Even though we are still in the middle of the summer season, it’s never too early to detail all of the exciting things that come every fall season to Gatlinburg. Fall is an exciting time to have your convention or meeting in Gatlinburg because of all the annual activities that can be incorporated into your event. 

To fully embrace the fall season, the City of Gatlinburg is expanding Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival to 12 weeks beginning September 6. Gatlinburg is rolling out all the stops with seasonal decorations. Gatlinburg Harvest Festival will feature over the top fall decorations including new life-size 3-dimensional Scarecrow people. Once winter arrives, Scarecrow people will be replaced by life sized Snow people capturing the magic of the season.

Fall events will continue as in year’s past including Gatlinburg’s Taste of Autumn on September 12, with live entertainment provided by Eagles tribute band “On the Border”. Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg will take place September 27 to November 3 and the 29 th Annual Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff will take place on November 6 with live entertainment provided by Bon Jovi tribute band “Slippery When Wet”.  

Gatlinburg is the place to be this fall season whether you’re looking for arts and crafts shows, special concerts, food festivals or holiday parades. Come join us for exciting celebrations throughout the year!
Gatlinburg at a glance
  • Convention Center: (148,000 square feet of total space)
  • Sleeping Rooms (4,000+ surrounding convention center including full and limited service hotels, condominiums, chalets and cabins)
  • Dining Options: (100+ restaurants, from casual to elegant gourmet establishments with the majority within walking distance to hotels and convention center)
  • Shopping: (500+ shops with 5 malls plus largest Arts & Crafts Community in the U.S.)
  • Attractions: (40+ along with many other entertainment options with the majority within walking distance to hotels and convention center)
  • Rocky Top Sports Complex: (Named top Multi-Use Sports Facility by SportsEvents Magazine) and ( Favorite Indoor Venue by Sports Destination Management Magazine)
  • Gatlinburg Golf Course: (Named Best Municipal Golf Course in Tennessee by Golf Digest Magazine)

What's New in Gatlinburg
SKYBRIDGE Gatlinburg
SkyLift Gatlinburg is Open for Adventurers
The Gatlinburg SkyLift, a Gatlinburg staple since 1954, opened the SkyBridge on May 17. SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America measuring nearly 700 feet in length with glass floor panels at its highest point and spanning the valley between ridges on Crockett Mountain. The bridge also features an observation area, snack shop, bar and gift shop. It also has a private area room with a balcony that can accommodate groups of up to 150 people. Great for a group reception or meal service and seeing Gatlinburg from a whole new vantage point at thrilling heights of up to 150 feet!

Updates in Gatlinburg
Clarion Pointe
Formerly the Park View Inn, after a major renovation joined Choice Hotels as a Clarion Pointe .
With Clarion Pointe you experience a contemporary design, on-demand connectivity, modern fitness equipment, and a free better-for-you breakfast including standard anticipated offerings plus deluxe hot dishes and premium coffee. The newly added marketplace includes craft beer, select wine and small bites for your enjoyment.
The spacious inviting lobby offers an atmosphere to gather with family, friends or mingle with associates to network and share ideas. A warm environment beckons you to relax and refresh.
Clarion Pointe is a smoke-free hotel.
Convenient to downtown Gatlinburg, Clarion Pointe offers easy access to the Gatlinburg Convention Center, as well as Rocky Top Sports World; walk to Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Ripley’s Aquarium, Anakeesta and other Gatlinburg Attractions.

98 Guest rooms include:
  • Microwave and refrigerator
  • Sofa bed (select rooms)
  • Premium bedding
  • Flat-screen TV
  • In-room coffee and tea
  • Free high speed wifi
  • Double Queens in 80 of the 98 guest rooms

Gatlinburg is pleased to welcome Clarion Pointe to our neighborhood.

Greenbrier Restaurant
Going back in mountain folklore to the late 1930s, the historic building of The Greenbrier Restaurant was once a secluded mountain lodge frequented by the wealthy hunters, loggers and hikers. Nearly a century later, the legendary lodge still stands as a haven for those seeking to explore the wonder of the Smokies. As a new food and spirit outpost in Gatlinburg, The Greenbrier offers a culinary experience that inspires the same awe and imagination once provoked by the early settlers and travelers. Wander in for a drink and a small bite from Walkers Union bar menu or enjoy dinner by experiencing the flavors of our ever-changing Main Menu.  The Greenbrier offers tantalizing dishes such as pan-fried oysters and smoked chicken wings, filet of beef and rack of lamb, to pan-fried rabbit and seared duck breast. The Greenbrier Restaurant is also home to the Greenbrier Whiskey Society where they offer exclusive opportunities to taste the most sought-after whiskeys and bourbons on the market.

