Looking for things to do in Gatlinburg at Christmas? You won’t want to miss Christmas at Anakeesta. During the holiday season, Anakeesta is unlike anything else in Gatlinburg, offering decked-out trees, beautiful views, sparkling holiday lights, endless selfie spots, a variety of Christmas-themed attractions, and a mountaintop setting like no other.
Whether you want to take part in Gatlinburg Christmas events or are looking for somewhere to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg, find out why Christmas at Anakeesta is so special!
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9 Ways Anakeesta Transforms During Christmas
Anakeesta is home to a variety of Gatlinburg Christmas events that will help you get into the holiday spirit. With a selection of shows, light displays, specialty menus, photo opportunities, stores, and carolers, Anakeesta is a great destination for anyone spending Christmas in the Smoky Mountains.
As you look for winter things to do in Tennessee, learn more about the top nine ways Anakeesta changes during the holiday season:
1. Christmas-Themed Lights and Decorations Celebrate the Season
As soon as you arrive at Anakeesta over the holiday season, you’ll be immersed in a mountaintop environment decorated with over a million holiday-colored lights. The sparkling mix of red, green, white, and other colored lights transports guests into a festive environment ideal for families, couples, and larger groups!
Alongside being known as a premier Eastern Tennessee Christmas lights destination, Anakeesta puts up lots of holiday decorations, like wreaths, decorated Christmas trees, garlands, and other themed decorations. The mountaintop environment also offers scenic views of the Smoky Mountains and downtown Gatlinburg’s Christmas lights.
2. Carolers Add to the Holiday Mood
No celebration of Christmas is complete without carolers, and Anakeesta knows this. Around Christmas, carolers serenade visitors with classic Christmas and holiday songs.
Our talented carolers perform multiple times a day, six days a week, around Christmas to ensure every visitor can enjoy live music while they explore Anakeesta. Their performances feature contemporary holiday hits and classic Christmas carols, helping to set a nostalgic mood with a few surprises!
3. Guests Can Take a Picture with Santa
Whether you want to take a family photo for a Christmas card or a photo of your child on Santa’s lap to share with grandparents, you have lots of photo opportunities at Anakeesta around Christmas.
Santa’s Sleigh is one of the most popular destinations for families with children. When Santa is in the park, guests can take part in a Santa Meet-and-Greet before getting a picture of him with their child. Anakeesta also hosts a Breakfast with Santa event, which offers a delicious breakfast, photos with Santa, and special seasonal souvenirs.
The park is also home to lots of Christmas trees and other decorations that make it easy to find holiday-themed backdrops for photos.
Like all times of the year, you can take pictures with the Great Smoky Mountains in the background. As the highest point in Downtown Gatlinburg, AnaVista Tower is one of the top destinations for breathtaking photos of the surrounding wilderness.
4. Elves Put on Shows for Families
As you walk through Anakeesta, you can find a variety of Gatlinburg holiday shows hosted by Santa’s elves. For example, Toyland Tales in Stone Village is a show put on by a few of Santa’s elves. During the show, your children will be on the edge of their seats while Jingle, Jangle, Sprinkle, and Tinsel scramble to repair Santa’s Magic-O-Matic Dispenser before time runs out! Filled with singing and dancing, this show is a favorite of many of our visitors.
5. Visitors Can Enjoy Carefully Curated Holiday Menus
In between slow strolls around the park or after a show, you can take a load off with a winter-themed main dish, side, or dessert in Magical Firefly Village. With two restaurants, a bakery, a creamery, a cafe, a tap house, and more, you can easily find a place to eat or drink.
If you’re looking for a classic dining experience, you’ll want to try our Smokehouse Restaurant. During the holidays, Smokehouse’s menu is updated to include classic holiday comfort foods like smashed baby bakers, spiral ham with a brown sugar glaze, and green bean almondine.
Those who want a fancier dinner will want to head over to Clifftop Restaurant, which offers dishes like Salmon or Beef Wellington paired with herb-smashed potatoes. Finish your meal with a decadent blueberry limoncello bread pudding.
Looking for a snack or dessert? Head to Cloud 9 Bakery for a sweet Christmas variety of cannoli. You can also stop for mini churros topped with gingerbread crumbles at Rocky Top Tacos, a caramel apple with toppings of your choice at Happy Camper, and the Festive Feast Turkey Sandwich at Kephart.
If you prefer a warm drink, you can find hot cocoa throughout the park, which is the perfect addition to a stroll through Astra Lumina. You can also join our Anakeesta Hot Cocoa Crawl, where guests receive a souvenir mug and can sample up to seven specialty hot chocolates throughout Anakeesta.
6. Astra Lumina Becomes a Winter Wonderland
Year-round, Astra Lumina is one of the most enchanting, otherworldly experiences in Gatlinburg, and it gets even better during the winter.
