’re transported back to the days when the bootleg spirits were concocted deep in the shadows of the mountains.

You’ll learn about how this spirit is made, and you get to sample some of the products available. Try the traditional family recipes and new twists on flavours. When the weather is cold outside, there’s nothing like a sip of some ‘shine to warm you up.

The free and family-friendly New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show is a traditional and spectacular way to bid farewell to the old year and ring in the new. Tens of thousands of people will gather around the crossroads of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle to celebrate the New Year at the stroke of midnight.

Fireworks will blast off the rooftop of the 400-foot-tall Space Needle with special music choreographed for the fireworks show and you might even see the Space Needle join in with its rhythmic LED lights making for a glorious display. Make sure to arrive early and secure the best spots to see the show.