Winterfest kicks off in Pigeon Forge November 7th at Patriot Park with festivities beginning at 3:00 pm. At the end of the night the city will transform into a winter wonderland with the activation of more than 12 million holiday lights followed by a spectacular fireworks show.
All events at the kickoff are free to the public and will feature food trucks and other exciting holiday vendors.
101st Airborne U.S. Army Band Leads Pigeon Forge Veterans Tribute on Nov. 7: Ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, the city honors America’s heroes with live music, Quilts of Valor presentation and fireworks at annual Winterfest Kickoff.
Pigeon Forge will honor America’s veterans on Nov. 7 with a music-filled Veterans Tribute featuring the 101st Airborne U.S. Army Band.
The 101st Airborne U.S. Army Band performs during Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest Kickoff in 2023. The popular ensemble returns on Nov. 7 for the city’s Veterans Tribute. Photo: Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism
On the Thursday, November 7, the Veterans Tribute begins at 3:00 pm in Pigeon Forge’s Patriot Park (186 Old Mill Avenue). Veterans of all branches of the U.S. armed services are encouraged to attend.
There’s no greater sacrifice than service to our country, and Pigeon Forge humbly pays tribute to the men and women who have earned the distinction of veteran. Pigeon Forge’s Veterans Tribute takes place in our city, but we hope this salute to our nation’s heroes is felt in the hearts of veterans everywhere.
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism Executive Director Leon Downey
Performances by the Pigeon Forge High School, Gatlinburg-Pittman Highlanderettes choruses and Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier will precede the presentation of colors by the Veterans Military Honor Guard of Pigeon Forge.
The 101st Airborne (Air Assault) U.S. Army Band, an active-duty U.S. Army band stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, takes the stage at 6:15 p.m. for a free 45-minute tribute concert. Specializing in horn-driven funk and dance music, the band performs at formal events, festivals, and concert venues for service members and the public.
Quilts of Valor will honor three Sevier County veterans. Randal Underwood and Floyd Smith, both Vietnam veterans, and James Hood, a veteran of the Korean Conflict, each will be awarded a quilt handmade locally by the Smoky Mountain Patriotic Quilters of Sevier County. Quilts of Valor, a national organization founded in 2003, honors veterans and service members for service, sacrifice and valor by covering veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts. Quilts are made according to various specifications, from size to stitching. A Quilt of Valor must be labeled as such and include the name of the veteran or service member.
The Pigeon Forge Veterans Tribute will conclude with a special patriotic fireworks display.
All entertainment is free and part of Pigeon Forge’s annual Winterfest Kickoff Celebration. The evening culminates with the activation of twelve million lights throughout the city. Winterfest, one of the Southeast’s largest festivals, continues through Feb. 18, 2025.
Free parking is available in the city’s Municipal and Mountain parking lots located off Teaster Lane. A variety of food trucks will offer guests dining options for purchase throughout the event.
<!–
New Displays
This year promises some exciting new light installations along the Riverwalk Greenway and in Patriot Park. Here to help unveil one of the new expansions at the kickoff event will be Megan Alexander, UPtv star and host of Small Town Christmas, and Janelle Arthur, an East Tennessee singer/songwriter.
Pigeon Forge Feature: At the Pigeon Forge Winterfest Kickoff event, UPtv will be filming a segment for their holiday travel show Small Town Christmas. The show starring Megan Alexander airs on Sunday nights in December.
Wonders of Light Walking Trail: The festivities will begin with the official unveiling of the new Wonders of Light Walking Trail in the Pigeon Forge municipal lot between The Island and the LeConte Center. This spectacle also includes a free Janelle Arthur concert before the unveiling. Mayor David Wear and Megan Alexander plus a surprise guest will activate the light displays.
Wonders of Winterfest Christmas Village: Patriot Park will be transformed into an exciting new Winterfest installation: the Wonders of Winterfest Christmas Village. Beginning at 6:45 pm, Megan Alexander will host a veterans tribute featuring local high school choruses as well as the Pigeon Forge Honor Guard in Patriot Park.
–>