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From early November through January, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge put up millions of lights, Dollywood turns into a Christmas park and dinner theaters switch to holiday shows. December is the priciest month for Gatlinburg cabins, averaging about $262 a night.
2026–27 holiday dates
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Winterfest lights | Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg |
| Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas | Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge |
| Winterfest Christmas Village | Nov 13 to 15 and Nov 20 to 28, 2026 | Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge |
Dates from Visit Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge, Dollywood and Knox News. For the full December calendar, see December events.
Holiday weeks fill 60 to 90 days ahead. If you are reading this in November, check availability today.
See holiday cabin availability
Search Christmas and New Year dates in either town.
Book holiday shows and light tours
Christmas dinner shows and Winterfest trolley and light tours.
Where to stay
- Pigeon Forge if Dollywood's Christmas lights and the holiday dinner shows are the main event. See cabins near Dollywood.
- Gatlinburg if you want to walk the lit-up downtown and keep park days easy.
- An easy-access cabin anywhere if you are worried about ice. See cabins without steep driveways.
Holiday shows
Several Pigeon Forge theaters run seasonal programs, including Christmas versions of variety and magic shows. See our dinner show guide for current prices.
Sources
- Visit Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge: November 2026 events and Winterfest
- Knox News: Christmas markets in Gatlinburg, Knoxville and Pigeon Forge (2026)
- Visit Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge: December 2026 events
- Dollywood: theme park seasons and festivals
- Airbnb: Gatlinburg cabin rentals, average nightly price by month
- Hemlock Hills Cabin Rentals: booking windows by season
