Holiday lights are once again turning East Tennessee into a sparkling storybook scene for the winter season!
Millions of twinkling lights glow from theme parks, city streets and festive neighborhoods across Knoxville and throughout the Smokies, offering plenty of opportunities to embrace the holiday spirit.
Whether you’re heading to Dollywood’s popular Smoky Mountain Christmas, wandering through a local park decked in lights, stopping by the new lights display at Covenant Health Park or cruising past Knoxville homes that go all out, there’s no shortage of dazzling displays to make your nights merry and brighter.
Bundle up, grab some cocoa and enjoy the Christmas magic wherever you go in East Tennessee.
Where to see Christmas lights in Knoxville
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The tree in the bandstand at Chilhowee Park has been lit, along with holiday decorations in the park. Walk or drive through the park to see the dazzling light display this holiday season. Visit facebook.com/ChilhoweePark/ for more information.
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Location: 3301 E. Magnolia Ave. in Knoxville
Until March 15
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Zoo Knoxville launched a brand-new 360° immersive music and light show just in time for the holiday season. The after-dark experience transforms the zoo into a glowing amphitheater where light, music and nature come together in four captivating chapters that celebrate the spirit of the Smoky Mountains. Find out more and reserve tickets at zooknoxville.org/smokynightlights
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Tickets: General Admission: $29.95 | Member pricing: $24.95
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Location: 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive in Knoxville
Gray Eagle Lane
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These neighbors go all out to create magical holiday light displays. Several homes in the Gray Eagle Springs subdivision in West Knoxville shine with holiday spirit and cheer. Be sure to drive along Gray Eagle Lane off Bob Gray Road to experience it all, but be prepared to wait in line.
Until Jan. 6
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Enjoy a synchronized light show as you listen to classic and contemporary holiday hits from your car. The extravagant display often features illuminated trees, holiday decorations and bubbles.
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This year will introduce an updated light show performance to “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra with new props. Tune in to 98.9 FM to enjoy the show.
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Time: Starts at 6 p.m. daily. Show runtime is just over 35 minutes.
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Location: 929 Oak Haven Road in Knoxville
Nov. 25-Jan. 1
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Thousands of holiday lights are illuminated along Campbell Station Road from the I-40 commuter lot to the Campbell Station Inn Plaza at the intersection of Campbell Station Road and Kingston Pike. Enjoy a stroll through the festive wonderland and don’t forget to mail your letter to Santa.
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Location: 405 N. Campbell Station Road | Founders Park
Nov. 27-Jan. 8
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Get into the holiday spirit by enjoying the Christmas on Conner annual light display. This Fountain City home is decked out in more than 7,500 lights that are programmed to twinkle, shine and dance to holiday songs synchronized with the holiday tunes on 91.5 FM.
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Time: 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday | 5:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
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Location: 3008 Conner Drive in Knoxville
Nov. 28-Dec. 28
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More than 200,000 lights shine bright to create a 30-minute show that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car or up close. Beyond the lights, be sure to check out the LED angel selfie station, enjoy on-site food trucks, Santa Land, mascots, s’mores and more. Visit holidayspectaculartn.com for more information.
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Tickets: $13-$15 for adults | $8-$10 for kids ages 6-15 per person | Free for children younger than 5
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Time: 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday | 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
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Location: 10740 Faith Promise Lane in Knoxville
Nov. 29-Jan. 1
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The trees in Lakeshore Park will be shining bright once again this holiday season. This year, a walking path through the heart of the park will be lit.
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Location: 5930 Lyons View Pike in Knoxville
Holiday Festival of Lights at Concord Park
Dec. 1-31
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This Knoxville tradition has almost a mile of thousands of sparkling lights coordinated to music. Enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus and other Christmastime characters. You can also decorate ornaments to hang on the tree and cookies to eat, and you can write letters to Santa to drop off in a special nearby mailbox.
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Location: 11808 S. Northshore Drive in Farragut
Dec. 5-Jan. 5
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Covenant Health Park is kicking off a new holiday tradition at the baseball stadium. In addition to a huge lights display, the event also features visits with Santa, a kids train ride, cookie and ornament decorating and seasonal food and drinks for sale.
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Tickets: $11.29 or $8 per ticket for groups 20 or more via Ticketmaster
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Hours: 6-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays | 6-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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Location: 500 E. Jackson Ave. in Knoxville
Where to see Christmas lights in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
Until Jan. 4
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Dollywood is adorned with more than 6 million twinkling lights through to the beginning of the new year.
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The festival, featuring shows and Christmas cheer, has been voted America’s Best Christmas Event for more than a decade. Enjoy the rides and attractions and park’s transformation into a winter wonderland.
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Tickets and information for the Pigeon Forge attraction are available at dollywood.com.
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Tickets: $94.99 for adults | $84.99 for kids 4-9 | $84.99 for seniors 62+
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Location: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge
Until Jan. 4
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Millions of lights and custom animations bring the Smoky Mountains alive at night at Anakeesta. Guests can sip their way through the Hot Cocoa Crawl, enjoy lively shows like Toyland Tales and the Country Christmas Jubilee and join in the carols with the Anakeesta Carolers.
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Families can join Santa for breakfast, which includes early park access, a hot breakfast, crafts and entertainment and a keepsake photo. Visit Anakeesta.com for more details.
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Tickets: $28.99+ for adults | $16.99+ for kids 4-11 | $21.99+ for seniors 60+ | Free for kids 3 and under
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Location: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg
Until Jan. 5
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It’s an immersive Christmas wonderland and a beloved holiday tradition. Drive through Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Soaky Mountain Waterpark to experience acres of lights synchronized to music on your radio.
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Visit Snowy Mountain Village inside the waterpark after the lightshow on select nights for more fun, including inflatable bounce houses, activities for kids, photo ops, food, desserts, carnival games and crafts. Santa will be there on some nights, too.
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Tickets: $47.53 per vehicle. Discounted value tickets available on select days.
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Time: 6-10 p.m. (or later on weekends)
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Location: 175 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville
Until Feb. 16
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Winterfest drapes Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville in more than 12 million lights. There’s music, driving tours and lots of holiday cheer to enjoy. Visit pigeonforgewinterfest.com for more information.
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The Wonders of Light Walking Trail in Pigeon Forge is free experience that features more than six million lights, a 20-foot ice fountain and impressive animal displays. The paved, pet-friendly trail is easy to explore and has access points from Patriot Park and the LeConte Center.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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Add your holiday lights display to the Knox News map!
The 2025 Knox News Holiday Lights Map is available at knoxnews.com to guide you on a fun drive through the community. And the best part is that it’s powered by donations to the Empty Stocking Fund!
Want to your home, business or church on the list? Please make a donation at esfknox.org.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: See Christmas lights in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg in 2025