Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff
First Thursday of November, annually
A free street festival that closes the Parkway, fills it with competing chili, and ends at 6 PM when more than a million lights come on across downtown at once. The chili is the excuse; the lights are the reason.
The Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff and Winter Magic Kickoff is a free street festival held the first Thursday of November. The Parkway closes to cars, local restaurants and community groups serve up their best chili, and at 6 PM more than a million lights switch on across downtown at once, officially starting Gatlinburg's Winter Magic season. Thousands of locals and visitors turn out for it each year.
When: the first Thursday of November, 5 to 9 PM
Where: usually on the Parkway downtown, around traffic light #6
Free admission; chili tasting with a wristband (ages 5 and up)
Winter Magic lights switch on at 6 PM
When and where
The festival runs from 5 to 9 PM on the first Thursday of November. In recent years, it has been held on the Parkway between traffic light #6 and the Reagan Drive and Maples Lane intersection. In some past years, it moved to the Shade Tree parking lot in front of the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's location.
When it's on the Parkway, southbound lanes close in the morning and northbound lanes close soon after, with traffic sent to River Road, Airport Road, or Cherokee Orchard Road. The Parkway reopens at midnight. Admission is free, but tasting the chili requires a wristband for anyone 5 and up, sold at the event on a first-come, first-served basis.
The cookoff
About 20 local restaurants, attractions, chefs, and community groups compete each year. The crowd votes for the People's Choice award, and categories in past years have also included a judges' pick, best booth decoration, and best dessert. The Gatlinburg police and fire departments are perennial crowd favorites, and attractions like Ole Smoky, Anakeesta, Ripley's Aquarium, and Ober Gatlinburg have entered in past years. Expect everything from classic slow-cooked chili to moonshine and barbecue twists.
The Winter Magic Countdown
At 6 PM, more than a million LED lights come on across downtown Gatlinburg at once, lighting up the Parkway, the storefronts, and the side streets. It's the official start of the Winter Magic season, and the lights stay on every night from November into February.
Family fun
Beyond the chili and the lights, the evening usually includes live music on a main stage, photos with Santa, carnival games, and holiday activities like inflatable snow globes, strolling carolers, and fireworks in some years. The lineup changes each year, so check gatlinburg.com for this year's activities.
The Winter Magic season
The cookoff kicks off months of holiday events in Gatlinburg. The lights stay up into February, the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade comes in early December, and you can see the displays on a self-guided driving tour or from the Gatlinburg Trolley. Plan a holiday stay with our Christmas cabins and cabins decorated for Christmas.
Tips for attending
Arrive before 5 PM — the event area fills quickly.
Get your wristband first — they're first-come, first-served and can sell out.
Find your spot before 6 — the lighting is the big moment of the night.
Park outside the event area — when it's on the Parkway, the road is closed most of the day, so park nearby and walk in.
Dress warmly — November evenings in the mountains get cold.
Bring cash — it can speed up the wristband line.
More to do in early November
Cross the SkyBridge at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park after dark to see the lights below, or spend a day at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas season begins in November, and ski season at Ober Gatlinburg starts in winter. Veterans Day weekend follows with the Veterans Day Celebration on November 11. See all Gatlinburg events.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff?
The first Thursday of November, from 5 to 9 PM. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's date and location.
Is it free?
Admission is free. Tasting the chili requires a wristband for ages 5 and up, sold at the event.
When do the lights come on?
At 6 PM, during the Winter Magic Countdown.
Who competes?
About 20 local restaurants, attractions, chefs, and community groups, including the Gatlinburg police and fire departments.
Where is it held?
Usually on the Parkway downtown, around traffic light #6. In some years, it has been held in front of the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
How long do the Winter Magic lights stay up?
From early November into February.
Stay close to the Parkway with our Gatlinburg cabins, and warm up after the cookoff in our cabins with fireplaces. Book direct and the Stay & Play Pass includes free attraction tickets for every paid night.