Sevier County is kicking off the holiday season just as the Halloween jack-o'-lanterns land in the trash. Winterfest comes early, starts late and sparkles for months in between.
Winterfest is the annual winter holiday celebration in Sevier County. The municipalities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville exhibit millions and millions of twinkling lights and light displays. More than five million lights shine just in Pigeon Forge.
Winterfest kicks off in its different locations during the first week in November with lighting ceremonies and other festivities. The lights stay on through February 2010.
The Sevierville Visitor Center on Highway 66 offers free three-dimensional glasses to make the lights look like glittering stars. The glasses are available as long as supplies last.
This year adds even more glitz and glitter. The Smokies Stadium parking lot is the site of a new winter light display. Shadrack Watersports and RV's "Christmas Wonderland" lighted display is in the parking lot of the baseball stadium just off Interstate 40's Exit 407.
The show that begins Nov. 6 is similar to those Shadrack has set up at its Bristol store and at its store off Interstate 40's Watt Road exit in West Knox County. The LED lights are set up to blink, flash and light in tune with synchronized holiday music in a computer-controlled show that takes about 20 to 25 minutes to drive through. Admission is $10 per car during the week, $15 on the weekend.
In Sevierville, Winterfest also includes the 47th annual Christmas parade at 11 a.m. Dec. 5 along downtown from Forks of River Parkway to Court Avenue. And Gatlinburg parades for the holidays in the evening with its 34th Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4.
Sevier County's holiday season also includes Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas adorned with 4 million lights. The Pigeon Forge park's Christmas celebration kicks off Nov. 7 and continues through Jan. 2, 2010. Stage shows "Babes in Toyland," "Christmas in the Smokies" and "O, Holy Night" are part of the Dollywood celebration. Each night brings a "Carol of the Trees" show with thousands of lights synchronized with holiday music.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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