After weeks of anticipation, Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, Tenn. has finally released details about their annual Autumn at Anakeesta fall festival event.
Beginning October 1, guests will be able to experience the many colors of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains from Gatlinburg’s award winning outdoor family theme park.
This year’s fall event will feature seasonal food, drinks, games, live entertainment and a variety family-friendly activities.
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Featured activities include:
- ‘Haunted’ rides on the Rail Runner mountain coaster each night at sunset
- Nighttime ziplining
- Family-friendly Halloween-themed movies at the fire pit (Friday and Saturday nights)
- Live music featuring popular local artists including Monroeville (every Saturday and select Fridays)
The event is set to run through the end of October.
The event schedule is currently as follows:
Friday, Oct. 2nd
- 7pm – Movies: Casper and Hocus Pocus
Saturday, Oct. 3rd
- 3pm – Live music featuring Monroeville
- 7pm – Movies: Hotel Transylvania 1 and 2
Friday, Oct. 9th
- 3pm – Live music featuring Sara Collins
- 7pm – Movies: Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein, Coraline
Saturday, Oct. 10th
- 11am – Live music featuring Midnight Run Band
- 3pm – Live music featuring Boogertown Gap
- 7pm – Movies: HalloweenTown 1 and 2
Friday, Oct. 16th
- 7pm – Movies: ParaNorman and Ghostbusters
Saturday, Oct. 17th
- 3pm – Live music featuring the Josh Gilbert Band
- 7pm – Movies: Monster House, Haunted Mansion
Friday, Oct. 23rd
- 3pm – Live music featuring the Josh Gilbert Band
- 7pm – Movies: Casper, Frankenweenie
Saturday, Oct. 24th
- 3pm – Live music featuring the Josh Gilbert Band
- 7pm – Movies: Hotel Transylvania and Tower of Terror
Friday, Oct. 30th
- 3pm – Live music featuring the Midnight Run Band
- 7pm – Movies: Coraline and Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Frankenstein
Friday, Oct. 31st
- 11am – Live music featuring Boogertown Gap
- 3pm – Live music featuring Sara Collins
- 7pm – Movies: Frankenweenie and The Nightmare before Christmas
Important Note: Movies times may vary based on the sunset, but the expected start time is around 7pm, weather permitting. Live music and movie events are free with the purchase of admission.
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New restaurant, repaired Treetop Skywalk, Local Appreciation Days also coming this fall
That’s not all Anakeesta has in store for us this coming fall.
The long-awaited third and final phase of Anakeesta’s $6.5 million dollar expansion, featuring the all-new Smokehouse Restaurant is nearly complete and is officially set to open in September.
Guests will be able to enjoy spectacular sunsets from a climate-controlled indoor dining room as they enjoy classic southern cuisine such as pulled pork, smoked wings and craft beer.
The addition of this new restaurant doubles Anakeesta’s current seating capacity.
Anakeesta has also been busy at work repairing the popular Treetop Skywalk attraction. The Treetop Skywalk was recently damaged by a bad storm.
Storms are par for the course here in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Anakeesta is far from immune from sometimes punishing weather.
Ninety-mile per hour winds knocked down a couple of trees on Anakeesta’s popular TreeTop SkyWalk attraction, taking a piece of the SkyWalk with them last spring.
Luckily, the majority of the SkyWalk was unharmed and guests are still allowed to walk on the intact bridges that remain.
Repairs are expected to be complete by the end of August.
Anakeesta will also be celebrating their semi-annual Local Appreciation Days event from Monday, Nov. 9 – Sunday, Nov. 15.
During local appreciation days, residents of Sevier, Knox, Blount, Jefferson, Cocke and Hamblen counties can enjoy a special general admission price of only $5 plus tax. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Appalachian Bear Rescue and Education Round Up.
Each person in the party must live or work in the above mentioned counties and present a photo ID or current paycheck stub with ID. Annual pass upgrades still apply after the $5 fee.
Anakeesta is located at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. To learn more about Anakeesta or to purchase tickets, visit them online at Anakeesta.com.