The night skies light up each year during the annual Pigeon Forge Winterfest celebration. The three-month-long event features more than six million holiday lights and is one of the country’s largest free outdoor lights festivals.
Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail
A spectacular free outdoor walk-thru holiday lights experience
On October 30, 2023
Millions of visitors’ flock to the Great Smoky Mountains to experience Winterfest. The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail expansion brings the total number of holiday light displays to 45 located along or near the city’s Parkway, Pigeon Forge’s major thoroughfare.
The Winterfest celebration kicks off on Nov. 9 and will continue through Feb. 18.
The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail
The Wonders of Light walking trail is a free outdoor walk-thru holiday lights experience. The flat, paved and pet-friendly trail treats walkers to more than 25 nature-inspired musical light displays featuring colorful butterflies, larger-than-life wildflowers, and even Old Man Winter.
Vibrant snowflakes, bright stars, snow people, and a 20-foot-tall ice fountain light the way as deer, bears and squirrels—ranging in size from 13 to 19 feet tall—frolic alongside the path. Lights that mimic fireflies and butterflies dance in the trees overhead, creating one of winter’s most incredible experience.
The Wonders of Light Walking Trail opened in 2022 with 20 larger-than-life nature-themed outdoor lights displays along Pigeon Forge’s scenic Riverwalk nature trail. The new displays included walk-thru arches, a colorful 52-foot-long caterpillar, larger-than-life flowers, Old Man Winter and a 20-foot-tall ice fountain.
For 2023, five new light displays will be unveiled when the trail opens on Nov. 9. Joining the trail are a fun fly fisherman with leaping trout, a span of woodland creatures, additional fireflies, and a 90-foot-wide section of colorful wildflowers, butterflies, flowers and mushrooms.
Six deciduous trees will be illuminated, too, increasing the walkway’s glow power. The returning 52-foot-long caterpillar is joined by large-scale inchworms, ladybugs, and mushrooms amid blades of grass, expanding this single display’s width to 90 feet.
This Winterfest addition offers something free and festive for visitors to experience with their families and friends this holiday season.
Getting to the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail
The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail will span the Riverwalk from the access point in the city’s Municipal Parking Lot (located at 2936 Teaster Lane between the LeConte Center and The Island in Pigeon Forge) to the approximate intersection of Old Mill Avenue and Butler Street (near the Old Mill Historic Square).
Visitors can access the light displays via the six-mile out-and-back Riverwalk which has several access points, including one at the city’s Patriot Park, the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, the Old Mill and the city’s Municipal Parking Lot, the latter of which also offers free parking for trail guests.
The Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail is paved and mostly flat. It is pet- (leashes required) and wheelchair-friendly.
Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights
Visitors also can enjoy returning lights displays that include Snowflake Lane, Fairytale Fantasy, Winter Wonderland Bridges, Winter’s Waterfall, Pigeons in Flight and more. Take in the beauty and splendor of all the holiday light displays on the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights.
Discover even more Pigeon Forge Winterfest events and holiday celebrations
Winterfest Kickoff
Winterfest kickoff events take place on November 9 in the city’s Patriot Park (186 Old Mill Ave.) and begin at 3 p.m. with a special veterans tribute. The event will conclude with the activation of six million lights throughout the city followed by a show-stopping fireworks display.
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
You’ll find plenty of other holiday celebrations taking place throughout the season. Delight in the spectacular holiday performances, five million twinkling lights and Christmas-themed menus at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Winterfest at The Island in Pigeon Forge
The Island in Pigeon Forge comes to life as the sun goes down with millions of lights and a new Winterfest Show featuring the Island Show Fountain with a choreographed, 40-foot-high, Christmas tree.
Heartwarming Holiday Shows
Another highlight of this magical time of year are the holiday shows in Pigeon Forge. These captivating shows feature everything from traditional holiday performances to crazy Christmas fun and everything in between.
Plan your Pigeon Forge Winterfest getaway today
There’s no better place to get into the Christmas spirit than in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains! Search Pigeon Forge lodging options to find the perfect place to stay and discover even more fun things to do during the holidays. Make your holidays shine bright with a Pigeon Forge Winterfest getaway!
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