Chosen by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast, Winterfest is a mixture of holiday celebrations, themed special events and the millions of decorative lights.
Four months of activity begin on November 8 with a special parade saluting military veterans (Veterans Day is of course November 11) and a ceremony in Patriot Park that flips the switch on the Winterfest lights.
This is Pigeon Forge Winterfest’s 22nd year. Dates are November 8 to February 26, 2012.
Apart from the afternoon parade ending in Patriot Park, the November 8 kickoff also includes an evening program featuring a tribute to veterans, bluegrass music and the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus.
After the entire city’s light displays pop on, Pigeon Forge’s Fun Time Trolleys will offer free rides on the Trolley Tour of Lights for the rest of the evening.
Among the events on the calendar:
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (November 5 to December 30) glows with 4 million holiday lights of its own and the premiere of “Christmas on Ice” in DP’s Celebrity Theatre.
The Titanic Museum Attraction gets in the Edwardian holiday spirit with its “Christmas in a Winter Wonderland” (November 8 to December 31) festivities.
Wilderness Wildlife Week (January 7 to 14) offers eight days of programs and activities about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other outdoor topics, while Saddle Up! (February 23 to 26) brings a taste of the Old West to Pigeon Forge with cowboy poetry, western music and a chuckwagon cookoff.
Information about Pigeon Forge Winterfest, including Wilderness Wildlife Week in January and Saddle Up! in February, is at www.MyPigeonForge.com and 1-800-251-9100.
For more information about top events in Tennessee take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Tennessee.