Ice Skating, Lights, & Waterpark Fun at Wilderness at the Smokies

Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort gets all gussied up for the Christmas season. With a towering Christmas tree in the lobby and occasional appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, this is a fun place to stay or visit during the holidays (and Winter Break). The outdoor ice skating rink (November 7 through January 11) is a favorite activity for guests and is also open to the public with daily tickets available.

Pack the swimsuits, too! Those staying at Wilderness at the Smokies can also enjoy the massive square foot indoor, year-round waterpark with thrilling waterslides, a wave pool, and a surf simulator.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland

Make plans to be amazed at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland (November 14 – January 4) at Soaky Mountain Waterpark. Billed as one of the most immersive light shows on Earth, this LED light show is perfectly synchronized to music played on your car stereo. Every year Shadrack’s introduces a different light display theme for one section of the show which adds to their already spectacular light displays. Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland designs and builds every display in-house, from conception to on-site construction – ensuring their light shows are one of a kind! Don’t forget to stop inside Soaky Mountain for festive activities, games, treats, and more at the Snowy Mountain Village November 15-17, 22-30, and December 1-30.

SkyLand’s Festival of Lights at the Ranch

Check out a magical holiday event at the mountaintop attraction, SkyLand Ranch. Over 100 displays with a million lights will brighten the mountain during SkyLand’s Festival of Lights at the Ranch, which is a separate ticketed attraction from the daytime SkyLand Ranch experience. Stroll through the peaceful setting, enjoy nighttime views and grab a treat at their North Pole themed bakery. Enjoy the lights each night from November 7 through January 2 from 6-9pm.

Christmas Shopping

Sevierville is known for shopping - and during the holidays, shopping is an attraction all by itself. Kick-off the holiday shopping season at Tanger Sevierville with their annual tree lighting celebration on November 7 and find great savings on designer products at over 100 high end outlet stores. Then browse Sevierville’s collection of antique stores, boutiques, and galleries for interesting gift ideas. Shop for outdoor gear at stores like Bass Pro and Orvis or browse unique stores in town for handmade items crafted locally. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Sevierville’s wide variety of retail stores.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas

What’s a visit to Dolly Parton’s hometown of Sevierville without enjoying some time at Dollywood? The theme park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas event runs November 1 through January 4 and features millions of twinkling lights, entertaining holiday shows, and thrilling rides.

Ober Mountain

Ober Mountain is snow fun – with opportunities to ski, snowboard, snow tube, ice skate, or play in The Snow Zone. On average, the ski and snowboard season begins in mid-December and can last as late as mid-March, depending on the weather. Snow tubing opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving and goes through March 31 while ice skating is indoor and year-round, so you can enjoy a spin around the rink any time of year. Ride the aerial tram to the top of the mountain and enjoy a day filled with winter fun and fantastic views of the Smokies.