Local events are the stuff family traditions are made of. From admiring the floats at your town parade to scoring adorably perfect gifts at the local Christmas market, holiday magic is in the air.
So grab a thermos full of hot chocolate and head on out to one of these awesome Knoxville Christmas events this year. This list is in the process of being updated for 2020, and is jam-packed with tons of great options! We will add more events as they are announced.
Knoxville Christmas Events 2020
Be sure to verify event details on the day of the event. Especially this year, things are subject to change at a moment’s notice.
Smoky Mountain Christmas
Date: November 7, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Location: Dollywood, Sevierville
Cost: included with admission to park
Throughout the holiday season, Dollywood will be covered in stunning Christmas lights and its vendors will offer a variety of Christmas crafts.
Bass Pro Shops Santa’s Wonderland
Date: November 7 – December 24, 2020
Location: Kodak
Cost: FREE
At this year’s Christmas event, you can take your photo NEXT to Santa who will be in a plexiglass box for safety. Christmas craft kits will be given out for families to complete at home.
Winterfest at The Island
Date: Opening day is November 12
Location: The Island, Pigeon Forge
Cost: FREE
This year there will be no kick-off event, but you will still be able to enjoy the lights.
Christmas Skate at Wilderness
Date: November 13, 2020 – January 10, 2021
Location: Wilderness at the Smokies, Sevierville, TN
Cost: TBA
Enjoy a fun open-air sking rink this Christmas season!
Holiday Handcrafter’s Festival
Date: November 14, 2020
Location: Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend
Cost: $5
Shop for holiday gifts at local artisan and craft vendor booths.
Fantasy of Trees (Modified)
Date: November 20-22 and 27-28, 2020
Location: Hunter Valley Farm, Knoxville
Cost: TBA
This popular fundraiser for East TN Children’s Hospital is highly modified this year, but you will be able to visit a variety of vendor booths and get pictures with Santa this year. There won’t be any decorated trees.
Holiday Homecoming
Date: November 21, 2020
Location: Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend
Cost: FREE Admission
This Christmas family-fun festival boasts live music, safely distanced visits with Santa, old fashioned kids’ crafts, and more!
Knoxville Fine Arts and Crafts Center
Date: throughout November and December 2020
Location: 1127 N Broadway B, Knoxville
Cost: $15 – $30 per person
Choose from a variety of fun Christmas craft classes including creating holiday cards, snowman lanterns, winter wreaths, Christmas stars, and more! The center is taking extra safety precautions this year.
Michaels Craft Stores
Date: online classes only
Location: your couch
Cost: FREE
This year instead of offering in-person classes, Michaels is offering free online craft classes that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Choose from a wide variety of craft classes including making Christmas ornaments, gingerbread houses, snowman t-shirts, and more!
Regal Celebration of Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony
Date: November 23, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Location: Krutch Park Extension (across from market Square), Knoxville
Cost: FREE
This year, there will not be a kick-off ceremony, but you can still enjoy the festive holiday lights.
Light the Park
Date: November 24, 2020 – Jan 3, 2021
Location: Founder Park, Farragut, Knoxville
Cost: FREE
While the gorgeous Christmas lights will illuminate the park nightly, there will not be a large kick-off event this year.
Elf on the Shelf Adventure
Date: November 27, 2020 – January 3, 2020
Location: Downtown Knoxville
Cost: FREE
This downtown scavenger hunt sends families searching for everyone’s favorite holiday elf. Pick up your North Pole pass at any participating location and find fun games and prizes along the way.
Peppermint Trail
Date: November 29, 2020- January 5, 2021
Location: Downtown Knoxville
Cost: only pay for what you decide to buy
Look for the festive peppermint decals on the sidewalks throughout downtown Knoxville. The decals mark local businesses that are selling delicious peppermint flavored treats, or festive holiday gifts. This is a self-guided trail.
Nutcracker on Ice
Date: multiple dates.
Location: Ice Chalet, Knoxville
Cost: $15 – $35 depending on the seats you choose
This year’s Nutcracker on Ice performance will look a little different. The show will be presented in scenes instead of the whole show and performances will be limited to a small audience.
Christmas in the Cave
Date: November 27 – November 29, 2020
Location: Cherokee Caverns, Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville
Cost: $12/per person 4 and up
At Christmas in the Cave, you and your family will enjoy a stunning underground adventure. Explore the cave after dark, which will be decorated with thousands of twinkling lights.
Maryville Holiday Craft Market
Date: November 28, 2020
Location: downtown Maryville
Cost: FREE
This Christmas craft market features over 70 arts and crafts vendors, foods trucks, entertainment, kids’ activities, and more!
Alcoa Tree Lighting
Date: late November – December 31, 20202
Location: Pedestrian Bridge at Springbrook Corporate Center
Cost: FREE
The tree will be lit, but there will not be a kick-off ceremony this year. Enjoy music, refreshments, kids’ activities, a tree lighting
Market Square Holiday Market
Date: Saturdays in December
Location: Mary Costa Plaza, Howard Baker Jr. Ave (temporary location)
Cost: FREE admission
At this year’s holiday market, all your favorite food and craft vendors will be adding a fun holiday twist to their products.
Smart Toys and Books
Date: various dates in December
Location: 9700 Kingston Pike #12, Knoxville
Cost: varies
Come on out for a fun storytime with crafts and
Kroger Discount Days at Zoo Knoxville
Dates: December 1 – February 29, 2020
Location: Zoo Knoxville
Cost: $14.95/adults, $11.95/kids
Enjoy $5 off general zoo admission.
