Ring in the New Year in Downtown Gatlinburg

The Smoky Mountains are a great place to visit during the winter months. Winter Magic lights up the cities of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, with beautiful light displays and decorations illuminating the area. This winter wonderland makes Gatlinburg the perfect place to celebrate the holidays, including New Year’s Eve. Moreover, Gatlinburg pulls out all the stops for New Year’s Eve as they host a street party that features music, party favors and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

The fun begins around 11pm December 31st in the streets of downtown Gatlinburg. The Space Needle in Gatlinburg is the focal point of the New Year’s Eve celebration. Standing over 400 feet high, this attraction is home to Gatlinburg’s 22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Street Party. The Space Needle is located at traffic light #3 on the parkway.

At the stroke of midnight, the night sky lights up with a terrific fireworks display over the Space Needle. Gatlinburg hotels offer great views of the fireworks from their respective balconies. Just be sure you’re able to see the top of the Space Needle, and you’ll be guaranteed a great view of the celebration. Visitors can all get a good vantage point from Park River Road, is the party atmosphere isn’t for you.

Voted one of the “Best New Year’s Eve Shows in the South,” Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks is a fantastic way to welcome the New Year of 2010.

There are various Gatlinburg shows available on New Year’s Eve, including Dixie Stampede, Hoot N Holler Christmas Dinner Show, Black Bear Christmas Spectacular, The Miracle and The Comedy Barn, among others. Visitors might also want to take a tour on the Trolley Ride of Lights, which is a fun way to experience the beauty of Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic.

Ripley's Aquarium presents Lethal Weapons Exhibit

Lethal Weapons is a new exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies that features dozens of the most shocking and deadly creatures of the sea, along with a variety of interactive displays. The Lethal Weapons exhibit gives guests the opportunity to witness the deadly environment that exists in the seas. It explores the struggle between the sea’s peaceful population and the lethal animals that share the same waters.

As the name Lethal Weapons implies, the exhibit is loaded with examples of those survivors. Everything from a Portuguese Man of War who stings everything it touches to crowns of thorns starfish the most lethal coral predator on the planet are on display.

• Tangle with a golf ball sized warrior that packs enough poison to kill 26 humans!
• Match skills with an insect assassin that shoots down tree-bound bugs!
• Challenge a boxing shrimp that lands a punch with the force of a bullet!
• Marvel at a lethal snail that catches and devours fish!
• Experience an electric eel that generates a 500-volt jolt!

The aquarium is located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg and is open 365 days a year.

The exhibit, which is on display through 2009, is free with regular admission to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies tickets are on sale now.

Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade Showcases Holiday Spirit

The 34th Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade is scheduled for December 4 in Downtown Gatlinburg. This year’s parade is presented by Land O’ Lakes Half and Half.

In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the Smokies superintendent Dale Ditmanson will serve at the Grand Marshall of the parade. Classic motor cars and period dancing routines will begin the salute to the Smokies and the lead of the parade.

More than 100 parade entries are schedule to appear, including marching bands and giant helium balloons. The parade begins at 7:30pm at Traffic Light #1A on Hwy 321 ends about an hour-and-a-half later at Traffic Light #10.

Before the parade starts, Santa’s Autograph party will be held at 6pm at Riverbend Mall, near Traffic Light #3. Pre-parade performances by Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre, Ginger Brown’s Academy of Performing Arts, Elizabeth Williams Dance Academy and the Winter Tunes & Tale characters are also planned.

Gatlinburg hotel reservations are available now for the holiday season.

Winter Magic Tunes & Tales begins Nov. 27 in Gatlinburg

The city of Gatlinburg presents Winter Magic Tunes & Tales November 27 – December 20, on Friday and Saturday nights.

The magic of the holiday season comes to life thanks to award-winning designer DeWayne Kirchner’s Whimsical Elves. They enchant the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg with singing, dancing and storytelling. The elves, who hail from the Land of Elfdom add a dash of holiday cheer to the patrons who visit the city of Gatlinburg.

Children of all ages can meet as many as 20 charming and affable characters hailing from such locales as Jolly Town, Cinnamon City, Gum Drop Lake, the Nutwood Forest and the Village of Belldom, including distinct personalities like Jilly Bean, Cinny Mon, Jingle R. Bell, Holly Berry, Mayor Wally Nutt and Professor Tant E. Baum.

The festive fun of Winter Magic Tunes & Tales provides the perfect setting for yuletide memories and Christmas cheer.

Holiday Events presented in Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg has plenty to offer this holiday season. There are special festivals, holiday-themed shows and unique craft events to discover this November & December.

Gatlinburg Festival of Trees
Scheduled for November 24 – 28, the Festival of Trees features numerous ornately decorated Christmas trees at the W. L. Mills Conference Center. This winter wonderland is open from 4pm-7pm, and admission is free.

