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Things to do › Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee
Events and state parks in East Tennessee, from the Smoky Mountains to Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, with each park’s rules.
Looking for animals? See the Tennessee wildlife guide for Smokies bears, elk, eagles, cranes and snakes.
Looking for plants? See the Tennessee wildflowers and plants guide for Smokies spring wildflowers, rhododendron, cedar glades and fall color.
81 upcoming events on our calendar are in East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville Area, Tri-Cities & Northeast), in 10 towns, and 12 state parks sit in those regions. We list only the state parks we hold data for; Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not in the state park list.
81East Tennessee Events
10Towns
12State Parks
10Free
Events come from our Tennessee events dataset (last re-checked Nov 2, 2026); each date and price was read on the organizer’s own page, and “See event page” means the organizer does not publish one. State park facts come from our state park dataset (last checked Oct 30, 2026), read on each park’s own tnstateparks.com page. Plans and rules change, so check the organizer or park page before you drive.
State Parks in East Tennessee
Knoxville Area (7) Events in This Region
| Park | Where | Day Use |
|---|---|---|
| Big Ridge State Park Official page | Maynardville, Union County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Cove Lake State Park Official page | Caryville, Campbell County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Frozen Head State Park Official page | Wartburg, Morgan County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Indian Mountain State Park Official page | Jellico, Campbell County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Norris Dam State Park Official page | Rocky Top, Anderson County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Panther Creek State Park Official page | Morristown, Hamblen County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
| Seven Islands State Birding Park Official page | Kodak, Knox County · Knoxville Area | Free day use |
Tri-Cities & Northeast (5) Events in This Region
| Park | Where | Day Use |
|---|---|---|
| David Crockett Birthplace State Park Official page | Limestone, Greene County · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Free day use |
| Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork Official page | Flag Pond, Unicoi County · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Free day use |
| Roan Mountain State Park Official page | Roan Mountain, Carter County · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Free day use |
| Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Official page | Elizabethton, Carter County · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Free day use |
| Warriors' Path State Park Official page | Kingsport, Sullivan County · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Free day use |
East Tennessee Events With Dates
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Military Appreciation night vs Macon | Thu, Nov 5 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Made Around Here Market (44th year) | Nov 6-7 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM both days) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Admission is free |
| Vintage Market Days Tri-Cities Tennessee | Nov 6-8 | Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| ETSU Buccaneers Football vs Samford (Military Appreciation Day, Senior Day) | Sat, Nov 7 (1:00 PM) | Johnson City · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers football vs Kentucky Our guide | Sat, Nov 7: 6:15 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Bluey's Teddy Bear Toss vs Huntsville | Sun, Nov 8 (3:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Gatlinburg Veterans Day Ceremony | Wed, Nov 11 (11:00 AM-12:00 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Free |
| Gatlinburg Winter Festival & Chili Cookoff | Thu, Nov 12 (5:00-9:00 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Free; optional VIP Experience (price not on page) |
| Knoxville Symphony: Bartok & Bolero (Masterworks) | Nov 12-13 | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tenth Avenue North with Stars Go Dim | Thu, Nov 12 (7:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Tickets at the Jackson Theatre; see the organizer page for venue rules |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Tattoos & Terror night vs Huntsville | Fri, Nov 13 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Winterfest Christmas Village (Pigeon Forge) | Nov 13-28 (Open Nov 13-15 and Nov 20-28; see the organizer page for venue rules) | Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Jerron Paxton & Dennis Lichtman | Sun, Nov 15 (7:00-8:30 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| SCC Speedway in Lights 5K presented by Fleet Feet Sports | Sun, Nov 15 | Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Tiered by registration date: adults $25-$45, kids 12 and under $15-$25 |
| Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert 40th Anniversary | Tue, Nov 17 (8:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Michigan State | Tue, Nov 17: 9 p.m. (TV: ESPN2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Free Sorghum-Making Demonstrations at Cades Cove (Nov 19-22) | Nov 19-22 (Hours not published) | Cades Cove · Smoky Mountains | Free |
| Jay Leno at the Tennessee Theatre | Thu, Nov 19 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Appalachian Trail Bluegrass Band | Fri, Nov 20 (7:00-9:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Christmas at Chilhowee | Fri, Nov 20 (6-9 PM; tree lighting at 6 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | Free admission |
| Tennessee Volunteers football vs LSU Our guide | Sat, Nov 21 (Kickoff window 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET; exact time and TV TBD) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| The Met: Live in HD presents Carmen | Sat, Nov 21 (1:00-4:30 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Classical Christmas: Handel's Messiah | Sun, Nov 22 (2:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Candy Canes & Cocktails (21+) | Tue, Nov 24 (6:00-9:00 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | $50 per person |
| Gatlinburg's Festival of Trees (53rd) | Nov 25-29 (Daily 10 AM-7 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Free |
| Free Sorghum-Making Demonstrations at Cades Cove (Nov 27-29) | Nov 27-29 (Hours not published) | Cades Cove · Smoky Mountains | Free |
| Jonesborough Lighting of the Tree | Fri, Nov 27 (6:00-8:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Fight Night vs Athens | Fri, Nov 27 (6:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Regal Celebration of Lights | Fri, Nov 27 | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | Free admission |
| Shop Small Friday Sip & Stroll | Fri, Nov 27 (4:00-6:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Whoville and Shop Small Saturday | Sat, Nov 28 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Florida State (SEC/ACC Challenge) | Tue, Dec 1: 7 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Christmas at the Courthouse (Sevierville) | Thu, Dec 3 (5:30-8:30 PM) | Sevierville · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas | Thu, Dec 3 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Christmas in the Village (Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center) | Dec 4-5 (Tickets on sale 5:30-7 PM; viewing ends 8 PM) | Townsend · Smoky Mountains | Tickets required; see the organizer page for venue rules |
| Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade (Gatlinburg) | Fri, Dec 4 (7:30-9:00 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Free; Grandstand VIP seating $50 per person (seating from 5:30 PM) |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Battle of the Bands night vs Quad City | Fri, Dec 4 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers | Fri, Dec 4 (7:00-9:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Three Dog Night at the Tennessee Theatre | Fri, Dec 4 (8:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| WIVK Christmas Parade (downtown Knoxville) | Fri, Dec 4 (7 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| 64th Sevierville Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 5 (11 AM; about 30 minutes past any viewing point) | Sevierville · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Doggone Christmas | Sat, Dec 5 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Gatlinburg Christmas Concert: Tiffany and Matthew & Gunnar Nelson | Sat, Dec 5 (8:00-10:00 PM) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Reserved seating $30; premium reserved $40 (page header also shows $31.65-$41.95) |
| Holiday Movie Magic: It's a Wonderful Life | Sat, Dec 5 (8:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Mill Spring Makers Faire | Sat, Dec 5 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Chanukah in the City | Sun, Dec 6 (3:30-5:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| John Mulaney: Mister Whatever at the Tennessee Theatre | Sun, Dec 6 (7:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Townsend Christmas Parade | Sun, Dec 6 (Time TBA) | Townsend · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| The Nutcracker! | Dec 11-12 | Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Jaycee's Christmas Parade (Maryville and Alcoa) | Sat, Dec 12 (Time TBA) | Maryville · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Jonesborough Christmas Parade | Sat, Dec 12 (6:00-8:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Santa's Christmas Village | Sat, Dec 12 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Tour de Lights bike ride | Sat, Dec 12 (3:30-7:30 PM; bike ride starts 5:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| A Christmas Carol: a one-man play with John Hardy | Sun, Dec 13 (4:00-5:30 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Christmas Church Stroll | Sat, Dec 19 (11:00 AM-3:00 PM) | Jonesborough · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Wands & Wizards night vs Birmingham | Sat, Dec 19 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Peanuts - A Christmas Celebration vs Roanoke | Sun, Dec 20 (3:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Chilly 500 night vs Evansville | Sat, Dec 26 (6:00 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Gatlinburg New Year's Eve Celebration and Ball Drop | Thu, Dec 31 (9:30 PM; drone show about 11:50 PM; ball drop at midnight) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | Free |
