If you’ve walked through downtown Gatlinburg this fall, you’ve probably been stopped in your tracks by a life-size scarecrow or two. They’re part of the Gatlinburg Harvest Festival, and this is the last week to see them. The festival wraps up Sunday, November 1, so if you’re in town for Halloween weekend, make time for a scarecrow stroll.
Hunt for 30 scarecrows downtown
According to Visit Gatlinburg’s Harvest Festival page, the city has been decorated since September with big fall displays, including 30 unique, three-dimensional scarecrow people placed around downtown. The festival runs through November 1.
The fun part is the Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt. Here’s how it works:
- Download the Visit Gatlinburg app on your phone. It shows where each of the 30 scarecrows is hiding downtown.
- Walk the Parkway and side streets to find them. Downtown Gatlinburg is compact, so this is an easy, free outing for families.
- Snap a scarecrow selfie and share it with #GatlinburgFall if you’d like to join in online.
It’s free, it’s outdoors, and it works at any pace. Little ones tend to love it, and it’s a nice break between shops and snacks.
This year’s People’s Choice winners
Local businesses go all out on their fall decorations, and visitors voted for their favorites. Visit Gatlinburg has posted the 2026 People’s Choice results:
- Platinum: The Village, Mountain Laurel Chalets and The Gillette.
- Gold: Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlin’s Amusements, Ober Gatlinburg, Beech Branch Crafts, Old Mountain Wine Company and TN Homemade Wines.
Silver and Bronze winners include Anakeesta, Ole Smoky Distillery, Gatlinburg SkyPark, Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin and many more. The full list is on Visit Gatlinburg’s site, and it makes a handy route for seeing the best displays before they come down.
What comes next in Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg swaps fall for winter fast. Here’s what’s coming up in the next few weeks:
- Gatlinburg Winter Magic lights: They switch on Thursday, November 5. Our holiday lights post has the dates for all three towns.
- Veterans Day Ceremony: Wednesday, November 11, at 11 a.m. in Mills Auditorium at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The ceremony is free and open to everyone, with free parking at 309 Reagan Drive. The city suggests arriving early.
- Winter Festival & Chili Cookoff: Thursday, November 12, along the Parkway from Mountain Mall to Gatlinburg SkyPark. The festival is free, with chili and dessert samples, live music, an ice skating rink, carolers and photos with Santa. A VIP pass for ages 21 and up is sold separately.
Want to give back while you’re here? The Gatlinburg Cares food drive is collecting nonperishable food for Sevier County Food Ministries. You can drop donations at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center and participating businesses through Sunday, November 15, or bring them to the Chili Cookoff. Peanut butter, canned chicken or tuna, pop-top canned goods and shelf-stable milk are all on the wish list.
Tips for your visit
- Go in the late afternoon. The scarecrows look great in daylight, and you can stay downtown for dinner as the lights come on.
- Park once and walk. Downtown parking fills up on Halloween weekend, and the scarecrows are easiest to find on foot.
- Remember the time change. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1, so it gets dark about an hour earlier that evening.
- Make a weekend of it. Our Halloween trick-or-treating guide has free events in all three towns, and our November events guide covers what’s next.
Event details can change, so check Visit Gatlinburg’s website before you head out.