Are you planning on being in the Smokies in the winter? You may be wondering what there is to do, and we want to share some winter activities in Gatlinburg you will want to check out. From enjoying beautiful lights to flying over the snow, you have plenty of things to do to choose from. Here are the top 4 winter activities in Gatlinburg you can’t miss:
1. Enchanted Winter of Lights
Anakeesta has a great winter event called the Enchanted Winter of Lights . This event runs from November to February, so you have a while to check it out! As soon as you step off the chair lift, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful decorations and holiday lights all throughout Anakeesta. Lights are strung up the trees, you’ll see beautiful lights along the Skywalk, and you might even see Santa! You can get hot chocolate or a hot toddy to enjoy as you sit by one of the fire pits or in a rocking chair. There are holiday themed gifts in all of the shops, so you can even grab a gift! See our guide on Anakeesta discounts by clicking here.
2. Ober Gatlinburg
Ober Gatlinburg has a ton of winter activities in Gatlinburg you’ll want to check out. This is the only ski resort in Tennessee, so you should definitely go skiing! Ober has all the equipment you need for rent so you don’t have to bring your own. You’ll enjoy racing down the slopes on skis or on a snowboard if you prefer. Everyone in the family can enjoy skiing or snowboarding too. Another winter activity you can do at Ober is snow tubing. There’s a large hill where you can ride a “magic carpet” up the hill with an inner tube and then slide down for a ton of fun.
3. Lights Over Gatlinburg
A fun thing to do in the area in the winter is Lights Over Gatlinburg at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. This time of year, you can go up to the top of the mountain on the chair lift and enjoy seeing all kinds of beautiful lights. The SkyBridge is decked out in Christmas lights, and there are all kinds of other decorations throughout the park. You might find some last-minute gifts in the SkyCenter gift shop. Plus, you’ll be able to look down at Gatlinburg and enjoy the view, especially at night!
4. Winterfest Lights
Another one of the popular winter activities in Gatlinburg is Winterfest. This isn’t so much a structured event as it is something you can enjoy on your own time. Several light structures are put up throughout Gatlinburg for everyone to enjoy as you walk or drive around. There are signs welcoming you to the city, and you’ll see snowflakes on almost all of the telephone poles. If you want to further enjoy Winterfest, keep driving on the Parkway until you reach Pigeon Forge, where you’ll find even more Winterfest lights to look at!
These winter activities in Gatlinburg are just some of the fun things you can enjoy while you’re in town. Want to know what else you should do? Check out these things to do in Gatlinburg for more ideas!
