The 2024 Gatlinburg Christmas Parade in Gatlinburg, TN is known as the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade and features parade entries of marching bands, floats, helium balloons, performers, and more! Below, you will find information about the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade route and the date & time that it is scheduled to take place.
The Grand Marshal
Every year, various celebrities lead the Gatlinburg Christmas parade along its route. These special guests are usually announced about a month before the parade.
2024 Gatlinburg Christmas Parade Date, Time, and Route
The Gatlinburg Christmas Parade 2024 takes place on Friday, December 6th at approximately 7:30 p.m. beginning historically at Baskins Creek Bypass and ending at Traffic Light #10…if you’re at traffic light 10, the parade should reach you around 8 p.m. The entire parade typically lasts around an hour. The majority of people tend to sit or stand along the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg for the best views closest to all the action. If you would like to view a map of Gatlinburg to see where the traffic lights are, you can view the city’s map at: https://www.gatlinburg.com/ .
Keep in mind that the Parkway through downtown Gatlinburg will be closed off during the Christmas parade as well as slightly before it begins and after it ends. With this in mind, if you plan to attend the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade then we highly suggest arriving in town earlier in the day, find a parking spot, and stroll through the downtown shops, grab a bite to eat, sip some hot chocolate and make an afternoon & evening out of it. Have fun and enjoy the entire experience!
Where to Park
If you’re fortunate enough to find a parking spot along River Road (which parallels the Parkway), most of those spots are free. If there aren’t any open spots, there are a handful of privately-owned parking lots along River Road that typically charge a flat fee. There are also two city-operated parking garages, one at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the other at Traffic Light #3, the McMahan Parking Garage. Both of these parking garages provide numerous parking spots that should be available.
Gatlinburg Christmas Parade Video
Below is a video the city provided of a previous Gatlinburg Christmas Parade if you would like an idea of what to expect if you have never seen it before. Keep in mind that it is much better in person!