The year 2014 is obviously a big year for record-breaking news in the Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park just beat a record number of visitors in October 2014, and now Gatlinburg is attempting to break a Guinness World Record at the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade, and you can be a part of all of the fun!
For 39 years, Gatlinburg has welcomed thousands of visitors each December for the Fantasy of Lights Christmas parade. This year, Gatlinburg is expecting to welcome even more guests as they try to break a very unique world record.
What's the Record?
When the parade kicks off at 7:30 on December 5, parade-goers will be given red noses to wear simultaneously for 5 minutes during the parade. The current record for the number of people wearing red noses simultaneously at an event is held in Australia and has been the record since 2011.At the Australian event, they had 16, 092 people wearing red noses. This year, the city of Gatlinburg plans to get 20,000 people wearing red noses to break the record.To learn about the current record, take a look at the Guinness World Record site.
Gatlinburg Christmas Parade Details
This year's Gatlinburg Christmas Parade is sure to be a fun one! There's all sorts of great things happening in the area, from the Gatlinburg Winterfest lights to the warm, holiday cheer that is found throughout the city.
American Idol Winner Appearance
This year, Caleb Johnson, the 13th American Idol winner, will make an appearance at the parade. He has a very high energy presence and will definitely be showing off some heavy rock music while he's here. To win the season of American Idol, he grabbed the attention of the audience with his great music and personality. On Saturday, December 6, Caleb will be hosting a meet and greet at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies from 2-4 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend and no tickets are required for the meet and greet.
What to Wear to the Parade
When you are visiting the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade, it's best if you arrive a bit early to ensure the best spot to watch the parade. We recommend dressing in layers so you stay warm throughout the length of the parade. Keep in mind that the temperature cools down quite a bit in the evening, so you will want to make sure you have a good jacket, gloves, and comfortable shoes on.
Parade Location
The parade starts at traffic light #1A in Gatlinburg at 7:30 p.m. and will run through Gatlinburg to traffic light #10 on the Parkway.
When the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade is over, you can spend a relaxing evening in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in a Gatlinburg cabin rental. Take a look at all of our Gatlinburg cabin rentals, then give us a call at Stony Brook Cabins to start planning your stay. We can't wait to see you in Gatlinburg and hope you will join us for the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade this year!