Do you have an exciting trip to the Smoky Mountains planned for December? This is a beautiful time of year to visit the area, but you may be wondering what all there is to do. Luckily, there’s plenty of fun events and attractions to visit! Check out these top 5 things to do in Gatlinburg in December:

1. Watch the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

One of the first, and biggest, events of December is the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade! People come from all over the place to enjoy the incredible floats made by local businesses, listen to bands play, and watch the Grand Marshal lead the whole procession! As a backdrop to the parade, you’ll get to see Gatlinburg decked out with beautifully themed lights, and if you’re really lucky, it might just be cold enough for snow to fall!

2. See the Winter Magic Christmas Lights

A popular thing to do in Gatlinburg in December is to go on a tour of the Winter Magic Christmas Lights. Some people like to hop aboard the Gatlinburg Trolley and enjoy seeing the displays as they travel along the Parkway. Others like to go along their own tour in the comfort of their vehicle, so you can stop when you want to grab a bite to eat or enjoy some of the displays up close! No matter how you choose to see the lights, you’ll have a great time!

3. Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta

The Enchanted Christmas event at Anakeesta is one you don’t want to miss! As the sun sets, the lights turn on all over the adventure park to create a beautiful winter wonderland! Twinkly lights drip from the trees as you walk along the path through the villages, and there are hundreds of light displays you can take photos in front of to capture the beautiful memories you’re making. Plus, you won’t want to miss out on grabbing a cup of hot chocolate or hot toddy to keep you warm as you explore the park!

4. Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

Another fun thing to do in Gatlinburg in December is to visit Gatlinburg SkyLift Park during their Lights Over Gatlinburg event! Your breath will be taken away as you step onto the SkyDeck from the chairlift. There are thousands of brilliant lights strung up all over the park, including a 300-foot tunnel of lights! The 30-foot-tall Christmas tree and other lit trees are all synchronized to music, and you’ll even spot some dancing trees too! Everyone will have fun exploring the park as it’s lit up in lights.

5. Winter Activities at Ober Mountain

For the adventurer, you won’t want to miss out on some of the most fun things to do in Gatlinburg in December. Ober Mountain brings skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing to Gatlinburg during the winter months, and everyone in your crew will have a blast experiencing these activities! Although you can ice skate or try the ice bumper cars any time of the year, there’s no better time to experience them than in December!

This time of year is perfect for a getaway. Plus, you won’t want to miss out on all of these fun things to do in Gatlinburg in December! Want to know what else you can do while you’re in town? Check out these attractions in Gatlinburg for some ideas!