6 Tips for Celebrating Christmas in Gatlinburg

Create an unforgettable Christmas in the Smoky Mountains. Plan ahead and you’ll enjoy a stress-free holiday with these Gatlinburg travel tips.

1. RESERVE A HOLIDAY CABIN EARLY

The earlier you reserve, the more choices you’ll have. Know what you need before you start browsing cabin listings.

Who’s joining you? How many bedrooms will you need? Do you want a quiet, secluded holiday or do you want to be close to attractions in downtown Gatlinburg? You can search for cabins based on the number of bedrooms, location, amenities like game rooms and fire pits, and even the view outside.

2. CHOOSE A DECORATED CABIN

Get in the holiday mood with a cozy cabin decorated for Christmas. Picture Christmas trees, swags on mantelpieces, lights and evergreens! Colonial Properties offers dozens of cabins wreathed in holiday cheer.

3. WATCH HOLIDAY MOVIES IN A PRIVATE THEATER

Pop some corn and make hot chocolate! Whether your holiday favorites are nostalgic classics like “White Christmas” or you love to ho-ho-ho with comedies like “Elf,” movies add so much fun. Why not indulge in a private, in-cabin movie theater? We’ve got theater rooms with huge screens, surround sound and cinema seats–you’ll find them here!

4. JOIN GATLINBURG’S CELEBRATIONS

Gatlinburg knows how to put on a show at Christmas, from the main street up to the mountaintops! Catch events like these:

• Lights Over Gatlinburg at SkyLift Park. Walk through a tunnel of lights suspended over a valley and watch Christmas trees dance to holiday tunes. 
• Winterfest. Gatlinburg and its neighbors drape themselves in millions of glittering lights .
• Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. For old-fashioned, small-town fun, you can’t beat this annual tradition.
• Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas. Christmas shows from carols to country to pop fill the air with song, while light displays and fireworks illuminate each night.

5. PLAN AHEAD FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MEAL

Southern hospitality doesn’t take a break over the holidays. Make reservations with a restaurant for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dining, or order a ready-to-eat holiday feast and dine in your comfortable cabin.

6. RING IN THE NEW YEAR HERE

Your Christmas getaway doesn’t have to end on Dec. 26. Stick around and celebrate New Year’s Eve with concerts, a ball drop and spectacular fireworks at the Gatlinburg Space Needle.

Booking a vacation rental cabin for Christmas in Gatlinburg is fast and simple. Start planning now and let visions of sugarplums dance in your head!