Kick Off the Holiday Season With Gatlinburg's Festival of Trees and Nutcracker "Sweet"

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The holidays are a wonderful time in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gatlinburg is a small town located in Eastern Tennessee, on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the epitome of small town charm, and the 3,944 residents of this town pride themselves on providing their guests with the best possible services and hospitality. Gatlinburg attracts more than eleven million visitors a year with people coming from all over the world to visit this little mountain town.

Gatlinburg's Festival of Trees kicks off the season and brings the holiday spirit to all its visitors. Located in the WL Mills Conference Center, this event runs from November 25, 2014 to November 29, 2014. Entrance to this one of a kind event is free, but donations are appreciated, with all proceeds benefiting the Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries. When visitors enter into the Festival of Trees, they are swooped away by the beautifully decorated Christmas Trees full of color and twinkling lights. While admiring the sparkling trees, they can also shop the many handmade centerpieces and craft items available at the event.

The Festival of Trees is not only about the beauty of the trees, but there are ways to become involved in the actual festival. There are sponsorship opportunities, where you can actually sponsor a tree and decorate it in your own vision and also contests and other holiday activities.

One competition that is a must is Gatlinburg's Festival of Trees’ Gingerbread House Competition. The entry deadline for this contest is Friday, November 21, 2014, and there are six categories you can enter into. There is the Amateur Adult category for people 18 and up; the Youth category for people 17 and under; the Family category where two or more family members participate; the Team/Group category for groups of two or more individuals, such as scouts, classrooms, group of friends, etc.; the Professional category which includes anyone that gets paid to make baked goods, such as chefs and caterers; and lastly, the Purchased Kit category for people eight years and under who have purchased a kit to make the Gingerbread House.

Also, don't miss two other events included in the festivities. There is a luncheon and also a family friendly Business After Hours presented by the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, November 25, 2014. Santa Claus will be there for pictures and there is a cards booth where you can have your family photo taken and send a card to family and friends.

The Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theater brings the Nutcracker "Sweet" to Gatlinburg at the WL Mills Auditorium from November 28, 2014 to November 29, 2014. This rendition of the holiday classic is a must see to start the holiday season. The Nutcracker is based off of E.T.A. Hoffmann's holiday story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”. On Christmas Eve, Clara Silberhaus receives a nutcracker from her godfather, who is an inventor. At the stroke of midnight, Clara’s nutcracker comes to life and takes her on a magical trip filled with giant mice, gingerbread soldiers and other mythical characters. The nutcracker is the hero, defeating the evil Mouse King, and then goes back to her life as a doll. The Nutcracker is filled with popular Christmas songs, including the Russian Dance Trepak, The Nutcracker March and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. These songs will definitely put you in the holiday and Christmas Spirit.

The City of Gatlinburg also offers free weekend entertainment this holiday season by presenting the Gatlinburg Winter Magic version of its Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales program live on the Parkway on Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. There are carolers who belt out holiday classics and while being traditionally dressed in Dickens-style garb, as well as, carolers who are members of a local community college and high school choir group. These sounds of the season can be heard along the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the evenings of November 25-26 and December 3, 9-10 and 16-17.

During Gatlinburg Winter Magic, the City spectacularly lights up the winter nights with dozens of light displays throughout town, featuring all LED bulbs. The entire parkway is lined with these holiday displays and a good way to soak in the holiday experience, is to take a ride on the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights. From the comfort of these specifically designed trolleys, visitors can view displays of wonderful lights featuring animals of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits. Also included in the displays are the recent additions of snowmen, dancing fountains, a group of international children and a rocking horse have joined the holiday lights show.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is definitely the place to be to get into the holiday spirit.