Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
Posted by Leif Palmer in Events
Remember being bundled up in the back seat of the family car while dad cruised the streets so the family could admire the holiday light displays? You'd share hot chocolate from a thermos, listen to Christmas music on the radio, and dream about the toys Santa was sure to leave under the tree. Those are the kind of family memories that are cherished for a lifetime, and now is the perfect time to recreate those traditions with your own children. Gatlinburg, TN makes it easy with their annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, an enchanting event the whole family will love.
A Stunning Start to the Holiday Season
The folks in Gatlinburg really know how to throw a holiday party. Quaint shops are draped with festive decorations, miles of twinkling lights blanket every tree and lamppost, and the sound of Christmas carols fills the air from November until New Year's Day. But all this is just the backdrop for the season's most spectacular celebration.
The Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade features everything you'd expect from a holiday event, including music, floats, equestrian teams and more. What makes it truly special, though, is the lights. Each float glows with thousands of tiny lights, making this much-anticipated event even more magical. With 80,000 spectators and more than 100 entries, you can bet that the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade will become an unforgettable holiday memory for everyone in your family.
The 37th annual parade begins at 7:30pm on December 7, 2012, and promises to delight everyone from the youngest members of your family to the oldest. Dozens of floats carry local celebrities and carolers dressed in Victorian-era costumes. Marching bands from Tennessee and the surrounding states offer crowd-pleasing renditions of your favorite holiday tunes. Dancers perform selections from children's classics such as the Nutcracker Ballet, and of course no parade is complete without a few giant helium balloons floating along the route. You might even catch a glimpse of Santa and his elves as the parade winds its way through the streets of Gatlinburg.
After the final floats pass by, you'll want to spend some time admiring the holiday decorations that make Christmas such an enchanting time of year in Gatlinburg. Known for its environmentally friendly light show, the entire downtown area has a festive feel that will certainly put you in the mood for Christmas.
Stop by a café for a cup of hot chocolate, window shop among the many arts and crafts dealers that line the streets, or stop to admire the songs of local musicians as they entertain passers by. It's like stepping back in time to the Christmases of the past, and your whole family will find something to love about the experience.
Create a new holiday tradition when you bring the kids to Gatlinburg, TN for a magical kick-off to the holiday season. This one-of-a-kind event is equally enchanting for young and old, and there is simply no better way to get in the holiday spirit than to enjoy the famous Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade with those you love.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
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