pink flowers over downtown Gatlinburg with mountain view

5 Can’t-Miss Spring Events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

March 9, 2026

Spring is a beautiful and exciting time to visit the Smokies! There’s always something fun happening this time of year, from educational opportunities to musical events that celebrate the season! Keep reading to learn more about some of the best spring events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge that you won’t want to miss.

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Gatlinburg sign with fall decor

4 Can’t-Miss Gatlinburg Fall Festivals

September 8, 2025

Fall is one of the best times to visit the Smoky Mountains area! When you visit Gatlinburg in the fall, you can see stunning changing leaves dotting the mountain landscape and experience all sorts of fun things to do, from Smoky Mountain scenic drives to exciting seasonal events! Here are some of the Gatlinburg fall festivals you won’t want to miss this year:

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smoky mountain winterfest lights that say gatlinburg welcomes you

Smoky Mountain Winterfest: Your Guide to Holiday Activities & Events

November 12, 2024

The holidays are quickly approaching once again, and there’s no better time to book a trip to the Smokies! From the crisp mountain air to festive light displays and delicious food, there are plenty of memories to be made during the Christmas season. Here’s everything you need to know about Smoky Mountain Winterfest for the ultimate holiday vacation you’ll never forget:

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gatlinburg arts and crafts community sign

A Complete Guide to Craft Fairs in Gatlinburg TN

September 3, 2024

For generations, the people of Gatlinburg have passed on a rich heritage of artists and craftsmen, making the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community what it is today. If you want to admire and browse hundreds of handcrafted items all in one place, you’ll definitely want to visit one of the craft fairs in Gatlinburg TN happening throughout the year. Keep reading to get all the details!

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outdoor firepit at the bearskin lodge in gatlinburg tn

Gatlinburg Events: Introducing Fireside Chats at The Bearskin Lodge

May 1, 2024

We are so excited to introduce an exciting new series of events at our Oaktenn properties in the Smoky Mountains! If you are interested in free events that provide personal and unique information about Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then you won’t want to miss out on these Gatlinburg events. Keep reading to get all the details on the Fireside Chats at our Gatlinburg hotels.

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spring in the smoky mountains

Enjoy Smoky Mountain Springfest in Gatlinburg TN

May 9, 2022

The Great Smoky Mountains come alive as winter gives way to spring and there is no better way to celebrate than attending Smoky Mountain Springfest! Gatlinburg, TN has an abundance of events where you can catch your spring fever this year Appalachian style during your Easter or early spring vacation.

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A scenic photo of Gatlinburg TN and the mountains.

When to Visit Gatlinburg TN: The Best Time for a Vacation

June 16, 2018

If you’re still deciding when to visit Gatlinburg TN, you’re not alone! People frequently call our vacation specialists to ask when the best time to travel to the Smoky Mountains is. Truth be told, there is no single “best time” for a Gatlinburg getaway; it all depends on what you want to see and do during your trip. To help you choose the perfect dates for your unique interests, the Bearskin Lodge has put together a guide to vacationing in Gatlinburg throughout the year.

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Solar eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Watching the Solar Eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

August 7, 2017

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of America’s natural wonders. You can’t help but feel a swell of patriotic pride when you drive through the forested roadways of the area. It’s the ultimate place to get back to nature, beneath the rolling mist of the Smokies. If you’ve been looking to get away and enjoy a camping trip or a luxurious stay in a hotel, longing for the scent of the pines, this is your opportunity. The blooming flowers and woods teeming with wildlife have been a draw for travelers since time out of mind. There’s nothing like getting back to the basics with a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Smokies are also a wonderful place to watch the stars come out, your only company the hooting of owls and the soft wind through the trees. There’s a peacefulness to the region that relaxes and invigorates everyone who experiences the natural wonders of the mountains. In today’s hustle and bustle lifestyle, we often forget to stop and smell the roses. A vacation in the woods is just the ticket for you and your family to recharge and reconnect. There’s even a bonus: on August 21st, 2017, the total solar eclipse will be visible from the Smokies. This unique natural phenomenon does not appear very often and we are fortunate to be able to see it from such a perfect vantage point. The clear skies of the Smokies make it an ideal location from which to view one of the most incredible sights in the sky.

