GatlinBURGER Week
Mid-September, annually
Two dozen Gatlinburg restaurants each build one specialty burger that exists for a single week, then the public votes on which is best. Eat at seven and you earn a prize pack — vote, and you're in for a two-night stay.
GatlinBURGER Week is a week-long burger competition held in Gatlinburg each September, organized by the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. About two dozen restaurants and attractions each create one specialty burger that's only available during the event. Visitors taste them, vote for a favorite, and can work through an app challenge for prizes, including a chance at a two-night Gatlinburg stay.
When: about a week in mid-September, usually Friday to Friday
Where: participating restaurants across Gatlinburg
Challenge: order the specialty burger at seven or more locations
Grand prize: a two-night Gatlinburg stay, drawn from voters
When it happens
GatlinBURGER Week runs for about a week in mid-September, usually from a Friday through the following Friday, in the second or third week of the month. Check gatlinburg.com or the Visit Gatlinburg app for this year's dates and the full list of participating restaurants.
How it works
The burgers
Each participating restaurant creates one specialty burger made just for the event. You won't find it on the menu before or after. Entries range from Southern barbecue builds to international flavors and over-the-top stacks.
Voting and the Meister
At the end of the week, the burger with the most public votes is named the GatlinBURGER Meister, the top honor of the competition. Anyone who orders a specialty burger at a participating location can vote.
The grand prize
The grand prize, a two-night Gatlinburg stay plus an attractions pass and a prize pack, is drawn from people who voted. Voting is separate from the app challenge, so do both.
The GatlinBURGER Challenge
The challenge runs through the free Visit Gatlinburg app, and you have to actually order the burger to check in. Here's how it works:
Download the app — get the Visit Gatlinburg app and find the GatlinBURGER Challenge under Goals.
Order the specialty burger — at a participating location. Dine-in and carryout both count.
Get the code — your server gives you a code that's unique to that location.
Check in — tap the business in the app and enter the code.
Repeat — check in at seven or more locations in all.
Collect your prizes — show proof at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center to pick up your prize pack, which includes a GatlinBURGER Week T-shirt.
Where to eat
The list of participating restaurants changes every year and is published in the Visit Gatlinburg app each September. For burgers any time of year, try Smith & Son Corner Kitchen at traffic light #8, Mountain Edge Grill for bison burgers, Johnny Rockets on the Parkway, or Jimmy's Smokehouse & Pizza Joint on East Parkway. See all Gatlinburg restaurants.
Tips for the week
Set up the app first — have it downloaded and the challenge found before your first burger.
Use carryout — if a line is long, ordering to go still counts.
Plan your seven stops — group them by area so you aren't crisscrossing town.
Vote and check in — they're separate steps, and only voting enters you for the grand prize.
Share the burgers — seven specialty burgers in a week is a lot, so splitting them with your group is a common strategy.
More to do in mid-September
Mid-September is a nice time in Gatlinburg, with summer crowds thinning and fall color still ahead. Dollywood starts its Harvest Festival, Anakeesta holds a fall festival, and the weather is comfortable for hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Browse the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community or cross the SkyBridge at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. See all Gatlinburg events and our September guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is GatlinBURGER Week?
A week-long burger competition each September, organized by the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, with specialty burgers, public voting, and an app challenge.
When is it?
About a week in mid-September, usually Friday to Friday. Check gatlinburg.com for this year's dates.
How does the challenge work?
Order the specialty burger at seven or more participating locations, get the code from your server at each one, check in on the Visit Gatlinburg app, and show proof at the Welcome Center for your prize pack.
What's the grand prize?
A two-night Gatlinburg stay, an attractions pass, and a prize pack, drawn from people who voted.
What is the GatlinBURGER Meister?
The title given to the restaurant whose burger gets the most public votes.
Does carryout count?
Yes, as long as you order the specialty burger and get the code from your server.
Can a group split the burgers?
Yes. Each check-in needs a specialty burger order and that location's code, but anyone can help eat it.
Make GatlinBURGER Week easy with our Gatlinburg cabins, or bring the whole crew to split the burgers with our large cabins. Book direct and the Stay & Play Pass includes free attraction tickets for every paid night.