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November 5th, 2008 – December 30th, 2008

Gatlinburg Winter Magic

Sevier County

Whatever could Gatlinburg do to improve upon its annual four-month long citywide winter lights promotion, an endeavor which has grown in popularity every year since its inception in 1989? Why, start over, of course, with more than a million dollars worth of imagination and an eye on protecting our environment!

With the unveiling of Gatlinburg Winter Magic, the City has launched the milestone transformation to a new era of winter-long visual entertainment in Gatlinburg, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its must-see collection of bright, colorful lights and favorite winter scenes.

Featuring one-of-a-kind LED lighting displays along Gatlinburg's famous downtown Parkway, adjacent River Road, and the triangle juncture of the two, the first two phases of a four-year, $1.5 million-plus rollout of custom designed and fabricated lighting displays are marked by sections reminiscent of winter forests, evergreens and romance.

Starting on Wednesday, November 5, displays featuring animals indigenous to great Smoky Mountains National Park including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits were introduced in 2007, with the entire length of the Parkway accentuated by branches and scrolls which have been converted to LED. Other areas of Gatlinburg have received an injection of fresh exhibits and subtle enhancements, while many of the timeless displays visitors have grown accustomed to over the past 19 years are being converted to led or phased out and replaced by soon-to-be new favorites.

Visitors of all ages can still marvel at the traditional mountain scenes, colorful winter displays, playful teddy bears and other familiar, much-beloved displays both downtown and along Hwy. 321 which have been making Gatlinburg a must-see destination for both the young and young at heart for years.

City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle notes with pride that the first phase of Gatlinburg Winter Magic put the spotlight squarely on the downtown Parkway area of Gatlinburg. The main walking district has undergone a major cosmetic transformation with the most ambitious utility undergrounding program since the inception of the city's beautification project in 1996.

Gone are the poles, power lines and telephone wires of the past.

"Our downtown area is enhanced by new streetlights, sidewalks, benches, and planters," Ogle remarked. "it is wonderful to look up at the open skies and mountainscapes visible now from the heart of downtown!"

Director of Tourism David Perella echoes the positives noted by Ms. Ogle.

"in order to accentuate this new open space, the streetlight poles are wrapped in lighting to over 30 feet high to simulate a winter forest of snow-covered trees, while keeping the skies overhead clear for viewing," said Perella. "Gatlinburg is a magical place that comes to life during winter, and that's why folks load up their cars and suvs and head to the mountains."

"With Gatlinburg Winter Magic, we will continue to glorify the winter landscape of Gatlinburg," said Perella. "You've not experienced winter until you see the lights of Gatlinburg again."

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