Christmas is a time when one wants to spend some quality time in family. Christmas day in particular is a special day for everyone, and having a great family meal in a restaurant on that day can make it even more special. This is a good occasion to dress up as well. However, not all restaurants are open on Christmas day, especially in a small resort city like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where there are only 5,000 inhabitants. Three restaurants keep their doors open for the most magical day of the year.
T.G.I. Friday's is open on Christmas day in Pigeon Forge. The restaurant is located on Parkway, near the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride and the Fast Track Amusement Park. It has quite a large menu of American cuisine, such as Friday's shrimp, bruschetta chicken, grilled chicken Caesar salad and Jack Daniel's ribs and shrimp. T.G.I. Friday's is also very popular for its appetizers. There is no Christmas special, but the restaurant is quite family-orientated with a casual dress code, and it is children-friendly.
The Partridge & Pear Restaurant is also open on Christmas day. Located on the east side of Parkway, within the facilities of The Incredible Christmas Place, it offers a rustic atmosphere with a great Christmas theme decorated interior for lunch or dinner. The chef cooks a menu of regional cuisine, made of fresh and local ingredients. The herbs even come from the restaurant's private garden. Parents can sample the turkey pot pie while children will love the Santa's Little Helpers kids' menu with a snowball sundae dessert.
The Hard Rock Cafe, located in Gatlinburg on the continuation of Parkway, just a minute's drive from Pigeon Forge, is open on Christmas day too. At a walking distance from the Mountain Mall Shopping Center, the restaurant serves American cuisine with appetizers, burgers, steaks and sandwiches. The New York strip steak, hickory smoked barbecue ribs and the HRC bacon Cheeseburger are among the numerous dishes available. TV screens play music videos endlessly and there is a nice collection of memorabilia, including Bob Dylan's acoustic guitar, Elvis' 1968 jacket or Bono's headband.
Since stores are shut on Christmas day, there are other activities available for everyone to enjoy in Pigeon Forge. For example, the Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights offers outdoors activities such as nature photography or a storytelling festival. Visitors can enjoy live concerts and celebrate Christmas with a journey in a trolley throughout the city and be entertained by the decorative light displays.
