Halloween Horrors and Happenings in the Great Smoky Mountains: Halloween is swiftly approaching and the quest for that perfect family costume or perhaps a ghostly disguise is on! While curating the perfect ensemble, also strategize the ideal location to celebrate. It may come as a surprise, but Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg have a lot to offer for Halloween enthusiasts. Whether you’re after family-friendly festivities or seeking some spooky scares, The Smokies offer a vibrant blend of both! Here’s a curated list of activities to immerse in this Halloween in the Great Smoky Mountains!
Halloween at The Island
Where: The Island in Pigeon Forge
THE ISLAND invites families to a complimentary Halloween festivity on October 31st! Delight in trick-or-treating, photo opportunities, and various activities across The Island from 5:00- 8:00 pm. Remember your costume! Costumed attendees can snag a 48-hour unlimited rides pass for a mere $5! Stick around for the mesmerizing fountain show and a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.
Spooktacular Halloween Event
Where: Pigeon Forge Community Center
This cherished annual Halloween fest on October 24th, 2019, is a family favorite! A kid-friendly event, it offers trick or treating with local businesses, who will also be decking out their spaces in Halloween decor. Besides candies, anticipate a costume contest, hayrides, and a haunted maze!
Anakeesta’s Hallow Mountain
Where: Anakeesta
Anakeesta amplifies the Halloween horror from September 13th – November 2nd! Dare to linger post-sunset when the undead emerge, attempting to escape Hallow Mountain. Test your fear level in one of the scare zones or enjoy a classic black and white movie at the OVERLOOK BEER Garden! Don’t miss the Zombie Ziplining for a nocturnal forest adventure!
Kick-Off Karnival
Where: RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF THE SMOKIES
The aquarium is throwing a Halloween commencement bash on October 31st from 1 pm- 5 pm. Expect costume contests, games, face painting, and more! Join the merriment in Gatlinburg, stock up on sweets, and learn about trick or treat and fire safety from the Fire Department!
Halloween at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud
Where: LUMBERJACK SQUARE
Visit Lumberjack Square for an evening brimming with family amusement on October 31st from 4pm- 6pm. The welcoming merchants provide a safe haven for trick or treating. Costumed kids will revel in free candy, engaging activities, and a complimentary ticket to the evening show at 7 pm, featuring world-class lumberjacks in daring challenges!
Outbreak Dread The Undead in Pigeon Forge
Where: HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM
This new attraction is a Halloween-season essential! Venture through a chaotic lab, devastated morgue, and crumbling basement to ensure the undead are restrained. The creepy journey is filled with live scares keeping you on edge. For an added shiver, explore the Tale of the Cellar and discover which spirits coexist with the zombies!
Ripley’s Fright Nights
Where: RIPLEY’S HAUNTED ADVENTURE
Join the 20th annual Fright Nights every weekend of October. The haunting charm of Ripley’s Haunted Adventure unfolds every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday post 6 pm with a character parade. Explore the haunted house, laden with new eerie themes and hidden ghouls at standard admission fees. This spooky journey awaits those brave at heart!
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Fright Nights
Where: ROCKY TOP MOUNTAIN COASTER
Rush to Rocky Top Mountain Coaster for an eerie annual spectacle from October 11th- November 3rd! Whirl through the spookiest mountain coaster in the Smokies, boasting a plethora of tunnels, curves, and dizzying turns. With speeds nearing 30 mph, this attraction is set to mark a record as the lengthiest coaster in East Tennessee.
Great Pumpkin LumiNights
Where: Dollywood
An unforgettable experience, The Great Pumpkin LumiNights at Dollywood is a sight to behold from September 28th through November 3rd! Engage with friendly characters, master pumpkin carving, and indulge in glow-in-the-dark face painting. The park transforms with family-friendly pumpkins and scenes, alongside fall-inspired treats, photo spots, and thrilling rides!
Mysterious Mansion Haunted House
Where: Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion
Brace yourself for a new scare show this season! This notorious haunted house is ripe for screams and shivers. Navigate through eerie corridors, twisted staircases, and creepy chambers at your own peril. This year’s theme is Witchcraft; dare to attend and possibly lift the curse. Halloween tours are available each weekend night of October. Happy Hauntings!