Labor Day is behind us and it’s now September. Bring on fall and pumpkin spice season! Beautiful fall foliage, pumpkins, fall festivals, soups, all the things. There will be no shortage of fall flavors, scarecrows, live music and vibrant photo opportunities for your fall visit to the Smoky Mountains. There is literally nothing like it and you do not want to miss out.
Leaf Peepers Season
It’s leaf peepers season y’all! Leaf peeping is an informal term used for those who enjoy viewing and taking photos of fall foliage. Visitors flock to the Smoky Mountain area every fall to witness the beautiful foliage. Exact timing, or ‘peak season’ is not completely predictable in advance as it depends on the weather each year. Cades Cove and Newfound Gap Road are popular areas to view the natural beauty.Plan to pack your patience and expect traffic delays because many others will have the same plan! I recommend looking over a fall color guide as the timing of changes depends on the elevation. Check out this post for more details: https://www.gatlinburg.com/events/seasonal-events/fall/fall-colors-report/.
Things To Do: Fall In The Smoky Mountains
Many of the popular attractions throughout the area have fall-themed decor and events. Dollywood will host their ‘Harvest Festival’ September 9-October 28. There are so many fun sights and things to experience. Coasters, entertainment, fall-themed foods, and the most perfect decor that turns into a glowing spectacular by dark. Anakeesta’s ‘Bear-Varian Fall Festival’ starts September 13 through October 31. Seasonal food offerings, beer tastings, and entertainment are on the line-up for great way to enjoy Autumn in the Smoky Mountains. ‘Autumn at the SkyPark’ will take place at the Gatlinburg SkyPark, also known as the sky bridge. Kids activities and live music will be available October 1-31.
Outside of the usual Smoky Mountain attractions, there are also local fall festivals. Gatlinburg Craftmen’s Fair will be held at the downtown Gatlinburg Convention Center October 3-20. Here you can browse 200+ vendors with handmade items such as pottery and leather. Wears Valley Fall Fest is scheduled October 18-20. Food, craft vendors, and entertainment are scheduled. The Townsend Fall Heritage Festival will be September 27-28.
Spooky Season
If Halloween and spooky season are more your vibe, there are haunted attractions in the area as well! Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion and Ripley’s Haunted Adventures have special Halloween presentations in October. Take a ghost tour with Ghost and Haunt Tours of Galinburg or Gatlinburg Haunts. Halloween themed putt-putt at Crave Golf Club, located in Pigeon Forge, is another great way to celebrate spooky season from September 27 through October 31. Trick-or-treating is available at The Island in Pigeon Forge on Halloween from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.
Final Thoughts
While lots of families will spend fall break in the Smokies, October weekends will be packed with leaf peepers. The weather is typically very pleasant during the fall months in the Smoky Mountains. Warm during the day, and cool at night. Perfect for a camp fire after a long day exploring! Fall is a fan-favorite for Smoky Mountain visitors. You will not be disappointed!
Check out this blog to learn how to best navigate the crowds during your fall trip to the Smoky Mountains!