Special Event Parking
By Leif Palmer
Posted on March 6, 2019
Between cool attractions, entertaining shows, unique shops and restaurants by the score, there's already so much to do in Gatlinburg, it's enough to make your head spin. And if that weren't enough, you'll also find a full calendar of special events taking place in the city throughout the year.
If you're driving into Gatlinburg for the day or venturing out from your Gatlinburg lodging property in your own vehicle to check out any of these fun happenings, you may be wondering what to do when it comes to parking. After all, many attractions and restaurants and the like have their own parking (others do not), but when it comes to special events, there's usually not any sort of designated parking area.
That's where our many downtown Gatlinburg parking facilities can come to the rescue, providing you with plenty of parking options, whether you're leaving your vehicle for just a few hours or for an entire day (including the evening).
For example, on March 16, those of you who just can't get enough Christmas celebration can get an extra dose of Santa Claus in spring at the Santa Parade downtown, beginning at 10 a.m. The procession features hundreds of Santas and Mrs. Clauses making their way from traffic light #10 to traffic light #6 on the Parkway. It's all part of the Santa Family Reunion taking place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center March 14 through 18.
Then you might want to come back the weekend of April 6 and 7 for the semiannual Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament, which will take place along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, from the national park boundary, through Gatlinburg, all the way to Sevierville. The river will be stocked with some 10,000 trout, and you can actually fish in downtown Gatlinburg as you compete for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.
In both cases, you can park in one of our downtown lots, which offer more value compared to the typical Gatlinburg parking garage rates. Once you're parked, you can easily walk to your preferred parade or fishing location or take the downtown trolley to your destination.
In either case, it's the best way to have fun in Gatlinburg without having to deal with the hassles of searching endlessly for a parking spot or worrying about being towed.
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.