This immersive night-walk series guides visitors through nine themed zones, each offering a unique light-show experience. As you follow a celestial pathway to each zone, you’ll experience a visit from the stars, with astral energy transforming the forest into a place where the earth and stars meet.
The addition of chilly weather and white snow (when the weather allows it) makes Astra Lumina one of the best Gatlinburg winter activities to do at night. The earlier sunset times are also ideal for families with strict bedtimes to enjoy the night walk series while still getting their kids to bed on time!
If you decide to take part in Astra Lumina, pick up a cup of hot cocoa to keep your hands warm while you walk through the stars and gaze at the carefully curated installations.
7. Exhibits Transform Into Holiday-Themed Environments
If you’re a regular visitor to Anakeesta during warmer months of the year, you’ll love seeing how different the park feels around Christmas. For example, Arctic Alley is a frost-themed walk-through featuring a colorful ambiance, while our European Holiday Hamlets provide an elegant, timeless European setting. The shops throughout Anakeesta also carry a variety of seasonal holiday merchandise!
Alongside the new Christmas-inspired environments, Anakeesta’s Vista Gardens are even more beautiful during the winter. With dazzling holiday lights throughout the garden, couples can dance under the lights in a carefully maintained ArbNet-Accredited Level II Arboretum. After a stroll through the gardens, head up to AnaVista Tower for a look at downtown Gatlinburg during the holidays!
8. Stores Offer Holiday-Themed Merchandise
Whether you’re looking for a souvenir of your visit to Gatlinburg or need to do some last-minute holiday shopping, Anakeesta has a variety of stores open during the holiday season. For example, you can find holiday or mountain-themed clothing, toys, and souvenirs at our Fur Trader in FireFly Village.
You’ll also find other stores, like Catching Fireflies, The Mercantile, and Adventure Outpost, throughout Stone Village, FireFly Village, and Black Bear Village. All of these shops should have seasonal merchandise and souvenirs for visitors.
When shopping for gifts, check out The Mercantile, as it offers kitchenware, locally made jams, fun gadgets, and games. If you’re shopping for kids, browse Catching Fireflies or Willow’s Toyshop for a fun gift!
9. Enchanted Christmas Takes Place
Taking place from November 14 through January 4, Enchanted Christmas is Anakeesta’s annual winter holiday event that turns the adventure park into a winter wonderland.
During this event, visitors can take their children to meet Santa, marvel at millions of holiday lights, enjoy unique Christmas-focused entertainment, and try the seasonal holiday foods offered by Anakeesta’s restaurants.
With a wide variety of options for Christmas-themed dining, entertainment, and photographs, we’re confident that Enchanted Christmas will be a highlight of your holidays!
Grab Your Tickets to Spend Christmas at Anakeesta
If you’re ready to experience one of the most unique Christmas events in Gatlinburg, Anakeesta is ready to welcome you this holiday season. Besides experiencing our holiday-themed atmosphere and lights when you visit, you can get your heart pumping by riding our mountain coasters or dueling ziplines. Our TreeTop Skywalk is also a favorite year-round, and our adventure zones are ideal for children!
Learn more about Christmas at Anakeeta and review our ticket options to reserve your spot.
Paula says
When will the “Christmas lights” start ? We will be there Nov 18-21 and are planning our first visit to Anakeesta on the 18th.
Also.. are reservations needed for restaurants on the mountaintop?
Michele Canney says
Hi Paula, Enchanted Winter of Lights at Anakeesta will begin November 11th. Reservations are not accepted in advance at Cliff Top but guests can check in when they arrive to be place on a wait list.
Nancy says
We’re coming in Dec and see that you close at 6pm, will it be dark enough to see the lights at night?
Maggie Gregg says
We are still adjusting our hours, Nancy, and expect visitors to be able to enjoy all of our nighttime activities!
Kayla Newman says
Can you walk the rope bridges during Christmas time? We are coming Dec 17th-19th
Maggie Gregg says
Yes!
Sandra says
When does the Christmas Lights season begin this year 2022?
Marshall Smith says
Enchanted Christmas will run from Nov 13th- Jan 2nd this year!
cindy says
what is a good time to enter in Anakeesta for the daytime and to see the lights as well
Marshall Smith says
Due to high volume we recommend you arrive early to avoid lines. Your ticket is good for all day access to Anakeesta so you can visit us during the day and come back at night to see the lights!
Kim says
Will the Christmas lights replace Astra Lumina during the season? If not, how will both be accommodated?
Marshall Smith says
Enchanted Christmas is November 14th-Jan 1st and is included with Admission. Astra Lumina will operate until Jan 1st 2022 and is an additional add-on to your ticket at Anakeesta!