Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is full of mountainous adventures and wonders with many fun activities and places to visit for all ages.
It is an ideal vacation spot for thousands of tourists, not just from the US but also from around the world.
Each year, the number of visitors to Gatlinburg keeps increasing because of its out-of-the-world adventures. Its unique experiences make it one of the best spots to explore in the United States.
If you are looking for a blend of natural serenity and immersive activities, then we have a list of events you shouldn’t miss.
Pack your bags, book a cozy cabin and get ahead of the events calendar in Gatlinburg for a year full of entertainment.
1. Smoky Mountains Tunes and Tales
Summer is the ideal time to enjoy Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales. It is a summer-long evening festival featuring all kinds of folks, performances, bands, and singers.
The performances are held in Downtown Gatlinburg every day from 5 PM until 9 PM.
People from all the surrounding areas come together to enjoy these unique performances. You will see storytellers, bandwagons, and costumed characters from old movies and dancers.
2. Gatlinburg Farmers Market
Take full advantage of events in Gatlinburg and visit the Farmers Market at the Covered Bridge in the Glades to find fresh produce like tomatoes, honey, spinach, plant-based locally produced beauty products, and baked items.
Visit the Farmers Market from September until October to get freshly harvested seasonal vegetables and fruits.
It will also have a kids’ corner with special activities, competitions, concerts, and art displays by the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community.
It will take place every Saturday until October 2022. Therefore, do not miss all the fun.
3. Mermaids at Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will showcase a live mermaid show, meet and greet, and display the mystical beauty of sea life and its exotic creatures through summer until September 2022.
The mermaid show will go live at 12:30 PM, 02:00 PM, and 04:30 PM throughout summer.
It is the perfect event for kids, especially those fans of mermaids and The Little Mermaid children’s stories.
Make your Memorial Day weekend fun with your family and interact with playful penguins to fierce-looking sharks in the live Ripley’s Aquarium adventure.
You can even pet some exotic sea creatures without getting wet. Let it be an unforgettable experience, especially for kids and young adults.
4. Oktoberfest at Ober
Enjoy the oncoming 13th annual fall festival at Ober Oktoberfest from 24th September to 30th October 2022. You will find Bavarian-style food, drinks, and live music.
In their authentic costumes, you can enjoy traditional folk dance shows by the Smoky Mountains Oomph Band every day.
After you have had your fill with Bavarian foods and beers, you can enjoy family activities. These include rock climbing walls, bumper cars, an indoor ice skating rink, ski mountain coaster, an Alpine slide, scenic chairlift, chair swing, wildlife encounter, mini golf, and Amaza’n’Maze.
Bring along your camera to capture the exotic mountain views while you take a scenic ride on the chairlift and capture panoramic photos with your family and friends.
5. Trop Rockin’ in the Smokys Monster Mash Monster Splash
Check out Ripley’s Aquarium to witness Trop Rockin’ in the Smokeys; tropical rock musicians play to the beat every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM from 28th – 31st October, 2022.
Live performance in the middle of the mountains of the Great Smokies! It is not something to miss out on.
6. Astra Lumina at Anakeesta
Visit the observatory grounds and discover luminous night skies under a galaxy of stars, cosmic visions, lustrious lights, and astral song at Anaskeesta, as the 15th Lumia Enchanted Night Walk Series, the very first in the US.
Take advantage of connecting to the stars and discovering luminous pathways with a piece of calming background music to soothe your soul. Opening from 1st November 2022, this journey to the start stars is not one to miss.
7. Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff
Another lustrous event at Anakeesta Plaza, 576 Parkway, is the Winter Magic Kickoff, an annual event on 10th November from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday.
Mark your calendars to kickstart your winter adventure with free live entertainment throughout the event.
After the event, take a guided tour in your vehicle through the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Lights Tour with the light displays on the Gatlinburg map.
8. Veterans Day Celebrations
The annual Veterans Day celebrations, paying tribute to the veterans and the military officers by the Veterans Day National Committee and the US Department of Veterans Affairs, will take place this year at the Rocky Top Sports World.
It is an official regional site to observe national Veterans Day this year.
It is a free celebration on 11th November, open to all, to honor the US military for their services, an annual tradition of over 20 years.
9. The fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
On 2nd December, from 7:30 AM onwards, marching bands and community groups will begin the parade from Baskins Creek Bypass and the East Parkway.
Join the parade as soon as it starts to get a wholesome parade experience. It will end at traffic light #10.
After that, there will be a Christmas tree lighting ceremony hosted by the city officials at 7:25 PM at the Parkway Plaza around traffic light #3.
The outbound lane enclosure will be at 4:30 PM for the float parade. The inbound lane will close at 6:50 PM, and all the traffic will shut down at 7 PM.
If you require guidance, the officers and EMS posted all around the parade routes will be available to assist you.
Conclusion
Gatlinburg offers activities and fun for the entire family during this year’s endless summer, fall, and upcoming winter seasons. So, get ready to have the year of your life.
In September, attend the Smoky Mountains Tunes and Tales, Farmers Market, and witness mermaids at Ripley’s Aquarium. Then, get ready to participate in the Oktoberfest at Ober and Trop Rockin’ in the Smokies in October.
Starting from 1st November, witness the bright stars at Astra Lumia and attend Winter Magic Kickoff at Anakeesta on the 10th.
Get ready for Veterans Day Celebrations on 11th November and the Christmas Parade in December.
Whatever you do, don’t miss any of these events. Make memories with your family and friends to cherish throughout the year.
