The Winter Magic festival sees downtown Gatlinburg illuminated with millions of lights and the streets packed with floats, giant helium balloons, carol singers, storytellers and marching bands. The parade happens on the first Friday of each December. For a fee, visitors can ride a trolley through the midst of the festivities.
Winter Magic Festival
865-436-0535.
At the end of December, visitors to Gatlinburg can herald in the New Year with a street party, pyrotechnics show and traditional ball drop from the town's Space Needle. The New Year's Eve festivities begin at around 11 p.m. A lighted ball is dropped from the Space Needle at midnight, signaling the start of the fireworks display.
Space Needle
155 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-4629
gatlinburgspaceneedle.com
Gatlinburg is home to the only ski resort in Tennessee. The Ober Gatlinburg resort is situated on Mount Harrison and has eight slopes suitable for all levels of skier and snowboarder. The resort also has an ice-skating area and a 10-lane snow-tubing park with a 50-foot vertical drop. The resort has an air tram to transport visitors the two miles from downtown Gatlinburg.
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort
1001 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
866-918-4786
obergatlinburg.com
Gatlinburg's Mountain Mall turns into a winter wonderland in December with local vendors providing visitors with one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and souvenirs. Alternatively, tourists can visit the Gatlinburg Convention Center for the annual Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Holiday Show at the beginning of December.
Mountain Mall
611 Parkway Suite F15
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-5935
gatlinburg-mountainmall.com
Gatlinburg Convention Center
303 Reagan Drive
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-2392
ci.gatlinburg.tn.us
