Celebrating Halloween in the Smokies: Family-Friendly Activities and Events

October is the spooky season in the Smoky Mountains! Bring the whole family for trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and fall festivals. We’ve rounded up the best family-friendly Halloween fun just for you.

Go Trick or Treating

Trick or Treat Kickoff Karnival. The plaza at Gatlinburg’s Aquarium of the Smokies bustles with games, contests, food, candy, and activities, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Trick or Treat at The Island. Trick or treat at participating businesses and attractions on Oct. 31, 5 p.m-7 p.m.. 

Pigeon Forge Spooktacular. Looking for trick or treating before Halloween? Head to the Pigeon Forge Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 24, for indoor trick or treating, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

Enjoy Family Festivals

Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Thousands of jack-o-lanterns glow in gigantic, magical displays. Families enjoy scare-free entertainment and seasonal treats, daily through Oct. 30. 

Halloween at Anakeesta. The mountaintop theme park tickles youngsters with Halloween entertainments all month long: Groove to spooky tunes, help friendly witches concoct a potion, and laugh with lively scarecrows. 

Gatlinburg Halloween Spooktacular. Rocky Top Sports World hosts this all-ages festival Oct. 29, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., with costume contests, a chalk drawing contest, vendor booths, food and more. 

Test Your Courage in a Haunted House

Mysterious Mansion. Navigate creepy corridors and twisty staircases, never knowing when the next living ghoul might lurch out at you! This year-round haunted house features extra-shuddery scare fests on weekends through Nov. 2. Not for young children. 

Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. Live actors chill your blood with shocks around every corner, in this jump-scare haunted house. Can you make it through without screaming? For ages 6 and older.

Ride Halloween-Themed Mountain Coasters

Coasts and Ghouls at Rocky Top Mountain Coaster. Take a night ride through tunnels, twists and turns, but beware the goblins and spooktacular lighting tricks. Oct. 1-31.

Halloween in the Holler at Moonshine Mountain Coaster. After dark, the thrills begin on this haunted hillside thrill ride every weekend in October, and every night from Oct. 25-31.

Golf with Ghosts and Ghouls

Craveyard Nights at Crave Golf Club. Saturdays through Oct. 31, play Halloween mini golf with creepy props, spooky lighting, and surprises at each hole. Add a trip to the Zombie Escape Room for frightful fun! 

Around here, Halloween hijinks start long before Oct. 31. Reserve a family cabin for an unforgettable October in the Smokies!