This will be one of the most memorable activities you and your family will have ever experienced. One of the best places in the United States for viewing is in the Smokies, watching the solar eclipse in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You’re already surrounded by incredible natural beauty, and this rare experience is perfect to share with friends and family. This will be the first time since 1979 that the total eclipse of the sun was visible from Earth. There are only a few times during your life that a total eclipse will be visible, so it’s important to see it when you can.

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Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff

Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff

October 17, 2016

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most visited National Parks in the United States for good reasons. The serene beauty of the highest mountains in the eastern part of the Country is what brings so many visitors here. From spring wildflowers to snow covered peaks, these mountains remain one of the most popular travel destinations around.

Nestled in the heart of these majestic peaks lies the beautiful town of Gatlinburg. With a ton of activities to keep tourists occupied, no wonder this small town attracts so many visitors throughout the year. Since cooler weather is a welcomed site in the area, fall and winter events are on the horizon.

Two popular events scheduled this year begin on November 9, 2016. The Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff And Chili Cookoff begins on the same day. Right now is a good time to book rooms for the annual holiday season before vacancies are gone. Tourists and locals don’t want to miss one of the highlights of the holiday season. Gatlinburg is a highly favored destination choice with room vacancies filling quickly during the peak seasons.

Spectacular Light Display

A popular event that has become an annual tradition here in the Great Smoky Mountains is the Gatlinburg Winter Magic display of lights. This extremely popular event draws out large crowds to witness in person one of the most beautiful light displays in the United States. From the entrance to town, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain’s entrance, to the far end of town leading towards Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg displays so many lights that they can be seen from the surrounding mountains above.

The wintry display of holiday lighting around the town illuminates many of the shops and restaurants available for tourists to explore. Every year, more lights are added to the majestic holiday display for visitors to enjoy. LED lighting displays are used now to save the city of Gatlinburg in energy cost of traditional lighting used when the event started.

For photographers, this is the goldmine of opportunity to capture holiday magic in images. For those that love holiday traditions and festivities with family, Gatlinburg offers them fantastic stay vacation amenities to enjoy the holiday season. This is one of those memorable moments to share with family and friends.

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Oktoberfest in Gatlinburg

Everything to Know for Oktoberfest Gatlinburg

September 19, 2016

Arriving in Gatlinburg, TN for Oktoberfest is one of the best ways to experience fall in the Smoky Mountains . The leaves are changing yet there is still a hint of warmth in the air; summer still lingers and the air is still fresh, inviting you to step outside. The sun is beginning to set earlier yet the cider mills are opening up and there’s always the excitement of pumpkin style beers and heavier fall foods that are comforting and nice to eat as the seasons begin to change.

At Oktoberfest Gatlinburg there is a variety of Bavarian style German beers to warm you and lift your spirits. In the evenings, when things get a bit cooler and the sun goes down, try a German style spiced cider called Gluehwein. This is a traditional German style fall and winter holiday drink that most tourists (and locals!) enjoy after a night of skiing on the slopes, and Gatlinburg has plenty of slopes for you to explore year-round. All you need to do is arrive. Here’s how.

When

September 23 – October 30, 2016

Where

OBER GATLINBURG
Amusement Park & Ski Area
1001 Parkway Suite 2
Gatlinburg TN, 37738

What to expect

Oktoberfest in Ober Gatlinburg is a month-long celebration of activities for the entire family and people of all ages. Oktoberfest is a month-long celebration of German heritage and fun that will include dancing, traditional yodeling as well as traditional german dress, and most importantly, lots of great Bavarian style food and drink. This is the 7th annual year of Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg. Join us for the fun! You won’t want to miss it!

Some of our favorite attractions include:

– An Outdoor Bier Garten, which will remain always open for beer sampling for festival participants
– Lots of outdoor games for adults and children alike
– Traditional German music

When you want to kick back and relax with an ice-cold beer but aren’t sure what to do with the family and the younger kids, we have a solution. There are many outdoor games for children that are run by our volunteers and staff as well as inflatable bounce houses that will keep your children occupied and happy for hours while you do the same.

Activities at Ober Gatlinburg

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