The Nutcracker “Sweet”
The Smoky Mountain Dance Theater Company presents the Nutcracker “Sweet” November 27 & 28. Performances are at 7pm at the W. L. Mills Auditorium. Reservations are suggested.

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community Holiday Arts & Crafts Show
Get a head start on your Christmas shopping at the Christmas Craft Show, held November 24 through December 6, 2009. Doors open daily at 10am and admission is free to everyone. The show, located at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, will have unique crafts, holiday décor and talented artisans on hand.

Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights

The Gatlinburg Winterfest Trolley Ride of Lights is a delightful 45-minute guided tour of the city. The tours take guests on a winter wonderland tour of the city so that friends and family can see the beauty of the holiday season in the Smoky Mountains. The Trolley Tours depart three times nightly from November 4 – December 30, and each Saturday night in January. Departure times are at 6:30, 7:40 and 8:30 each night of operation. Rides depart from the Gatlinburg Welcome Center at traffic light #5, near the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Trolley rides cost $5 per person.

The Trolley Ride of Lights is closed on December 5, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve.

If you plan on visiting Gatlinburg this holiday season, reserve your Gatlinburg lodging now for the best deals.

Ripley's Aquarium hosts Thrill the World Event

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will host “Thrill the World,” a worldwide attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous dance with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on October 24 at 8:30pm.

Actress Ola Ray, who is best known for portraying Jackson’s girlfriend in the “Thriller” video, will be on hand to lead the dancers in the “Thrill the World” dance at the aquarium.

Last year, on Oct. 25, 2008, 4,179 people from 10 nations (Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America, and Wales) simultaneously performed The Thriller Dance as part of the Thrill The World event.

Join the dance party and be apart of a world record event at Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

Join Gatlinburg for its Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff

Gatlinburg’s 20th Annual Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, from 4pm-9pm. It will feature mouth watering recipes of home-style chili ranging from mild to to mouth-watering hot. Up to 20 vendors will serve up their best chili recipes during this annual event. The event is located between traffic light #6 and the Riverside Motor Lodge.

With the purchase of a ticket, guests receive a spoon and voting ballot and get to sample a variety of tasty recipes and vote for their favorite in the People’s Choice Award. Judges will select winners in categories including Best Taste, Booth Presentation, Apron Design and Most Unique Chili Name.

The Chili Cookoff will also feature entertainment by the Marvelettes, Motown’s first successful female vocal group. They are most famous for their hit, “Please Mr. Postman," but are also notable for songs like “Don’t Mess with Bill,” “Beechwood 4-5789” and “Playboy.” In total, they scored 19 top 40 American R&B singles and 1- top 40 American pop singles.

Tickets for the Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff are $7 in advance and $8 at the gate.

The Winter Magic Kickoff portion of the event highlights the seasonal debut of the all-LED Gatlinburg Winter Magic lights program. Gatlinburg Winter Magic features $1.5million custom designed, one-of-a-kind lighting displays along the Gatlinburg Parkway.

7th Annual Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration Planned

Gatlinburg presents its 7th Annual Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies plaza. The event begins at 11am and activities will include a military aircraft flyover, patriotic music, recognition of veterans in attendance, remembrance of fallen comrades and speeches from notable veterans. An American Bald Eagle appearance and remarks by musical tributes by three local high school bands plus the Knoxville Pipe & Drum are part of the festivities.

Gatlinburg has been designated by the Veterans Day National Committee and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as an official Regional Site for the Observance of Veterans Day. This designation affiliates the Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration with National Veterans Day activities taking place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Gatlinburg is one of only two Tennessee cities, along with Nashville, to receive this designation, and one of only 40 official sites across the nation.

The observance has also been designated as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Fall Events Planned in Gatlinburg Tennessee

There are several Gatlinburg activities and events planned this fall.

On September 24, A Taste of Autumn, a fundraiser for the United Way, will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The fundraiser will feature the delicious creations of some of the area’s finest restaurants and businesses. For a $25 donation, guests can enjoy unlimited sampling from all of the participating vendors. Live entertainment is also planned.

Old fashioned wagon rides are available in Gatlinburg now through October 29. The departure point for the wagon rides is at Traffic Light #6 at Mountain Mall. The rides operate from 5pm-9pm Sunday through Thursday and leave approximately every 45 minutes. The old fashioned wagon rides cost $4 per person. All proceeds benefit the United Way.

October 8-25 the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair returns to the Gatlinburg Convention Center. More than 200 booths featuring some of the nation’s finest artisans will fill the convention center. The artisans will demonstrate their skills, answer questions and some of their unique art will be for sale. Live bluegrass and country music entertainment will also be on-hand. The fair is open from 10am — 7 pm daily and 10am — 5 pm on Sundays. Admission is a $6 for adults and children 12 and under are free