It’s finally time to celebrate the upcoming holidays with the 24th annual Gatlinburg Winterfest event! On Wednesday, November 13, the Gatlinburg Winterfest celebration will kick off! Visitors love staying in one of the Gatlinburg cabin rentals and visiting the event for the true southern charm that lights up the area.

Beginning at 5 p.m., the city of Gatlinburg will kick off the fun with their annual chili cookoff! Local food vendors, restaurants and attractions will be serving up cups of chili to each guest, hoping to win a vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Along with switching on millions of LED holiday lights, families can enjoy the cool Smoky Mountain air with hot cups of chili. There are many different varieties of chili that will be available, including mild and hot flavors. For those who just can’t get enough of the popular winter dish, there will also be a chili eating contest at the Gatlinburg Winterfest event, where each contestant will endure increasing levels of heat as the competition continues.

The event costs $10 and tickets can be purchased on their Eventbrite page. Buy your tickets soon and make your plans to visit the Smokies for this exciting event!

For those who can’t make it to the Winter Magic Kickoff, the lights will remain lit throughout the holiday season, until the end of February, so everyone has the chance to see the sparkling lights along the Gatlinburg Parkway!

We would love to assist you in choosing one of the beautiful Gatlinburg cabin rentals for your family. For the best deal on your stay in the Smokies, take a look at our ‘Specials’ page where you can find money-saving offers from Top Cabin Rentals!