Your Guide to the Top Smoky Mountain Fall Festivals in 2024
Are you planning to visit the Smoky Mountains this fall? Fall in the Smoky Mountains is one of the most beautiful times of year here in the area, as the fall foliage overtakes the landscape with gorgeous hues of yellow, orange, and red. In addition to the natural spectacle of the leaves, there are lots of fun and exciting Smoky Mountain fall festivals that celebrate the season and present fun opportunities for visitors to connect with the Smokies. If you are planning to visit the area this year, here are some of the top Smoky Mountain fall festivals that you can check out in 2024:
1. Dollywood Harvest Festival
One of the most popular Smoky Mountain fall festivals that draws people from all over each year is the Dollywood Harvest Festival. This incredible celebration of the season features seasonal treats, decorations, music, and tons more to enjoy alongside family and friends. This festival is also known for Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which illuminate the night sky with the glow of over 12,000 pumpkins at the park! This year, the Dollywood Harvest Festival begins on September 9th and will run until October 28th.
2. Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival
The town of Gatlinburg has a fall festival of its own that you can check out for free when you come to visit! Shops, restaurants, and more will be decked out in seasonal decorations, with visitors having the opportunity to vote on their favorite displays. There will also be life-size scarecrow people in town, as well as a scavenger hunt for hidden unique scarecrows! With so much to do, checking out this Smoky Mountain fall festival is a guaranteed hit for the whole family. Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival will take place this year from September 4th through November 7th.
3. Autumn at Gatlinburg SkyPark
If you are looking for one of the best ways to take in the spectacular fall foliage in the Smoky Mountains, look no further than Autumn at Gatlinburg SkyPark! Their Boo Bash will begin on October 1st and run through the 31st, with lots of fun things to do included with the price of admission. Check out seasonal decorations, listen to live music, play games on the SkyDeck, and more!
4. Anakeesta’s Bear-Varian Fall Festival
Another of the top Smoky Mountain fall festivals that you can check out this year is Anakeesta’s Bear-Varian Fall Festival! Featuring fall-themed art, decorations, entertainment, and more, there is something to do for everyone at this fun seasonal event. Additionally, adults can purchase a beer tasting card that will allow you to embark on a unique beer sampling adventure throughout the park, provided by local and regional craft breweries. Anakeesta’s Bear-Varian Fall Festival will run from September 13th to October 31st this year.
5. Wears Valley Fall Festival
Wears Valley also gets in on the fall fun with their very own Fall Fest, which will take place this year from October 18th to the 20th. Although this is a shorter event than many of the others that take place in the area, it offers just as much fun, with various activities, entertainment, food, crafts, and more that families are sure to enjoy. Additionally, this festival places an emphasis on preserving natural beauty in the area, with programs designed to reduce waste, and more.
6. Smoky Mountain Fall Festival at Ober Mountain
Ober Mountain is another of the attractions in the Smokies that get in on the fall fun, with the Smoky Mountain Fall Festival at Ober Mountain taking place from September 20th until October 27th. During this time, there will be fun fall activities for kids, including a hay maze and other games, plus German beer tastings for adults! There will also be music, special food items such as pumpkin spice fudge, pretzels with beer cheese, grilled corn on the cob, and more.
As you can see, there are lots of fun Smoky Mountain fall festivals that will allow you to get into the spirit of the season and form fantastic memories with loved ones this fall in the Smokies. If you are trying to time your visit with the changing of the leaves, we’ve got you covered! Generally, the leaves begin to change at higher elevations starting in early to mid-October, with lower elevations following into early November. You can stay up to date with the most current information surrounding the changing of the leaves by checking out our Smoky Mountains fall foliage forecast for 2024 right here.
