Dec 8, 2022
Smoky Mountain Lights: A Peaceful Side Christmas Experience
It is Christmastime in the Smokies, and this year, the Peaceful Side has a new holiday experience for the whole family. Smoky Mountain Lights is a drive-thru light show located at the Townsend Visitor Center. This Christmas light display embraces all things Smoky Mountain so that you can expect bears and camping and bigfoot; oh my! It will also feature some of your Peaceful Side favorites, like the old mill, the Jeep Outpost, and the hot air balloon festival.
Christmas Village
Along with the Smoky Mountain Light show, you can also visit and explore the Christmas Village next door. Guests can find unique gifts in the local vendor booths, enjoy hot chocolate and kettle corn, or grab some grub at one of our food trucks. While you are rediscovering that old fashion Christmas in the Smokies, remember to take family pictures in front of the giant Christmas tree.
Photos with Santa
What Christmas would be complete without a visit with Santa Clause? Each weekend throughout the holidays, Santa will be available for pictures. To ensure he received a warm Peaceful Side welcome, our own Tennessee native chainsaw artist, Bubba Daniel, has carved Santa a distinctive Smoky Mountain throne to keep him comfortable.
Event Details
- Smoky Mountain Lights is open from November 25, 2022, to January 1, 2023. Visitor hours begin at 5:00 pm and closes at 10:00 pm.
- Located at the Townsend Visitor Center, which is easily accessible for visitors traveling to the area, situated 30 minutes from the Tyson McGee airport, with direct access from the major interstates.
- All ages are welcome, and entry is $25 per car.
As the inaugural event, Kim Mitchell, the director of tourism for the Blount Partnership, looks forward to sharing this light show with both residents and visitors to the area.
“Townsend is a beautiful winter destination with stunning scenery and plenty of activities. And with the light show, we want to offer a fun holiday event while sharing what the area has to offer this time of year,” said Mitchell. “The area is growing, and there are new places to visit while enjoying the Peaceful Side of the Smoky Mountains, like Company Distilling, Peaceful Side Social, and Towns End Coffee Co. While families experience the Smoky Mountain Lights, we recommend they check out the other great venues and attractions Townsend offers.”
Smoky Mountain Lights is an addition to the area that will encourage more visitors during the holiday travel season. Townsend is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National park. It offers a tranquil getaway to escape the holiday hustle with numerous options for family-friendly activities during the winter season. Townsend is the home of award-winning, sold-out festivals like Grains & Grits, the Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Bigfoot Festival, and the Scottish Festival, to name a few. We’re excited to have a Smoky Mountain Christmas event join the list of high-caliber entertainment celebrating the area’s heritage.
Visit smokymountain.org to learn more about planning your winter trip to the Peaceful Side of the Smokies.
