Top 5 Easter Events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Easter weekend in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offers a distinctly Smoky Mountains celebration — mountaintop sunrise services, community egg hunts in city parks, handcrafted spring goods from local artisans, and the wildflowers of the national park arriving at the same time. Here are five events worth planning around.

1. Easter Arts & Crafts Show — Gatlinburg Convention Center

The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community's annual Easter Arts and Crafts Show runs for several days in the week or two before Easter at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Local and regional artisans bring handcrafted works in glass, wood, fabric, jewelry, ceramics, and more — with spring and Easter-themed pieces running alongside the broader artisan selection. It's one of the better opportunities to find genuinely handmade gifts and decorations rather than mass-produced alternatives, and the Gatlinburg Convention Center location keeps it accessible from downtown.

The show typically runs during the week leading into Easter weekend. Check the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community website at gsmac.org for the current-year dates and participating artisans.

2. Gatlinburg Easter Egg Hunt at Mynatt Park

The Gatlinburg Community Police Programs hosts an annual Easter Egg Hunt at Mynatt Park — a genuine community event with hot dogs and refreshments for everyone, Easter-themed activities, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, and an egg hunt for children. The park setting alongside the mountain creek makes it one of the more pleasant outdoor Easter event locations in the area.

The event typically takes place the Saturday before Easter, with activities beginning around noon and the egg hunt following at 1 PM. Mynatt Park is just a few minutes from downtown Gatlinburg on East Parkway. Check the City of Gatlinburg or Gatlinburg Police Department social media for the current-year date and event details.

3. Easter Egg Hunt at Wear Farm City Park — Pigeon Forge

Wear Farm City Park in Pigeon Forge hosts a free community egg hunt each Easter — inflatable bounce houses, photos with the Easter Bunny, and a staggered-start egg hunt across four baseball fields that gives younger children their own age-appropriate window before older kids take the field. Age groups typically run from toddlers through age 12, with separate start times so the youngest participants aren't competing with older children for the same eggs. Thousands of eggs are hidden across the fields.

The park's playground makes it easy to extend the morning well past the egg hunt itself. Free to attend. Check the City of Pigeon Forge Parks and Recreation calendar at cityofpigeonforge.com for the current-year date and any registration details.

4. Easter Sunrise Service at Gatlinburg SkyPark

The annual Easter Sunrise Service at Gatlinburg SkyPark is the most distinctively Smoky Mountains version of a sunrise service available anywhere in the area. The SkyLift chairlift begins running before dawn — typically around 6:15 AM — carrying attendees up to the mountain summit for a worship service that begins as the sun comes up over the ridgeline. The view at that moment, with the light moving across the Smokies from east to west, is the kind of thing that stays with you.

After the service, SkyPark admission is typically included at no charge, giving attendees access to the SkyBridge, Clayton's Landing overlook, and the rest of the park for the morning. Check gatlinburgskypark.com before Easter weekend for the current year's service time and any registration requirements.

5. Easter at Ober Gatlinburg

Ober Gatlinburg hosts a sunrise service each Easter morning — the Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway begins running early (typically around 5:30 AM) to carry attendees to the summit for a 6:30 AM worship service led by local pastors from the Gatlinburg Ministerial Association. The service runs approximately 30–40 minutes. Donations collected support local families in need. After the service, the mountain stays open for an egg hunt, gospel music, activities, and early access to the mountain's attractions.

Ober Gatlinburg also runs Easter breakfast and lunch buffets at the Seasons of Ober Restaurant — a pancake bar with toppings at breakfast, prime rib and ham at lunch — with reservations recommended. The tram ride up the mountain in the dark, arriving at the summit as dawn breaks over the Smokies, is a genuinely memorable way to begin Easter morning. Check obergatlinburg.com for this year's service time, buffet reservations, and details.

Planning an Easter Weekend Cabin Stay

Easter weekend is one of the busier spring weekends in the Smokies — cabin availability goes quickly in the weeks before the holiday. For families combining an egg hunt, a sunrise service, and a morning at SkyPark or Ober Gatlinburg, staying in a Smoky Mountains cabin makes the logistics straightforward: no hotel parking, a full kitchen for Easter morning breakfast, and enough space for the whole family without the squeeze of a hotel suite.

Book early — Easter weekend cabins in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg typically book out 4–8 weeks in advance. Browse family vacation cabins or large group cabins for the right fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Easter events happen in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge each year?

Recurring Easter weekend traditions include the sunrise service at Gatlinburg SkyPark, Easter events at Ober Gatlinburg (sunrise service, egg hunt, buffets), the Wear Farm City Park egg hunt in Pigeon Forge, the Gatlinburg Community Easter Egg Hunt at Mynatt Park, and the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community Easter show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Check each organizer's website for current-year dates.

Is the Gatlinburg SkyPark sunrise service open to everyone?

Yes — the annual Easter Sunrise Service at Gatlinburg SkyPark is open to the public. The SkyLift begins running before dawn to transport attendees to the summit service, and SkyPark admission is typically included after the service. Check gatlinburgskypark.com for registration and the current-year service time.

Are the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg egg hunts free?

Yes — both the Wear Farm City Park egg hunt in Pigeon Forge and the Mynatt Park egg hunt in Gatlinburg are free community events. The Ober Gatlinburg sunrise service is also free to attend (buffet tickets are separate). The Arts and Crafts Show is free to browse, with artisan goods available for purchase.

When should I book a cabin for Easter weekend in the Smokies?

4–8 weeks before Easter is the typical booking window. Easter weekend is one of the busier spring holiday periods in the area and cabin availability tightens quickly. Browse Smoky Mountain cabins early to secure your preferred property.