Fun holiday traditions await families at Wilderness at the Smokies and Soaky Mountain Waterpark
November 16, 2023

SEVIERVILLE, TN – The holidays are all about traditions, and Wilderness at the Smokies is very happy to provide plenty of opportunities for them. The resort’s real ice skating rink will be returning for its fifth season from November 10, 2023 - January 15, 2024.

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.

Wilderness at the Smokies Ice Skating Rink; courtesy image

“This holiday tradition has been growing in popularity since started it five years ago,” 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 and then going to see Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Light Display across the street at Soaky Mountain.”

The rink will be open from 10 am to 10:30 pm Saturday – Sunday, Thanksgiving week (November 22-24) and Christmas break (December 18-30); and 4 pm to 10:30 pm Monday- Friday. In addition, a DJ will be onsite Fridays and Saturdays beginning November 11, from 7 to 10 pm, including New Year’s Eve until 12:30 am. On Wednesday, November 29 from 7-10 pm the rink will host a Taylor Swift Night with a DJ playing all of Taylor’s greatest hits. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Taylor Swift outfit and “Skate It Off!” Santa will also be onsite and rink side for select afternoons. For a detailed calendar of hours visit www.wildernessatthesmokies.com and click on the ice rink hours tab.

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 $29.99 everyone in their room for their entire stay or guests can purchase daily admissions for $14.99 per person. At the rink, admission will be $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.

Other fun things happening on the ice rink include Skate for a Cause on November 18 from 10 am to 10 pm where 100 percent of the public ice skating admission will go to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee; performances by figure skaters from The Ice Chalet on December 15, 22, and 29, January 5 and 12 at 7 pm; Pro Vision Hockey Academy and the Knoxville Junior Ice Bears game pond style hockey games featuring Knoxville area’s best youth hockey players on Sunday, January 7, from 7 to 11 am; and a Cool Sports youth hockey games featuring local area skaters on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, from 7-11 am.

Tennis adds for those younger, unexperienced skaters who are unsure of skating a special Monty’s Youth Skate will be offered every Saturday (except December 2) 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 the resort’s mascots, Monty and/or Molly. The cost is $9.99 per child and includes skates as well as the day’s admission to the rink.

Other Holiday Activities Planned

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smoky Mountain

Across the street from Wilderness at the Smokies, Soaky Mountain Waterpark will also be celebrating Christmas with Shadrack’s original Christmas Wonderland Light Display, November 17-January 7, from 6-10 pm in its parking lot. Afterwards, guests can visit Snowy Mountain where there will be extra-large yard games for all to play, fire pits to roast s’mores, a kid’s snow globe photo op, crafts and a bounce house. Plus, families can see Santa on November 24, 25, 30, December 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23 from 6-9 pm.

Guests of the Wilderness can purchase Shadracks admissions by using the promo code “SKATESHOW” at time of reservation up to check in, which includes ice skating for your entire group throughout your stay, as well as a single vehicle admission to Shadracks’ light show for only $45! If added after check in, the price will increase to $60. Standalone admission to Shadracks is also available at time of reservation up to check in for $30. If added after check in, the price will increase to $40.

According to Mikki Hale, marketing director for Shadrack Productions, “Last year’s light show was successful at Soaky Mountain that we decided move our original Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland there this year. It will have an expanded drive route, amusing displays, some truly stunning new features, and the choreography to music, that is certain provide a Christmas experience that creates unforgettable moments for families and friends through two of our signature elements, lights and music.”

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 24, 12 to 6 pm; November 25, December 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 11 am to 8 pm; and November 26, December 3, 10, and 17, from 10 am to 2 pm.


Santa Appearances

The jolly ol’ man will also be returning to Wilderness at the Smokies and will be visiting with guests November 24, 2 to 6 pm; November 25, December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23, from 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 24, December 1, 8, 15, and 22, from 7 to 7:30 pm.

The Wilderness at the Smokies features 234 Stone Hill guest rooms; 472 River Lodge suites and 20 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 adjacent to the resort; and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space adjacent to Stone Hill Lodge.

It is owned by Wilderness Resort and Waterparks, a Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin-based hotel and hospitality development and management company which also operates Soaky Mountain Waterpark across the street from the resort as well 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.