| New Year's Eve at the Sunsphere | Thu, Dec 31 | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Vanderbilt | Sat, Jan 2: 2 p.m. (TV: ESPN/2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Wilderness Wildlife Week | Jan 4-7 | Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains | Free and open to the public |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Wiener Dog Races night vs Pee Dee | Sat, Jan 9 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Missouri | Wed, Jan 13: 7 p.m. (TV: ESPN2/U); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Star Wars Night vs Birmingham | Sat, Jan 16 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Arkansas | Sat, Jan 16: 12 p.m. (TV: ESPN/2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Florida | Sat, Jan 30: 8 or 8:30 p.m. (as listed) (TV: ESPN/2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Georgia | Wed, Feb 3: 7 p.m. (TV: ESPN2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Bears on Bourbon Street vs Macon | Fri, Feb 12 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Kentucky | Sat, Feb 13: 4 p.m. (TV: ESPN); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Alabama | Sat, Feb 20: 2 p.m. (TV: ESPN/2); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs South Carolina | Tue, Feb 23: 7 p.m. (TV: SECN); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball vs Mississippi State | Tue, Mar 2: 6 p.m. (TV: SECN); Food City Center, Knoxville | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
| Knoxville Ice Bears home game: Medieval Night vs Roanoke | Sat, Mar 6 (7:30 PM) | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | See event page |
East Tennessee Events Running for Weeks
Not checked for each date: these run for weeks, and some open only on certain days or nights. Check the organizer’s page for the day you want.
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg Winter Magic (holiday lights) Our guide | Nov 5-Feb 15, 2027 (Recurring daily; hours not published) | Gatlinburg · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas Our guide | Nov 6-Jan 3, 2027 | Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Pigeon Forge Winterfest Our guide | Nov 6-Jan 31, 2027 (Nightly lights; see the organizer page for venue rules) | Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
| Tri-Cities Airport Ice Rink at Bristol Motor Speedway | Nov 19-Jan 10, 2027 | Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast | See event page |
| Food City Speedway in Lights powered by TVA | Nov 20-Jan 2, 2027 (6:00-10:00 PM nightly) | Bristol · Tri-Cities & Northeast | Priced per vehicle (Fast Lane per vehicle, limited nights); more prices on the event page |
| Knoxville's Holidays on Ice (Market Square ice rink) | Nov 27-Jan 3, 2027 | Knoxville · Knoxville Area | Adult $12; children 12 and under $9; more prices on the event page |
| Dollywood I Will Always Love You Festival | Mar 11-Apr 11 | Pigeon Forge · Smoky Mountains | See event page |
Keep Planning
- Regional event hubs: Knoxville Area, Tri-Cities & Northeast, Smoky Mountains
- By day: Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week, By Month
- Things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
- Things to do in Knoxville
- Things to do in Jonesborough, Johnson City and Bristol
More Topic Guides
Smokies Trip Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park on this list?
Not in the state park table, which covers state parks only. See our Cades Cove page and the answers page on the national park pass.
Which regions count as East Tennessee?
The Smoky Mountains, Knoxville Area and Tri-Cities and Northeast regions, as named on our events page.
Can I see events by town?
See our destination pages for Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Knoxville, and Jonesborough, Johnson City and Bristol.
Sources
- Each event was read on the organizer’s own page, where its date, hours and price are printed; every row is in the Tennessee events dataset with a checked date.
- Park facts (entry, pet rule) were read on each park’s own tnstateparks.com page; attraction facts on each attraction’s own site. All rows are in the places directory and its dataset.
How we check
Cite this page: It's Tennessee, “Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee”, itstennessee.com/things-to-do/smoky-mountains-and-east-tennessee/ (updated ). By the It's Tennessee editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.