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Outdoor holiday traditions in the Smoky Mountains
November 21, 2022, 4:58 p.m.


OUTDOOR ice skating and other fun holiday traditions await families at Wilderness at the Smokies and Soaky Mountain Waterpark

smoky mountain holiday traditions


SEVIERVILLE, TN -- The holidays are all about traditions, which is why Wilderness at the Smokies officials are happy to announce their real ice skating rink will be returning for its fifth season from November 11-January 15.

The ice rink will occupy a 3,200 square foot portion of the resort’s outdoor wave pool, where hotel guests and the public can have fun together. Music, holiday lights and a Winter Wilderland snack area will add to the fun atmosphere.

“We are thrilled to be continuing this holiday tradition,” said Pete Tennis, Managing Director of Wilderness at the Smokies. “There is nothing more memorable than going ice skating during the holidays and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa or roasting marshmallows over one of our firepits in our Winter Wilderland.”

Ice skating admission fees are included with room rates if resort guests use Code: ICESKATE at the time of booking. At check-in, guests will be able to purchase admissions for $10.99 per person. At the rink, admission will be $13.99 for resort guests or $18.99 for the public, which includes skate rental. Soaky Mountain Waterpark season pass holders can skate for the discounted rate of $10.99 if they show their wristbands.

The rink will be open from 10 am to 10:30 pm Saturday – Sunday, Thanksgiving week (November 21-25) and Christmas break (December 19-30); and 4 pm to 10:30 pm Monday-Friday. In addition, a DJ will be onsite Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 10 pm. For a detailed calendar please visit www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/waterpark-hours/ and click on the ice rink hours tab.

Other fun things happening on the ice rink include performances by skaters from The Ice Chalet at 7pm on December 9, 16, January 6 and 13; a Pro Vision Hockey Academy game featuring local 8U and 10U players on Sunday, December 4 from 7 am to 11am; and a Cool Sports youth hockey games featuring local area skaters on December 17 and 18 from 7-10 am.

Tennis adds for those younger, unexperienced skaters who are unsure of skating a special Youth Skate will be offered every Saturday (except December 17) between 9-10 am (before the rink opens) for younger, unexperienced skaters to get time on the ice without bigger and faster people speeding around them. The resort will provide skating aids, a surprise Christmas gift, and an opportunity for a photo with Monty or Molly. The cost is $9.99 per child and includes skates as well as the day’s admission to the rink.

Other Holiday things planned

Shadrack’s Super-Sized Christmas Adventure at Soaky Mountain
Across the street from Wilderness at the Smokies, Soaky Mountain Waterpark will also be celebrating Christmas with Shadrack’s Super-Sized Christmas Adventure, November 25-January 1 from 6-10 pm in its parking lot. This fun event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at www.shadrackchristmas.com.

According to Josh Hawk, spokesperson for Shadrack’s, “We are so excited to be bringing our Super-Sized Christmas Adventure to the Sevierville region.

“Families who come for this amazing experience will find themselves immersed in a fun holiday story. As your car enters the display area, Santa’s Shrink Ray will accidentally hit it instead of the presents it was aiming for, and your family will be plunged into a world of super-sized toys, animals, and imagination. Your challenge will be to find a way to ‘regrow’ yourselves or else you become lost in our tiny tinsel mayhem forever.”

This unique drive-through storybook combines larger-than-life illustrated art with lights & sound, creating an immersive experience everyone will enjoy.

Afterwards guests can visit Snowy Mountain where there will be extra-large yard games for all to play; a mixture of DJ and live music on select nights; kids’ snow globe and ornament craft projects for an additional $5-$8 fee; and a variety of cold weather gear, Soaky merchandise and tasty treats available for purchase. Plus, families can see Santa on November 26, December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23 from 6-9 pm.

Santa’s Workshop
Back at Wilderness at the Smokies resort guests will again be able to enjoy Santa’s workshop in the Resort’s River Lodge Conference Room. Kids will be able to participate in cookie decorating, holiday crafts, and even have the opportunity to write and mail a letter to Santa. It will be open November 25, 11 am to 3 pm; November 26, December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 23, from 11 am to 8 pm; and November 27, December 4, 11, 18, and 24, from 10-2 pm.

Santa Appearances
The jolly ol’ man will also be returning to Wilderness at the Smokies and will be visiting with guests November 25, from 12-3 pm; and November 26, December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 21, 22, and 23 3 to 6 pm. He will be in the outdoor Winter Wonderland by the resort’s ice rink the first hour of each scheduled appearance and then in Santa’s Workshop during the last two hours.

Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Mrs. Claus will be hosting 30-minute Christmas themed story times for children staying at the resort. This will be happening in the resort’s River Lodge lobby on Friday, November 25, December 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 7 to 7:30 pm.

Santa Hustle Smokies 5k & 10K
Thousands of Santas race along the city streets during the annual Santa Hustle Smokies 5k and 10K on Sunday, Dec. 11. The race will start and finish near Soaky Mountain Waterpark’s entrance. For more information or to register, please visit santahustle.com/smokies/.

The Wilderness at the Smokies features 234 Stone Hill guest rooms; 472 River Lodge suites and 8 Villas; an 84-degree, year-round indoor waterpark; two seasonal outdoor waterparks; an indoor family entertainment center; a variety of dining and shopping options; a 36-hole championship golf course; and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. It is owned by Wilderness Resort and Waterparks, a Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin-based hotel and hospitality development and management company which also operates Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wilderness on the Lake and Sundara Spa all in Wisconsin Dells.

Wilderness at the Smokies has created hundreds of jobs in the greater Sevierville community, attracting year-round tourism, and having a major impact on sales tax and room tax generated for the City of Sevierville since opening its doors in 2008. For more information visit WildernessattheSmokies.com or call 877-325-9453.

















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