Gatlinburg’s mountaintop light show is back. Lights Over Gatlinburg returned to Gatlinburg SkyPark on Friday, November 6, and it runs every day through January 31, 2027. The whole park gets covered in Christmas lights, and the best part is the SkyBridge, which is lit along its entire length high above the trees.
The basics
- Dates: November 6, 2026, through January 31, 2027, daily
- Where: Gatlinburg SkyPark, 765 Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg
- Cost: Included with regular SkyPark admission, with no extra charge for the lights
- Hours: Hours change through the season, so check SkyPark’s website the day you go
What you’ll see up top
According to Gatlinburg SkyPark, the entire park is decorated with thousands of lights, festive photo spots and a huge Christmas tree, and the lights run the full length of the SkyBridge. The Mountain Press notes the display also covers the SkyPark base building on the Parkway, so you’ll see some of it before you even get on the lift.
The SkyBridge is 680 feet long, and SkyPark bills it as the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Walking across it at night with the lights glowing around you and the town lit up below is the moment most people come for.
Getting up there is half the fun. You ride the yellow SkyLift chairlift from the Parkway up to Crockett Summit, then cross the bridge and take in the view from the overlooks on the other side.
Go by day, come back at night
Here’s a good tip for getting your money’s worth. SkyPark says an online SkyPass lets you visit during the day for the mountain views and then come back after dark for the lights. If you’re in town for a few days, that’s an easy way to see SkyPark both ways on one ticket. Details are on the Lights Over Gatlinburg page.
Santa visits in December
Santa is scheduled to stop by SkyPark on four December evenings: Saturday, December 5; Saturday, December 12; Friday, December 18; and Saturday, December 19. SkyPark lists his visits from 6 to 8 p.m., and The Mountain Press recommends checking the website for times before you go.
New Year’s Eve at SkyPark
SkyPark’s events calendar also lists a New Year’s Eve Celebration on Thursday, December 31, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. It includes a DJ-led VIP silent disco, the lights, fireworks 500 feet above the city, and re-entry the next day on January 1. It’s a separate event from regular admission, so check the listing for tickets.
Tips for a night visit
- Dress warmer than you think you need to. It’s colder and windier on the summit and the open chairlift than it is down on the Parkway, and the first real cold of the season is arriving in the mountains this week.
- Watch for the Parkway closure on Thursday, November 12. The Winter Festival and Chili Cook-Off closes part of the Parkway downtown that day, so allow extra time and plan your parking.
- Bring a charged phone. The lit bridge and the town lights below make for great photos, and there are plenty of holiday photo spots around the park.
- Little ones 5 and under ride free, according to SkyPark, which makes this an easy family stop.
Make a night of it
Lights Over Gatlinburg pairs nicely with the rest of the holiday lights in town. Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic lights are already up along the Parkway, and Pigeon Forge and Sevierville have their Winterfest displays going too. Our 2026 holiday lights guide has the dates for all three towns.