7 holiday activities around Knoxville for new neighbors and visitors

Knoxville comes alive for the holiday season. Lots of things to do if you are new to the area.

Whether you’ve just moved here or are visiting here, there are some important events to check out each year.

Knox News has rounded up seven essential holiday events especially for newcomers.

Market Square ice skating

Market Square in the heart of downtown Knoxville hosts an ice skating rink throughout December.

Skate sessions cost $12 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under and include admission, skating, and unlimited skating. It’s a great way to get active, enjoy winter fun, and meet new people familiar with downtown.

see winter play

If you’re new to Knoxville, another great way to get to know the city is the theater scene. Vacations are the perfect time to do so.

Don’t miss the annual production of A Christmas Carol at the Clarence Brown Theater. For $40, it’s a great way to experience a holiday classic.

The Tennessee Theater has a lineup of holiday shows each year, including performances of The Nutcracker and classic holiday movies. New visitors can also see one of Knoxville’s famous landmarks.

A Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood

Dollywood itself is always worth a visit if it’s your first time when you’re willing to drive to Sevierville, but even more so during the holidays.

The amusement park hosts an annual Smoky Mountain Christmas. Featuring millions of lights, seasonal shows and guided light tours Glacier Ridge.

If Dollywood isn’t what you’re looking for, Gatlinburg has options like Over Gatlinburg and Winterfest Lights.

Knoxville City Events

Holiday events are available to guide you through Knoxville and are a great way to familiarize yourself with the city.

One such annual offering is the Peppermint Trail, which has more than 90 participating companies. Each business offers something special for the trail, such as specialty cocktails and peppermint-themed merchandise.

Another is Elf on the Shelf. In this scavenger hunt, you’ll need to find elves hiding in several businesses in Knoxville.

Finally, there are holiday markets held several times in December, including the Winter Farmers Market and the Old City Market.

New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere

The Sunsphere is an iconic Knoxville landmark, ready to welcome new visitors. If you haven’t been able to see it up close and personal, the end of the year is the perfect time.

New Year’s Eve at Sunsphere at World’s Fair Park begins around 8pm on December 31st. Food trucks, silent disco and live music before the ball drops from the Sunsphere at midnight (no, the Sunsphere isn’t). drop).

see holiday lights

There are several Holiday Lights events near Knoxville for new people to get involved in. These are a great way to explore the rest of the area.

Each winter, the Knoxville Zoo hosts Zoo Lights, with animal-themed lights and a Santa Claus appearance, a flying sleigh zipline, and a lantern scavenger hunt.

In Farragut, the Light the Park event at Founders Park features elaborate lights, carols and a mailbox for letters to Santa.

Some neighborhoods also host lighting events such as Listen to the Lights and the Johnson Christmas Lights Display.

Other lighting events:The Smokies and Knoxville are well worth seeing for their amazing Christmas light shows.

Go on an outdoor adventure

Finally, if you’re new to the Knoxville area, being outdoors is a must. You may have to endure the cold, especially if snow is unlikely, but it’s worth getting out there.

The Imes Nature Center in South Knoxville offers several hiking trails and the chance to see Knoxville’s great outdoors.

For something a little more challenging, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has plenty of adventurous hiking trails. Stay safe and plan accordingly!