Family-Friendly Halloween Fun in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains

Posted by Jon Hoffman in Things To Do

Halloween means many things to many people – from jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treat to bonfires and harvest festivals. If you have kids, it may mean scaring up tons of fun without scaring tots out of their wits! Fortunately, the Smokies offer plenty of options for a family-friendly Halloween experience. And you can enjoy them all in our picturesque setting amid breathtaking mountain scenery.

Here are a few kid-safe ways to celebrate Halloween in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains.

Great Pumpkin LumiNights and Harvest Festival at Dollywood, 2700 Dollywood Parks Boulevard, Pigeon Forge

Every night from September 23 through October 29, 2022, Dollywood will glow with thousands of luminous jack-o-lanterns. It's called Great Pumpkin LumiNights, and it's all part of Dollywood's annual Harvest Festival, featuring foot-stompin' live music, eye-popping pumpkin displays, and delicious downhome eats.

Stroll through the park's Timber Canyon in the evening to encounter magic at every turn:

• Dazzling jack-o-lanterns carved by area craftsmen – you'll be amazed by their detailed designs!
• Colossal pumpkins weighing in at 800 to 1,500 lbs. each
• Strolling players performing your favorite bluegrass, country, and Gospel tunes
• Live acts on 10 outdoor stages, with plenty of world-class pickin'
• Halloween-themed displays that thrill kids without spooking them out
• Vendors galore offering mouth-watering Southern delights such as slow-smoked beef brisket, tender turkey legs, fried green tomatoes, and sweet potato casserole
• Plus pumpkin-carving lessons, glow-in-the-dark face-painting, and more

You'll have loads of opportunities to take cool family photos, and you'll make memories to last a lifetime.

Halloween Spooktacular, Community Center, 170 Community Drive, Pigeon Forge

If you're here on October 27, be sure to head over to the Pigeon Forge Community Center for the annual Spooktacular event. Local merchants – all decked out in festive costumes – will hand out candy to pint-size trick-or-treaters. Plus, kids will get to participate in costume contests, hayrides, and a non-scary haunted maze.

Kick-Off Karnival, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, 88 River Road, Gatlinburg

Want a way to keep the kids happily busy during the daytime on Halloween itself (Monday, October 31)? Take them to the Kick-Off Carnival between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. This annual event includes costume contests, zany games, face painting, plus lots of free prizes and candy. The fire department usually makes an appearance, too, to instruct kids on trick-or-treat safety.

It's the perfect warm-up for the evening's fun-filled festivities.

Halloween at Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud, 2530 Parkway, Pigeon Forge

Looking for kid-safe trick-or-treating? Bring the fam to Lumberjack Square – at the Lumberjack Feud attraction – between 4 and 6 p.m. on October 31. Here your children can gather yummy free candy, pose for cute pics at the photo booth, test their skills with kid-friendly axe throwing and cross-cut sawing, and more.

At 7 p.m. the park will host a special showing of Lumberjack Feud – and kids in costume can attend free! You'll watch real lumberjacks compete in exciting events like log rolling, wood splitting, axe throwing, and chainsawing. May the best man win!

Halloween at the Island, 131 The Island Drive, Pigeon Forge

Here's another option for child-safe Halloween thrills. From 5 to 7 p.m. on October 31, The Island theme park will sponsor free family festivities, including trick-or-treating, spooky music, photo ops, and a spectacular Halloween fountain show. Plus, every guest in costume will get to purchase a 48-hour pass for unlimited rides for only $5.

Don't Miss Out – Book Your Halloween Getaway Now

Contact Volunteer Cabin Rentals right away to reserve your Tennessee mountain cabin just minutes from all the excitement.

This content posted by Volunteer Cabin Rentals. Visit our home page, www.volunteercabinrentals.com to book your next vacation cabin today.

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