4 Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg and the Smokies

Not only does autumn bring spectacular fall colors, but it also welcomes a variety of fun things to do! If you’re visiting the Smokies during spooky season, you can experience all sorts of Halloween events, haunted activities, and the best attraction in Gatlinburg during fall. Whether you’re looking for a scary haunted house or a family-friendly fall festival, there are so many fun ways to get in the Halloween spirit! Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains:

1. Explore a Haunted House

A great way to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg is exploring a haunted house. There are a number of excellent haunted house attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge that are sure to terrify! One of the scariest haunted houses in the area is Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion. This attraction will keep you on your toes as you walk the mansion’s haunted corridors and come face to face with its creepy residents. Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is another popular Halloween attraction. This haunted house takes you on a journey into the unknown where you’ll discover what lurks in the dark. On select days in October, both of these haunted house attractions offer special Halloween events to add even more frightening fun to your fall vacation!

2. Go on a Ghost Walk

Do you want to learn more about the haunted history of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains? One of the best ways to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg is going on a ghost walk! There are a few different companies that offer guided tours through downtown where you can hear stories and discover hidden secrets of the Smokies. These tours take you past some of the haunted hotels and old sites featured in local legends and forgotten stories of murder and mayhem. Some of the best ghost tours in town include Ghostwalk of Gatlinburg, Appalachian GhostWalks, and Ghost & Haunt Tours of Gatlinburg.

3. Visit a Fall Festival

If you’re looking for family-friendly things to do this Halloween in Gatlinburg and the Smokies, you need to visit one of the Smoky Mountain fall festivals! There are so many fun events that take place this time of year to celebrate the season. Theme parks and attractions come alive with carved pumpkins, fall decor, and themed entertainment. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival is a favorite, featuring seasonal foods, live music, craft demonstrations, and thousands of glowing pumpkins set in whimsical scenes. For more festive fun, make sure you visit SkyLand Ranch this spooky season! Moos & Boos at SkyLand Ranch is a kid-friendly trick-or-treating event, while Ghost Town at SkyLand Ranch is spookier with haunted experiences.

4. Attend Ripley's Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival

If your family is spending Halloween in Gatlinburg, you should definitely visit Ripley’s Trick or Treat Kick Off Karnival! This Halloween day extravaganza takes place at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is completely free to attend! The Halloween carnival features costumed characters, contests, games, candy, and other festive fun for all ages. Dress up in your favorite costume and visit this annual event for a family-friendly Halloween that your kids will never forget!

Where to Stay This Halloween in Gatlinburg

These are some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween during your Smoky Mountain fall vacation. With so much to do, you’ll want to stay close to all the action! Our Gatlinburg cabin rentals range from 1-bedroom to 7-bedrooms and offer plenty of privacy and seclusion while conveniently situated just a short drive from the heart of town. Find out some of the biggest reasons to plan a trip to our cabins in the Smoky Mountains this fall and book your stay today!