Located just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, The Greenbrier that once evoked wonder and inspiration among the early visitors of this region is dedicated to keeping that spirit alive by preserving the natural beauty of this historical building and serving food that will peak your senses.

Smoky Mountain BIGFOOT Conference
The inaugural Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference was held on July 27, 2019 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in the beautiful Tennessee Ballroom. The conference offered the sold-out crowd of 1658 attendees the opportunity to hear some of America's most experienced Bigfoot researchers and investigators including Cliff Barackman, Bigfoot Field Researcher and co-host of Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot.” Other featured speakers shared stories of their investigation and encounters. The conference included an opportunity for a VIP Meet and Greet Dinner with Cliff Barackman. Guests who attended the exclusive VIP Dinner event were treated to incredible views as they boarded the Arial Tram to soar up 11,000 feet above Gatlinburg to OBER Gatlinburg, a favorite mountaintop attraction. Attendees departed the 2019 inaugural Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference already planning their return for 2020!
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies - #1 Again!
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies was once again named the #1 Aquarium in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice for 2019! This award comes on the heels of several years of awards for the Gatlinburg based aquarium. Named #2 in 2018 and #1 in 2017, Ripley’s continues to garnish high praise by gaining the top spot once again. 
“This award is so meaningful because it was decided by the public, our guests who visit our aquarium and make us a part of their family vacation. We work hard to offer our guests the best customer service at one of the world’s finest aquariums in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, and we cannot thank our guests and community enough for voting Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies the Best Aquarium in North America.” – Ryan DeSear, Regional Manager, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
DeSear also noted that one of the reasons for their high visitor return is because the aquarium is always adding something new, including changeable shows.

Rafting in the Smokies
Event Team Building
Another great option for groups and events that take place in Gatlinburg is Rafting in the Smokies. In its 41 st year, Rafting in the Smokies was recently awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence. Rafting in the Smokies offers white water rafting, high element ropes challenging course, zipline canopy tours and a rock climbing wall. Perfect for team building and group challenges that events and event planners can incorporate into the event schedule.
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community

“Create Your Own”
A unique option that Gatlinburg offers that event planners can incorporate into their programs is the interaction with largest Arts & Crafts community in the U.S. “Create Your Own” is a program where some shops in the Arts & Crafts Community offer hands on workshops or make your own participating crafting. Florida transplant Mike Fowler owns Fowler’s Clayworks, where he offers small group workshops in wheel throwing pottery for those seeking a literal hands-on experience.
“Your imagination is your only limitation,” he states while giving a recent class of a Gatlinburg city wide conference. 
Best suited for intimate creative breakout sessions and alternative networking, these attendees leave classes with handmade mugs created under Fowler’s expert guidance—souvenirs to accompany a story that will stick with guests long after they’ve washed the clay from under their fingernails.

Update Gatlinburg Lunch
Upcoming “Update Gatlinburg” Lunch
in Columbus, Ohio

The Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau team will be in Columbus, Ohio in September doing our next “Update Gatlinburg” Lunch. The lunch and brief presentation will be for Columbus area based meeting planners that are interested in seeing all that Gatlinburg has to offer for your next convention, meeting or event. If you are in the Columbus area and are interested in attending the lunch, learning about Gatlinburg, and possibly leaving with a cool Gatlinburg hospitality donated door prize, please contact Dave Esslinger at dave@gatlinburg.com to be placed on the invitation list.
Gatlinburg Convention Center
List of Events
Gatlinburg Videos
The Mountains are Calling
Gatlinburg Convention Center
Gatlinburg Accolades
Forbes Magazine listed Gatlinburg one of its top 20 prettiest towns in America in 2017.​



Rocky Top Sports World Voted 2017 Top Multi Use Sports Facility



MSN listed Gatlinburg “The Prettiest Town in Every State” for the state of Tennessee in 2017.​​


City of Gatlinburg and Rocky Top Sports World named winning combo in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards by SDM Magazine. 



Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Named Best U.S. Aquarium for 2017 & 2019 by USA Today Readers’ Choice.



Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau Annual Readers Choice Award for 2017 and Seven Time Award Winner by Convention South Magazine.
Gatlinburg CVB
We would love the chance to “update” you on all the new and exciting developments that Gatlinburg has going to ensure that when it comes to your future conventions, meetings and events, Gatlinburg has your event covered!

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