Your Guide to the Best Smoky Mountain New Year’s Celebration

Welcome the start of 2024 in an unforgettable manner, as you bid farewell to the remaining moments of the current year in true Smoky Mountain fashion! From a breathtaking New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and a mesmerizing firework display to family-friendly activities and exclusive parties for adults, there’s something for everyone to relish this December 31st. Whether you’re seeking a day brimming with adventure and excitement or prefer to spend it in contemplation of the past year, cherishing moments with your loved ones while sipping coco in your cabin, a New Year’s Eve celebration in the Smoky Mountains promises not to disappoint! Continue reading to discover six fantastic ways to conclude another year amidst the beauty of the Smokies.

Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show

Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks Show has been captivating both visitors and locals since 1987, marking the end of each year with a family-friendly and entirely free celebration. Emulating the iconic style of New York City, Gatlinburg orchestrates a NYE ball drop from the Gatlinburg Space Needle, followed by an impressive fireworks display. Recognized as one of the largest New Year’s Eve gatherings in the Southern United States, drawing around 50,000 attendees annually, this city-wide event offers live musical performances, seasonal activities, holiday light displays, and the charming ambiance that Gatlinburg is known for.

Arrive early to find a decent parking spot and grab a bite to eat at any one of the great local restaurants just off the main drag. Once you’ve mingled and explored, head to the base of the Gatlinburg Space Needle (located on Historic Nature Trail and Airport Rd) to enjoy live musical entertainment from various talented performers. This year’s festivities also include a captivating drone show, unveiling multiple scenes of Gatlinburg, set to take flight at 11:53 pm. Dance the last minutes of 2023 away to the sounds of disco, hip-hop, soul, rock, jazz and so many other wonderful tunes filling the air before the clock strikes midnight. You’ll countdown the last few seconds of the year, in a group of excited and joyful onlookers, and be blown away by the professional pyrotechnics lighting up the night sky. Talk about a New Year’s celebration that will, undoubtedly, be tough to top!

New Year’s Eve Bash at The Pines Downtown

Swap out the traditional New Year’s countdown for a dance-filled farewell to 2023 at The Pines Downtown in Sevierville! Experience a unique end-of-the-year celebration at the Pines Downtown’s NYE Bash complete with a live DJ, delectable snacks, specialty drinks, champagne toasts, and a grand balloon drop heralding the arrival of the new year. With an incredible atmosphere, a wide array of games and entertainment, and the spirit of New Year’s festivities, these final moments of the year will be etched in your memory. It’s worth noting that although this event isn’t explicitly designated as a 21+ affair, it may not be tailored for family enjoyment. If you brought the little ones along for your Smoky Mountain New Year’s Eve, you might want to explore some of the family-friendly options featured on this list.

New Year’s Eve at The Island

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a touch of magic at The Island in Pigeon Forge, providing yet another fantastic and family-friendly option for bidding farewell to the old year and ushering in the new. The New Year’s Eve Celebration at The Island will take place in the heart of the center, and will include a wonderful concert featuring Stephen Goff & The Royals, with local radio personalities Joey Tack and Nancy Barger serving as lively emcees. From fantastic live entertainment to a breathtaking fountain show, to a midnight fireworks production and everything else The Island has to offer, this New Year’s Eve party will be one for the books. And the best part? You don’t have to wait until nightfall to start the festivities! Show up early and make a day out of enjoying the various shops, great eats and exciting rides before the clock strikes midnight. Just be careful not to wear you and your loved ones out too much, you don’t want to miss welcoming 2024 at the Island!

The Mountain Mile’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

New Year’s Eve can be tough if you have the kids with you. It can be a long night, full of activities youngsters can’t and shouldn’t partake in (such as champagne sipping and giving a stranger a midnight kiss), leaving them feeling tired and cranky – not the best mood to start the new year in. However, New Year’s Eve can be an event for the whole family to relish when you head over to The Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge for their New Year’s Eve Celebration.

During this family friendly event, you and your loved ones will be able to enjoy festive activities great for all ages, giveaways, face painting, obstacle courses, street performers, and sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Grab a bit to eat at one of the wonder restaurants found on location and enjoy some shopping until the spectacular fireworks show starts at 10pm. It’s a great way to keep the family thoroughly entertained, while also having a great seat to enjoy the celebratory antics without having to keep the little ones up quite so late.

New Year’s Eve Lights of Wonder 2024

Get the best seats in the house for viewing the Gatlinburg’s NYE Ball Drop and Fireworks Show by heading up to Gatlinburg SkyPark for your New Year’s Eve celebration. This year’s celebration will feature new entertainment in the form of Ear Jams Silent Disco! Perfect for all ages, enjoy the best dance party in Gatlinburg as you seemingly float above the city and the stars as the New Year’s events happening down below. Once the countdown begins, you and your family will have an unfettered view of the Gatlinburg Ball Drop (nearly 100 feet below the SkyBridge) as well as the breathtaking fireworks performance celebrating the arrival of the new year.

Your Personal Sanctuary

If the prospect of bustling parties with vibrant music and dazzling fireworks doesn’t quite match your excitement level, that’s perfectly fine. At Parkside Resort, you can create the ideal farewell to the old year by enveloping yourself in warmth and the company of those you love. Enjoy the luxury of ample space where you can host everyone near and dear, singing Auld Lang Syne and sipping champagne in celebration of the new year. With unrivaled privacy, excellent amenities for any gathering, ample luxurious space, and the cozy ambiance of a Smoky Mountain cabin exclusively for you and your guests, envisioning the perfect New Year’s celebration is effortless at Parkside.

Moreover, you’re just minutes away from the lively action if the idea of watching fireworks becomes appealing. Whether you choose to spend your New Year’s Eve out on the town or tucked away inside, as long as you and your loved ones are safe and happy, there’s not much else you could ask for. Regardless of what this past year has brought, we hope you can savor the last few days of 2023 with joy and merriment. Wishing you a very Happy New Year from everyone at Parkside Resort!

Call us today at 888-908-6066 or visit our website to learn more about our amazing accommodations!