5 Spooky Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

One of the great things about visiting the Smoky Mountains in the fall is all of the spooktacular Halloween activities! From kid-friendly attractions to haunted houses that will have you screaming in delight, there is truly something for everyone in the family! The best part is that you’ll find all of the fun just minutes away from our cabin rentals in Wears Valley! Here are 5 spooky ways to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge:

1. Attend the Harvest Festival at Dollywood

The Harvest Festival at Dollywood is sure to get you in the Halloween spirit as thousands of creatively carved pumpkins light up the night! As you stroll through the park, you’ll also notice the delightful scents of apple and pumpkin treats around every corner! The Harvest Festival features plenty of award-winning entertainment too, as well as all of your favorite Dollywood rides and attractions! Be sure to experience one of the many roller coasters at night as they race through the darkness!

2. Brave a Terrifying Haunted House

Gatlinburg's Mysterious MansionAnother one of the spooky ways to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is to brave a haunted house! See if you have what it takes to make your way through the eerie corridors of the Mysterious Mansion or Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in downtown Gatlinburg, or head into Pigeon Forge to encounter the zombies at Outbreak: Dread the Undead! While these haunted houses are open year-round for your enjoyment, you’ll find that more actors have been added for the Halloween season!

3. Take a Creepy Ghost Tour

If you want to learn about the macabre and paranormal side of the Smoky Mountains, consider taking a ghost tour in Gatlinburg! There are several walking tours available in town, including the Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg GhostWalk, and the Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg. These are not haunted house-style attractions where actors in costumes jump out, but professional tours that combine history and the sinister past of the Smokies! Keep your eyes peeled as you might just see some paranormal activity during your stroll!

4. Visit Hallow Mountain at Anakeesta

entrance sign at Anakeesta in GatlinburgWhen it comes to the spooky ways to celebrate Halloween in Gatlinburg, you won’t want to miss Hallow Mountain at Anakeesta! This family-friendly event features stunning nature-inspired pumpkin carvings, live musical entertainment, and plenty of Halloween decor throughout the park! Once the sun sets behind the mountains, Anakeesta comes alive with whimsical colors of orange, purple, and mystical green!

5. Play the Haunting of Hyde House Escape Game

If you’re up for a challenge this Halloween, test your wits in the Haunting of Hyde House game at Gatlin’s Escape Games! In this themed adventure, you are trapped in the Hyde House and discover that Little Isabella haunts the mansion. She leaves puzzles to lead you to her cherished doll Emma, and your team of family and friends have just 60 minutes to solve them! Your job is to reunite Isabella with her doll and free her troubled soul from purgatory!

Check out all of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals today to stay close to these spooky things to do for Halloween in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! We look forward to seeing you soon!