Soak Up Gatlinburg’s 34th Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, Presented by Land O’ Lakes Half & Half

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Smokies Superintendent Dale Ditmanson will serve as Grand Marshal of Gatlinburg’s 34th annual Fantasy of Light Christmas Parade on Friday, December 4.
Classic motor cars and period dancing routines will salute the Smokies’ anniversary at the lead of the parade, which is sponsored by Land O’ Lakes Half & Half.

December 4

Unique handcrafted gifts made by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are offered as they host their annual holiday show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Visit www.gatlinburgcrafts.com or call (800) 568-4748.

November 30 – December 6

Presented by the Smoky Mountain Dance Theater Company, enjoy this holiday classic presented in Gatlinburg, with performances at 7 p.m. in the W.L. Mills Auditorium. (GSE) Call (865) 680-7369 for information and reservations.
November 27 – 28

Gatlinburg Winter Magic from Elfdom 

The magic of the holiday season comes to life when award winning designer DeWayne Kirchner’s Whimsical Elves enchant the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg for eight fanciful nights of live Winter Magic Tunes & Tales entertainment.
 Each Friday and Saturday night starting on November 27 the main street of the City transforms to an enchanted stage with singing, dancing and storytelling performed by brightly-dressed, immaculate Elves from the Land of Elfdom created especially for the sidewalks of Gatlinburg.
Children of all ages can meet as many as 20 charming and affable characters hailing from such locales as Jolly Town, Cinnamon City, Gum Drop Lake, the Nutwood Forest and the Village of Belldom, including distinct personalities like Jilly Bean, Cinny Mon, Jingle R. Bell, Holly Berry, Mayor Wally Nutt and Professor Tant E. Baum.
The Elfdom cast will thrill the gathering crowd with classical Christmas songs, amusing and mesmerizing tales of life in Elfdom, and extraordinary dancing numbers, adding to the spirit of the holiday season in downtown Gatlinburg.
The performances are free to the public. All that’s missing is your presence as Gatlinburg presents it’s third annual Winter Magic Tunes & Tales program.

November 27 – December 20

2009 will mark the 34th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration, to be held Saturday, December 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is free to the public. The popular event is a celebration of Christmas and winter in the Smokies. Around Christmas time, people gathered in churches, homes, and schools, and many of them celebrated the holiday through music, storytelling, and crafts. The Festival of Christmas Past lets us pause and remember some of these traditions. The festival will include old-time mountain music and Old Harp singing, as well as demonstrations of traditional domestic skills such as the basketmaking, quilting, spinning, and apple butter making. Call (865)436-1291 for details.

After searching the internet for a B&B in the Smokies, we decided to try a stay at Berry Springs Lodge. What a treat! This bed and breakfast is definitely worth a visit. We have stayed at several B&B’s and can say we would most certainly make a repeat visit. The hosts have thought of everything and are the most hospitable innkeepers we have ever had! At every turn they have done just “one more thing” to make your stay enjoyable. Although we had inclement weather during our stay, which meant we could not take advantage of the amenities on the property, the view alone was worth it. Pictures on the internet don’t do it justice. The rooms were spacious and clean (thanks to the excellent housekeeping!) and very comfortable. The common areas and breakfast room were delightful, and breakfast was a real treat! Also, there are snacks and drinks available all day, which we have never encountered at any other B&B we’ve stayed at, and there is a nightly dessert each evening! If you want to experience a bed and breakfast inn and have never tried one, this would be a great first experience. You can’t go wrong with Berry Springs Lodge!