Have A Spooky, Smoky Halloween!
By Leif Palmer
Posted on October 20, 2020
The witching hour will soon be upon us… Halloween is coming up within just a couple of weeks. Sure, you could do the usual trick-or-treating thing in your neighborhood or go to that same old costume party. Or you could mix things up this year and try spending Halloween in the Smoky Mountains. There are all kinds of themed events taking place between now and October 31, plus you'll already be smack in the middle of all the other fun things that happen in the Smokies all year long.
One event to consider is the 7th Annual Gatlinburg Halloween Spooktacular, taking place on Tuesday, October 27 at Rocky Top Sports World. This will be a trunk-or-treat event in the parking lot, with festivities that include a costume contest, pumpkin painting and a parking lot chalk contest.
There's a separate Halloween Spooktacular event at the Pigeon Forge Community Center on Thursday, October 29. This free and non-scary event is an alternative for families who want the traditional trick-or-treat experience but want to know their kids are in a safe setting. Come show off your costume and load up on lots of candy without having to march all over town.
Also in Pigeon Forge is Halloween Trick Or Treat At The Island. Guests can enjoy free trick-or-treating from 4 to 6 p.m., and all guests who arrive in costume will receive a buy-one-get-one unlimited ride pass for the entire evening. That includes access to rides like the 200-foot-tall Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, the carousel and tons of other rides for kids and grown-ups alike.
Here in Gatlinburg, we have some scary things already going on. The Mysterious Mansion on River Road is open with the regular self-guided tour of their spooky Victorian mansion Mondays through Thursdays and a more intense, interactive tour featuring live (or are they?) actors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. At Ripley's Haunted Adventure on the Parkway, the 10,000-square-foot attraction takes haunted house to the next level with a tour where scares lurk around every corner. The 22nd Annual Fright Nights Show at Ripley's Haunted Adventure takes place on Friday and Saturday nights until Halloween.
If you wind up spending time in Gatlinburg during the Halloween season, you'll probably find yourself visiting multiple businesses, from spooky attractions and events to shops and restaurants. Park in one of our downtown lots, any of which would also serve as handy Gatlinburg trolley parking. Leave your vehicle in one site and then hop the trolley to whichever parts of town the fun awaits. We hope to see you soon!
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.