Lenoir City Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade
Date: December 3, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Location: Broadway, Lenoir City
Cost: FREE
The tree lighting ceremony will take place first, and will be followed by the Christmas parade at 6:30 PM.
Blount County Festival of Trees
Date: December 3 – 31, 2020
Location: Blount County Court House, Court Street, Maryville
Cost: FREE
At the kick-off event, there will be a variety of gorgeously decorated live Christmas trees, refreshments, live entertainment, Santa, and more! The trees will remain on display all month long.
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
Date: December 4, 2020
Location: Downtown Gatlinburg
Cost: FREE
A fun and traditional Christmas parade.
Santa Comes to Town Christmas Parade & Festival
Date: December 5, 2020
Location: downtown Friendsville
Cost: FREE
At this popular Christmas festival, you’ll enjoy a fabulous parade, food and craft vendors, kids’ activities, Christmas tree lighting, carolers, a live nativity, food trucks, entertainment, and more!
Kids Christmas Tea
Date: December 5, 2020
Location: Penelope Pearl’s Tea Room, Harriman
Cost: TBA
A fun and fancy Christmas tea party event for kids.
Clinton Holiday Market
Date: December 5, 2020
Location: Historic Downtown Clinton
Cost: FREE
Finish up your Christmas shopping at the hstoric shops in downtown Clinton.
Christmas Expo
Date: December 5, 2020
Location: Field of Dreams Activity Center, Dandridge
Cost: FREE
Shop with over 140 vendors while enjoying kids’ activities, entertainment, Santa photos, and more!
Home For The Holidays
Date: December 5, 2020 at 6:30 PM
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
Cost: FREE
Come decorate the community center and enjoy light refreshments.
Santa Calls
Date: December 8, 2020 (ages 3-5); December 10, 2020 (ages 6-7)
Location: Your Home
Cost: FREE
All Blount County Children can receive a phone call directly from Santa, thanks to a kind group of local volunteers. You must obviously register for the phone call in advance, and the deadline is December 9th. Don’t miss it!
Evening with Santa
Date: December 10, 2020 at 6 PM
Location: War Memorial Building, Lenoir City
Cost: FREE
Kids will enjoy crafts, games, light refreshments, and meet and greets with Santa.
Holiday’s on Ice
Date: December 11 2020 – January 3, 2021
Location: Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Cost: $11/adults, $8/children
Due to current events, the Market Square rink will not be opening this year. Public skating will be available at the Civic Coliseum, which has a much larger rink and will allow for more separation
A Candlelight Christmas
Date: December 11- 12, 2020
Location: Museum of Appalachia, Clinton
Cost: $40/family $15/adult, $5/12 and under
Enjoy a candlelight tour of authentic cabins, which will be decorated in their Christmas finest. There will also be music, a live nativity, living history demonstrations, kids’ activities, and more!
Christmas in the Village
Date: December 12 & 19, 2020
Location: Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend
Cost: $10/adults, $7/children
Enjoy guided nighttime tours with gorgeous Christmas decor and living history demonstrations.
Breakfast or Lunch with Santa
Date: December 12, 2020
Location: Loudon parks and Rec Office
Cost: FREE with advanced registration
Enjoy a yummy breakfast with everyone’s favoite Christmas character.
Reverse Christmas Parade
Date: December 12, 2020
Location: Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge
Cost: FREE
At this year’s Christmas parade, the floats will remain stationary and cars will get to drive through the displays.
Newport Christmas Parade
Date: December 12, 2020
Location: Downtown Newport
Cost: FREE
This year’s Christmas parade theme is Memories Of Christmas Past.
Hometown Christmas Parade
Date: December 13, 2020
Location: Downtown Louisville
Cost: FREE
A fun and traditional holiday parade.
Christmas Events Worth the Drive
Tennessee Valley Railroad’s North Pole Train Ride
Dates: Weekends in November and December
Location: Chattanooga
Cost: $35 all ages
On this magical Christmas train ride, you and your family will be whisked away on an imaginative journey to the North Pole, complete with storytelling, songs, treats, Santa, and more!
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s Polar Express
Date: November 6, 2020 – December 31, 2021
Location: 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC
Cost: $42-$91/adults, $28-$67/children
Based on the popular children’s picture book/movie, this fantastic Christmas train ride will immerse you and your kiddos in all the magic of Christmas. The entire train ride is actually set to the soundtrack of the movie. While taking in the sights and sounds, guests will also enjoy hot cocoa and a yummy treat.
Santa will also make an appearance to hand out gifts. What fun!
Christmas at Biltmore
Dates: November 6, 2020 – January 10, 2021
Location: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC
Cost: starting at $80 (save $10 with advance online purchase)
Enjoy the beauty of Biltmore in stunning Christmas splendor. The mansion restaurants and cafes will also be serving festive fare,
A Country Christmas
Dates: throughout November and December
Location: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville
Cost: varies greatly because all activities are a la carte
This annual Christmas event boasts acres of stunning Christmas decor, indoor snow tubing, ice-skating, holiday shows, yummy festive treats, and a movie room filled with 3D scenes of your favorite Christmas movies.
That's it for this article. Thank you to EastTNFamilyFun.com for this incredible article and helping me save time while still adding value to other people's lives.
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