Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most visited National Parks in the United States for good reasons. The serene beauty of the highest mountains in the eastern part of the Country is what brings so many visitors here. From spring wildflowers to snow covered peaks, these mountains remain one of the most popular travel destinations around.

Nestled in the heart of these majestic peaks lies the beautiful town of Gatlinburg. With a ton of activities to keep tourists occupied, no wonder this small town attracts so many visitors throughout the year. Since cooler weather is a welcomed site in the area, fall and winter events are on the horizon.

Two popular events scheduled this year begin on November 9, 2016. The Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff And Chili Cookoff begins on the same day. Right now is a good time to book rooms for the annual holiday season before vacancies are gone. Tourists and locals don’t want to miss one of the highlights of the holiday season. Gatlinburg is a highly favored destination choice with room vacancies filling quickly during the peak seasons.

Spectacular Light Display

A popular event that has become an annual tradition here in the Great Smoky Mountains is the Gatlinburg Winter Magic display of lights. This extremely popular event draws out large crowds to witness in person one of the most beautiful light displays in the United States. From the entrance to town, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain's entrance, to the far end of town leading towards Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg displays so many lights that they can be seen from the surrounding mountains above.

The wintry display of holiday lighting around the town illuminates many of the shops and restaurants available for tourists to explore. Every year, more lights are added to the majestic holiday display for visitors to enjoy. LED lighting displays are used now to save the city of Gatlinburg in energy cost of traditional lighting used when the event started.

For photographers, this is the goldmine of opportunity to capture holiday magic in images. For those that love holiday traditions and festivities with family, Gatlinburg offers them fantastic stay vacation amenities to enjoy the holiday season. This is one of those memorable moments to share with family and friends.

Considering all of the light displays available and the shapes displayed, how many lights could a tourist count if they had nothing else to do? Live music is available during this popular event to entertain tourists visiting the area. Popular bands featuring great music will be part of the area’s festivities. Those that get to be part of the holiday celebrations can enjoy numerous shopping experiences surrounding the area. Now is the time to consider Gatlinburg as a holiday destination to spend moments with family and friends.

The Great Chili Cookoff

Part of the official beginning of Gatlinburg’s festival of lights is the Great Chili Cookoff that begins on the actual first night of turning on the Christmas displays. Nothing goes better than some great chili with a popular beverage on a cool night. The Winter Magic Chili Cookoff will feature over 20 restaurants, retailers, attractions and other public agencies serving chili.

Chili providers will be competing for many awards based on the quality and taste of chili served. All of the patrons who eat chili during the event are encouraged to cast a vote for their favorite chili. Votes cast for chili recipes will award the People’s Choice Award to the most popular recipe during the annual event. Best Presentation, Best Chili Apron and Best Chili are other honors cast by vote from a panel of judges on a variety of popular recipes.

While the street event is free, tickets for chili sampling are $10. There is also a special edition t-shirt available for purchase.

A Word To The Wise

Gatlinburg Winter Magic and Great Chili Cookoff is a premier destination for travelers across the nation. With so many popular holiday attractions within our area, consider booking your rooms early. Our area is notorious for filling up early for vacation stays. Keep us in mind if that next vacation is one to remember by reserving rooms with us. Both events start on November 9, 2016. Many dignitaries involved with city events will be on hand to start the 3 million plus lights throughout the town.