Gatlinburg Pancake Week
Late February, annually
A week-long, town-wide celebration of the thing Gatlinburg does better than anywhere else — with an app-based challenge, an eating contest, and a two-night cabin stay as the grand prize. Seven restaurants earns you the prize pack.
Gatlinburg Pancake Week is a town-wide celebration of the town's pancake tradition, held each February during National Pancake Week. Participating pancake houses and restaurants serve specialty stacks, an app-based challenge rewards you with a prize pack, and a pancake eating contest adds some friendly competition. The event is organized by the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.
When: the last full week of February, during National Pancake Week
Where: participating restaurants across Gatlinburg
Challenge: check in at seven or more spots on the Visit Gatlinburg app
Details and this year's dates at gatlinburg.com
When it happens
Pancake Week runs for about a week at the end of February, lined up with National Pancake Week. In 2026, it ran February 21 to 28. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's dates before you plan your trip.
The Pancake Week Challenge
The challenge runs through the free Visit Gatlinburg app. Here's how it works:
Download the app — get the Visit Gatlinburg app and find the Pancake Week Challenge under Goals.
Visit participating restaurants — stop at seven or more participating locations during the week.
Check in at each one — check in through the app at every stop.
Collect your prize pack — complete the challenge to earn the Pancake Week Prize Pack, with a scratch-and-sniff pancake sticker, a pancake stress ball, and an official Pancake Week T-shirt.
Participants are also entered into the Pancake Week Giveaway, with a grand prize of a two-night stay in Gatlinburg and a pancake house gift card. See gatlinburg.com for the current year's rules and prizes.
The Pancake Eating Contest
The Gatlinburg Pancake Eating Contest debuted in 2026, sponsored by Flapjack's Pancake Cabin. It's free, open to all ages with separate age divisions, and held at downtown venues during the week. It's fun to enter and just as fun to watch. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's times and locations.
Where to eat during Pancake Week
Scratch-made pancakes and crepes on the Parkway since 1960, right next to The Village Shops. Arrive early. Lines are long during Pancake Week.
Thick griddle cakes and the famous fried cinnamon roll. Join the online waitlist before you head over.
A family-owned log cabin on Airport Road, serving pancakes and all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy since 1976.
Three Gatlinburg locations, scratch-made pancakes including gluten-free stacks, and online ordering to skip the wait.
Many other restaurants join in with their own specialty pancakes. See the full list of participants in the Visit Gatlinburg app, and see our guide to breakfast in Gatlinburg.
Tips for Pancake Week
Set up the app at home — download it before your trip so you're ready at your first stop.
Plan your seven stops — group restaurants by area so you're not crossing town every morning.
Go early — breakfast spots fill fast during Pancake Week, so arrive near opening.
Order to go — takeout counts toward the challenge at many spots, and pancakes on the cabin deck are hard to beat.
A February trip to Gatlinburg
February is one of the quieter times to visit, with shorter lines and lower rates. Come earlier in the month for Gatlinburg Sweet Week, a similar app challenge built around desserts, and stay for Pancake Week. Between breakfasts, enjoy the Winter Magic lights, ski or skate at Ober Gatlinburg, or see the sharks at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Plan your trip with our Valentine's Day cabins and cabins with fireplaces.
Frequently asked questions
When is Gatlinburg Pancake Week?
Each February, during National Pancake Week. In 2026, it ran February 21 to 28. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's dates.
How does the Pancake Week Challenge work?
Download the Visit Gatlinburg app, find the challenge under Goals, and check in at seven or more participating restaurants to earn the prize pack.
What's in the prize pack?
A scratch-and-sniff pancake sticker, a pancake stress ball, and an official Pancake Week T-shirt.
Is there a pancake eating contest?
Yes. The free contest, open to all ages, debuted in 2026 and is sponsored by Flapjack's Pancake Cabin.
Do I have to do the challenge to enjoy Pancake Week?
No. The specialty pancakes are on the menu all week, challenge or not.
Is February a good time to visit Gatlinburg?
Yes. It's a quieter season, with shorter lines, lower rates, and events like Sweet Week and Pancake Week.
Make breakfast a short drive with our Gatlinburg cabins, and warm up after a morning out in our cabins with fireplaces. Book direct and the Stay & Play Pass includes free attraction tickets for every paid night.