Winterfest Arrives in the Smoky Mountains
Winterfest arrives this year in Pigeon Forge on Friday, November 9. The 17th year of the popular festival gets started at 5:45 p.m. at Patriot Park. Country music star Louise Mandrell, “mistress of ceremonies” this year, takes to the stage following a performance by folk singer David Holt. Holt, along with his band the Lightning Bolt, specializes in the unique sounds of Appalachian mountain music. Without further ado, the lights of Pigeon Forge Winterfest will be turned on to brighten the Smokies from now through February.
More than 5 million individual lights are turned on to illuminate the town’s decorations, including the 23 scenes and animated displays. New for 2006 is a multi-unit display depicting the 12 days of Christmas, complete with turtle doves and, of course, a partridge in a pear tree. Look for these new Winterfest displays between traffic light number 4 and 10 in Pigeon Forge. Trolley tours are an excellent way to view all of the Pigeon Forge Winterfest light displays. For more on trolley tours, special events and attractions during Winterfest, visit the PigeonForge.com Winterfest page.
Gatlinburg Winter Magic, Gatlinburg’s Winterfest celebration, starts tonight. Those in town for Gatlinburg’s unique celebration are in for a treat at the annual Chili Cook-off that has become a Gatlinburg Winterfest Kick-Off tradition. The Chili Cook-Off promises the finest offering of chili from local restaurants and organizations plus the chance to vote for your favorite chili for only $7.00 per spoon. The fun takes place tonight from 4 – 8 p.m. at Aquarium Plaza at Ripley’s
Aquarium of the Smokies
New light displays for this year's Gatlinburg Winterfest feature Light Emitting Diodes (LED) rather than traditional miniature incandescent bulbs. The bulbs featured in 1 million dollars' worth of new displays are brighter and produce a cleaner, crisper display. Starting tonight and lasting through January, take advantage of Gatlinburg's Winterfest trolley tours and see all the lights from the comfort of a climate controlled trolley.
Sevierville’s Winterfest officially began on Monday at the Sevierville Municipal Complex. A crowd of about 5,000 festival-goers welcomed the Sevierville light display. The kickoff featured fireworks, a free barbeque, and local entertainers.