Labor Day is the last blast of summer fun before school begins and work gets busy. Make this Labor Day weekend memorable with a Gatlinburg getaway featuring these delightful things to do!
1. Enjoy Fall Colors at Gatlinburg Harvest Festival
Get a head start on that delicious fall feeling! Gatlinburg’s autumn celebration boasts fall-themed decorations all over town. Businesses compete to show off the most colorful, creative displays. Be sure to take plenty of selfies with the scarecrows! Local merchants and restaurants offer discounts and deals during the festival, too.
2. Relish Food, Music, and Beer at Anakeesta
Anakeesta, the mountaintop theme park, welcomes you to the tasty, tuneful Bear-varian Fall Festival. All ages love the mountain coaster, ziplines, Treetop Skywalk, giant birdhouse play area, and the rest of Anakeesta’s nature-themed fun. Grown-ups love tasting craft beers while the family listens to live music and noshes on fresh, fall dishes.
3. Explore the National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free and always open. Hike to one of 100 sparkling waterfalls. Cool off in swimming holes at The Sinks or Townsend Wye. Watch wildlife, then investigate historic cabins and churches, at Cades Cove. With 800 miles of hiking trails and dozens of historic sites, this park promises endless adventures.
4. Listen to Appalachian Folk Tales
Immerse yourself in Appalachian lore on Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Skilled storytellers take you back in time, with the ancient mountains as a backdrop. Stick around to explore the heritage center’s authentic, 19th-century farmstead and village buildings, and try hands-on traditional activities.
5. Shop at a Local Farmer’s Market
Saturday of Labor Day weekend, visit Gatlinburg’s outdoor farmer’s market, for the freshest food around. Every vendor is from the local area! Buy fruits and vegetables, delicious baked goods, honey, eggs, meats, and more. The market is near the Arts and Crafts Community, too, so stop by the artisan workshops to see handmade crafts and find perfect souvenirs.
6. Celebrate at Your Gatlinburg Cabin
Take those yummy farmer’s market finds back to your private cabin. Fire up the grill for a Labor Day cookout. Dine outside on your deck or patio, then spend a lazy evening watching movies in the cabin’s movie theater, or swimming in your private, indoor pool. Book a luxurious Gatlinburg cabin now, and start packing for the best end-of-summer getaway ever.
