Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights

Some of the best holiday views in the Smokies don’t require leaving the car. During Winterfest, Pigeon Forge lines its roads with more than 5 million lights, and the Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights is a self-guided route past the biggest displays. Pack the car with blankets and hot cocoa, queue up a holiday playlist, and take it slow. The 2026–27 season runs Nov. 6, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027.

What You’ll See Along the Route

The tour leans into the Smokies with glowing bear, deer, and fox displays that appear to wander through town, and Island Drive and The Island in Pigeon Forge glitter with giant ornaments and towering trees. Even the 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel joins in with red, green, and white lights.

Along the Parkway, nursery rhymes come to life: Mother Goose, the clock from Hickory Dickory Dock, the cat and fiddle from Hey Diddle Diddle, and Humpty Dumpty with all the king’s horses and all the king’s men. Watch for the 60-foot tree wrapped in lights, ribbons, and ornaments from the bottom branch to the star on top. It’s a favorite stop for a family photo.

Driving Tour Map

Download the 2026 Winterfest Driving Tour of Lights map before heading out, or open the interactive map below on your phone.

Prefer to Walk? Add the Wonders of Light Walking Trail

For a closer look, park the car and stroll the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail, where more than 1 million LED lights line the Riverwalk trail, some standing over 25 feet tall. Many families do both: a drive through town, then a walk along the river.