Gatlinburg’s four-month long winter celebration of fun kicks off on November 5 with the 19th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. With millions of twinkling lights, more than 100 parade entries, lighted floats, marching bands and giant balloons, this holiday extravaganza is a wintertime favorite.

Light displays feature animals native to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits. In addition, there are a variety of traditional mountain scenes, colorful winter displays, playful teddy bears and other displays decorating both downtown Gatlinburg and the surrounding area.

Visitors can also experience the fun and spirit of the season from the comfort of a Gatlinburg Trolley. These popular guided excursions are highlighted by a magical journey through downtown and adjacent Hwy. 321, allowing everyone to experience the magical wonder of Gatlinburg Winter Magic.

Downtown Gatlinburg also offers old fashioned hayrides, a variety of kid friendly museums, attractions and dinner shows, plus plenty of outdoor activity from hiking to downhill skiing and a mountain sky lift.

There’s also the Gatlinburg area’s most popular attraction, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With more than 500,000 acres of scenic forest, the park is a sanctuary for thousands of species of animal and plant life and provides a scenic destination for a variety of hiking trails and outdoor recreational activities.