Top 3 Ways to See the Smoky Mountain Christmas Lights

November 15, 2024

Are you looking for the best ways to explore all of the beautiful Smoky Mountain Christmas lights? Winterfest provides ample opportunities to create long-lasting Christmas memories, from the top of a mountain in Gatlinburg to the comfort of your own vehicle along the Pigeon Forge Parkway. Read on to explore our list of favorite places and ways to see the holiday lights in the Smokies!

1. Gatlinburg SkyPark

While you should certainly walk the downtown streets of Gatlinburg to take in all the Gatlinburg Winter Magic and Smoky Mountain Christmas lights, the best way to take it all in is from above! Gatlinburg SkyPark’s Lights Over Gatlinburg event provides all-day access to the attraction, so you can enjoy access to the SkyTrails, SkyBridge, and other activities during the day and then return at night to experience the holiday spirit in light form! Christmas lights span the entire length of the SkyBridge, a giant 30-foot tree, photos with Santa, and all kinds of festive photo opportunities await at the Gatlinburg SkyPark!

2. Pigeon Forge Winterfest Driving Tour

From mid-November all the way into February, the entire town of Pigeon Forge is decked out in millions of Christmas lights, and the best way to see them is to take a self-guided Winterfest driving tour! You can turn on the Christmas music, grab a hot cider or hot cocoa, and hop in the car to admire the holiday light displays at your own pace. Riding the Pigeon Forge trolley is also a great way to see the lights and not have to worry about traffic or finding places to park at attractions and restaurants. An all-day pass is only $3!

3. Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland

Another way to explore the Smoky Mountain Christmas lights from the comfort of your own car is Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland in Sevierville! This Christmas lights drive-through experience allows you and your family to take a personalized auto tour of thousands of magical lights that are all synced to music you can listen to on your radio. The songs include iconic Christmas tunes and traditional holiday carols like Hallelujah, Silent Night, and many more! Rain or shine, this Smoky Mountain attraction is open from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. or later seven nights a week (including holidays) from mid-November through the first week of January.

Once you have had your fill of seeing the holiday lights, be sure to swing by the Snowy Mountain Village for more festive family fun, like inflatable bounce houses, plenty of activities for kids, tons of photo op spots, great food, delicious desserts, carnival games, kids crafts, and on some nights, visits with Santa!

Where To Stay

There’s no better place to return to after spending the evening exploring all of the Smoky Mountain Christmas lights than a peaceful cabin, especially when it's decorated for the holidays! Perfect for any size family or group looking to spend Christmas in the Smoky Mountains, our rentals come equipped with full kitchens, laundry facilities, outdoor hot tubs, game rooms, fireplaces, private pools, and much more.

Browse all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals to find the best place to stay for a relaxing Christmas vacation in the Smokies. As always, our reservations specialists are only a phone call away and would be happy to help you plan the perfect trip!