Mark your calendars—the first day of fall will be September 22, 2017! And that means we’re getting closer to one of the most popular seasons to visit the Smoky Mountains. It also means we’re closer to Sugarlands MountainFest, a 4-day music and outdoor festival in the Smokies! The fall foliage of the Smokies draws thousands of guests every year. No one wants to miss the gorgeous display of colors cascading down the mountains! And the Sugarlands MountainFest beautifully blends the fall foliage with the music of the mountains. So be sure to book your fall foliage visit early, and don’t miss your chance to visit the Smokies this September.
Sugarland’s MountainFest 2017
September 28 – October 1, 2017
Fall 2017 in the Smokies is going to be big, with the Sugarlands Distilling Company’s Sugarlands MountainFest! It’s a 4-day music and outdoor festival that will boast 30+ musical performances and celebrate the beauty of the great outdoors in the Smokies! Add to that fishing and biking competitions, races, cocktails, moonshine and brews, and fantastic mountain views for an event like no other!
Tickets range from a $15 Sunday Pass to a $200 VIP Festival Pass that includes everything from whiskey tasting, access to the VIP Lounge and Bar, and a 3-day VIP Festival Pass to complimentary drink tickets, a t-shirt, and a Sugarlands Distilling Company gift card!
The musical lineup is impressive, with performances by:
Must-See Events
September 14, 2017
Although this technically isn’t a fall event, we still want you to know about Gatlinburg’s 20th annual Taste of Autumn, scheduled for Thursday, September 14, from 5 – 8 PM. Featuring the talented Jimmy Travis, this fundraising event has been helping the United Way of Sevier County (which provides community programs to Sevier County residents) for more than a decade. This year’s Taste of Autumn will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Tickets are $30, and children 5 and under are FREE!
September 22–October 29, 2017
The day after the start of fall marks the kickoff for another exciting event in Gatlinburg: OktOBERfest! A Smoky Mountain version of the centuries-old festival held in Munich, Germany, OktOBERfest features the Bavarian folk music and dancing, special OctOBERfest “biers,” traditional German cuisine (including schnitzel, sauerkraut, and strudel), and more! Join the festivities anytime between the end of September and the end of October at Ober Gatlinburg in the Smokies.
Must-Do Activities
A visit in September has to include some time spent in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Why? Because that’s the best place to experience the natural beauty of fall foliage in all its splendor. We recommend, during your fall visit to Gatlinburg, focusing your activities list on outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, and more.
One other activity you should put on the top of your list is a hayride in the Smokies! This is a fun and memorable way to experience the fall foliage with your family, your kids, or the one you love during your September stay.
The Smoky Mountains provide a few different options to choose from, including a hayride with Cades Cove Riding Stables, Apple Valley Riding Stables, and EchoBrooke Farms. The Cades Cove hayride will take you on the popular scenic road known as the Cades Cove Loop, where you’ll have one of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the park. Apple Valley Riding Stables will take you not only through the Smoky Mountains, but also through 1,200 acres of beautiful scenery in the Apple Valley.
Finally, EchoBrooke Farms is the perfect choice for an authentic, horse-drawn hayride with up to 30 people. Or you can choose a private carriage ride for 2—perfect for a romantic date or even a unique Smoky Mountain proposal! This option includes a chef prepared picnic as well, so be sure to check in with EchoBrooke Farms if you’re planning a September visit in celebration of a honeymoon, anniversary, or some other special occasion.
Must-Have Amenities
As you plan your September stay in Gatlinburg, it’s important to pick the right events, but it’s especially important to pick the right cabin. After all, you’ll spend your mornings, nights, and lazy afternoons there! So choose a cabin with at least one of our recommended amenities for the fall. When you know what you want, simply contact our reservation specialists, and we’ll get you set up with the perfect Gatlinburg cabin for your visit this fall!
Outdoor Hot Tub—Almost all of our Gatlinburg cabins offers this relaxing feature, so take advantage of an outdoor soak during your fall stay. This is one of the best times of year to use our hot tubs because the weather is just cool enough to make them enjoyable without being so cold you never want to get out!
Outdoor Fire Pit—When you think of September, how can you not think of roasting marshmallows around a crackling fire with your favorite sweatshirt on and a cup of hot cocoa in your hand? If that’s a must-do experience for you, then check out our selection of cabins with outdoor fire pits or at least wood-burning fireplaces.
Wooded/Mountain Views—Sure, you can ride the Gatlinburg Skylift to see the range of colors in the fall, but one of the easiest ways to enjoy the fall foliage is to choose one of our cabins with wooded and/or mountain views! You’ll enjoy the sights right from your rocking chair porch—without changing out of your pajamas or fighting the traffic downtown!