Christmas is taking over the mountain above downtown Gatlinburg. Anakeesta’s brand-new holiday celebration, Journey to the North Pole, opens on Friday, November 13, and runs through Sunday, January 10, 2027, according to the park’s official event page. It replaces the Enchanted Christmas event the park has held in past years, and it comes with a new nighttime light show on the Treetop Skywalk.
What Journey to the North Pole is all about
The idea is that your trip up the mountain is a trip to the North Pole. For the season, the Crystal Express gondola becomes the North Pole Express, and you work your way through themed Christmas areas on the way to the “North Pole” at the AnaVista Tower, Anakeesta’s communications director Austin Martin told The Mountain Press.
Here is what Anakeesta lists for the celebration:
- Elves around the mountain: Santa’s elves are busy getting ready for Christmas, and you’ll spot them along the way.
- New live shows: Toyland Tales, Country Christmas Jubilee and the Anakeesta Carolers.
- Holiday food: Beef Wellington, smoked turkey, chicken and waffles with thyme and chili maple syrup, holiday empanadas, gingerbread snowballs, Christmas cookie sundaes, pecan pie bread pudding and more.
- Hot cocoa: The park’s gourmet hot cocoas are back, along with other Christmas drinks.
- Day or night: The themed areas, food and shows are open during the day, and the lights take over after dark.
Santa’s Flight on the Treetop Skywalk
The big new piece is Santa’s Flight, a walk-through show on the Treetop Skywalk’s hanging bridges. Synchronized lights, Christmas music and storytelling follow Santa as he gets ready for his Christmas Eve flight. The Mountain Press reports it includes animatronic reindeer and a projection of Santa taking off. It takes the place of the Firefly Experience for the holiday season.
- When: Nightly, starting 30 minutes after sunset, through January 10, 2027. It’s already open ahead of the festival.
- Tickets: You need the Light Pass add-on, which is $19.99 on top of general admission and also covers Astra Lumina. Anakeesta recommends buying it ahead because space is limited.
- No set time: Santa’s Flight isn’t timed, so you can walk it any time after dark. The entrance is near the Astra Lumina ticket booth.
- Plan for: About 25 minutes and a quarter-mile walk across the suspension bridges. Strollers aren’t allowed.
Breakfast with Santa
If you’d like more time with the big guy, Anakeesta’s Breakfast with Santa at Clifftop is back on select December mornings from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. December 5 is already sold out, and seats remain listed for December 12, 19 and 20. Tickets include general admission, early entry, breakfast, a carol sing-along, crafts and a professional photo with Santa. Prices are $104.99 for adults, $87.99 for kids 4 to 11 and $97.99 for seniors 65 and over. Kids 3 and under are free with a paid adult or senior ticket, but they still need a reservation.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there: The ticket booth and gondola are at 576 Parkway, at traffic light #5 in downtown Gatlinburg. You ride the gondola or the Ridge Rambler about 600 feet up to the mountaintop.
- Locals, this is your last chance: Anakeesta’s Local Appreciation Days run through November 13. Residents and workers in Blount, Cocke, Jefferson and Sevier counties get in for $5 with a Tennessee photo ID showing a current address, or a photo ID plus a recent paystub from one of those counties. Part of the proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, according to the park’s events page.
- Check hours: Daily hours change through the season, so look at anakeesta.com or call 865-325-2400 before you head up.
- Dress warm: It’s a lot colder on the mountaintop after dark than it is on the Parkway in the afternoon, and you’ll be outside on the bridges.
Making a night of it downtown? The SkyBridge is lit up across the street at Gatlinburg SkyPark too. Our Lights Over Gatlinburg post has the details.