Mark Your Calendar for these January Events in the Tennessee Smokies
Updated by Chris Murphy
The month of January is full of fun and exciting events all across the Tennessee Smokies, from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Whether you’re searching for family-friendly events, food and drink events, live music or free festivals, you’ll have plenty of options to choose. Be sure to pick up the Tennessee Smokies Visitors Guide for even more events throughout the year.
Throughout Jan.- Feb 15, 2026: Smoky Mountain Winterfest
The Tennessee Smokies region lights up with over five million holiday lights during Smoky Mountain Winterfest. Pigeon Forge, in particular, creates a winter wonderland with dazzling light displays, holiday shows and more. Area attractions also get into the holiday spirit, making the region a must-visit during the holiday season.
Click here to read about things to do this winter in Sevierville.
Click here to read about things to do this winter in Gatlinburg.
Click here to read about things to do this winter in Pigeon Forge.
Until Jan. 4: Smoky Mountain Christmas
From now until through Jan. 4, Dollywood hosts its Smoky Mountain Christmas, presented by Humana. This family-friendly holiday celebration invites guests from all over to spend their Christmas season at Dollywood. Dollywood will feature an array of traditional Christmas activities and events, including millions of lights around the park, award-winning shows and the 50-foot-tall Christmas tree.
Click here to read more about Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Jan. 5-Jan. 8: Wilderness Wildlife Week
Come celebrate the natural features, creatures and cultures of the Great Smoky Mountains. This year, we’ll be inviting some of the leading wildlife experts to lead informative discussions with you. This is a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about nature.
Showcasing what makes the Smokies so special, Wilderness Wildlife Week celebrates the abundance of wildlife, variety of plants, trees, and wildflowers, and rich history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee through a series of classes, seminars, demonstrations, guided hikes, panel discussions, and workshops.
Click here to read about Wilderness Wildlife Week.
Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2026: Tennessee Songwriters Week
Tennessee Songwriters Week supports local music venues and Tennessee-native songwriters with live performances in all genres of music. The goal is to inspire travelers to experience Tennessee’s musical stories and history.
Until Feb. 8: Gatlinburg Winter Magic
For more than 30 years, Gatlinburg has celebrated Winter Magic with millions of twinkling lights on festive holiday displays throughout the city. Soak up the spirit of the season from the comfort of your own vehicle and take a memorable journey on the exciting Gatlinburg Winter Magic Lights Tour.
This year, we are offering a self-guided tour with a map of the light display locations, download it .
Want more Tennessee Smokies Events?
CALENDAR: Check out our Tennessee Smokies Visitors Guide calendar of events to help plan your activities!
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up for our Tennessee Smokies Destination Newsletter to receive exclusive content for planning your vacation getaway to the Tennessee Smokies!
