Winterfest Kickoff Events For 2016

It's that wonderful time of year again when we welcome the Winterfest holiday season with not one, not two, but THREE Winterfest kickoff events that you can enjoy within less than an hour's drive from one another should you choose to want to do all three - since each one takes place on a different day in a different city.

Let's take a look at what's going on this year:

Sevierville:
The city of Sevierville has the first Winterfest kickoff on November 7th at the Sevierville Civic Center/City Hall/Community Center on Dolly Parton Parkway. This event goes on from 3:00PM to 8:00PM and has a huge stage erected on site for a variety of local entertainment acts to perform. Offstage there is free food, play areas for kids and even fireworks. At 7:45PM the lighting ceremony will begin and the Winterfest lights for Sevierville will be turned on.

See more on Sevierville's Winterfest Kickoff at https://www.facebook.com/SeviervilleWinterfest/.

Pigeon Forge:
Things are a little bit different with the Pigeon Forge Winterfest kickoff this year. There won't be a parade to start the event, but it will begin all the same at 4:00PM at Patriot Park on November 8th. There will be a kids' play area, presentations from the Mayor and City Manager of Pigeon Forge, fireworks, a stage with music entertainment and, of course, the big switch for the Winterfest lights coming on followed by FREE trolley tours of the Winterfest lights.

See more on Pigeon Forge's Winterfest Kickoff at http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/winterfest/.

Gatlinburg:
And now the big party to signal the full transition into Smoky Mountain Winterfest season - the Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff/Winterfest Kickoff on November 9th from 5:00PM to 8:00PM. This event is so big that the city of Gatlinburg shuts down a whole section of the downtown parkway just to hold it. The first part of the event is the chili cookoff where dozens of tables featuring dozens of local restaurants (as well as those from abroad) set up to serve all-you-can-eat chili. The purchase of an admission "spoon" is you all need to enjoy the best chili in the Smoky Mountains. Then later the switch will go on and BOOM, Gatlinburg will finish putting on the last of the Winterfest lights with their own trolley tours to follow.

See more on Gatlinburg's Winterfest Kickoff at http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=11.

We'll have more Winterfest events coming up for you soon, be sure to come back and check on us! www.allthesmokies.com.