Pumpkins, Music & Mountain Views: Fall Festival Fun in the Smokies

There’s something special about autumn in the Smoky Mountains. The air is crisp, the hillsides glow with color, and every weekend seems to bring another reason to celebrate. Festivals fill Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the surrounding areas with music, food, crafts, and plenty of mountain charm - making it the perfect time to gather, explore, and soak up the spirit of the season.

Here are some of the best fall festivals to enjoy in the Smokies:

🎡 Dollywood Harvest Festival

Dollywood shines brightest in the fall. The Harvest Festival transforms the park with thousands of carved pumpkins, seasonal treats, and live Southern gospel and bluegrass music. The highlight is Great Pumpkin LumiNights, where glowing pumpkin displays light up the park after dark - a must-see for families.

🐻 Bear-Varian Festival at Anakeesta

Anakeesta puts a Smoky Mountain spin on Oktoberfest with its annual Bear-Varian Festival. Guests can enjoy Bavarian-inspired food and drinks, live music, and themed activities while surrounded by mountaintop views. It’s festive, family-friendly, and a one-of-a-kind way to experience autumn in the mountains.

🍁 Wears Valley Fall Festival

This beloved community festival showcases local crafts, live entertainment, and traditional Appalachian food. With kids’ activities, hayrides, and rows of artisan booths, it’s the perfect place to spend a crisp fall day soaking in small-town Smoky Mountain charm.

🎃 Kyker Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Located in Sevierville, Kyker Farms is a family-run pumpkin patch that has been a fall favorite for generations. Guests can wander through themed corn mazes, pick out the perfect pumpkin, and enjoy hayrides, farm animals, and plenty of kid-friendly activities. In the evenings, the farm adds a spooky twist with haunted maze experiences for older kids and adults. It’s the perfect blend of wholesome daytime fun and after-dark thrills - a true Smoky Mountain fall tradition.

🍂 Autumn at The Island

The Island in Pigeon Forge decorates with pumpkins, mums, and autumn colors while adding seasonal live music and family events. Between rides, shopping, and the dancing fountains, it’s a great way to mix festival fun with all the attractions The Island offers year-round.

🍎 SkyLand’s Apple Harvest Festival

Celebrate the flavors of fall at SkyLand Ranch with their Apple Harvest Festival. From fresh apple cider and sweet treats to seasonal décor and family-friendly activities, the event highlights everything we love about autumn. With mountaintop views as the backdrop, it’s a cozy and flavorful way to experience the season in the Smokies.

🥨 Oktoberfest at Ober Mountain

Gatlinburg’s longest-running fall tradition, Oktoberfest at Ober Mountain, celebrates German heritage with lively music, dancing, and authentic Bavarian food. Add in mountaintop views, seasonal décor, and fun for all ages, and it’s no wonder this festival has become a Smoky Mountain staple.

✨ From glowing pumpkins to mountain music and cozy festivals, fall in the Smokies is full of reasons to celebrate. Each event offers its own way to connect with the season - whether you’re sipping cider, shopping local crafts, or dancing to live bluegrass.

And when the day winds down, Thomas Rentals is here to welcome you home. Our cabins, lodges, and condos put you close to all the fun while giving you the space to relax, recharge, and make memories that last long after the season ends.