The 50th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade lit up downtown Gatlinburg on Friday, December 5, 2025, bringing joy, music and unforgettable moments to visitors and locals alike. With Grammy-nominated recording artist Hunter Hayes serving as Grand Marshal, Gatlinburg’s world-famous Winter Magic celebration blended tradition with surprise.
“Gatlinburg seems to call to all of us around Christmas, and I have incredibly fond memories of being there during the holidays with my family as a young performer,” Hayes told Spin. “I have a deep love and appreciation for that whole part of Tennessee.”
And it showed. Hayes — who is celebrating his new EP Evergreen Christmas Sessions — led the Smoky Mountain procession with energy and festive spirit, delighting both local fans and out-of-town visitors with holiday greetings. The multi-platinum singer, known for his genre-blending sound and longtime popularity in country and pop music circles, brought added excitement and national attention to the event. The Grand Marshal position was sponsored by Gatlinburg’s own Ole Smoky Distillery.
Beyond Hayes, the 2025 parade featured an all-star roster of special guests and personalities. Luminaries included Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes (stars of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners/partners with Sugarlands Distilling Co.) and four time world champion pitmaster and culinary personality Myron Mixon. Pam Sutton, an honored figure representing moonshiner heritage and wife of the late legendary distiller Popcorn Sutton also appeared.
Hosts included Grand Ole Opry member and multi-platinum country favorite Mark Wills and award-winning television personality Nan Kelley — known for Top 20 Country Countdown and Opry Live — rounded out the list of stars who appeared.
Eighty-thousand revellers visited the parade route 2025’s incarnation off the annual celebration. The procession counted more than 70 festive floats, a dazzling array of over one million LED lights, larger-than-life balloons, spirited marching bands and Santa Claus himself.
Perhaps the most talked-about moment of the evening was a total surprise. A black bear wandered onto the parade route and calmly strolled down the Parkway, creating a viral moment that had spectators stunned and amused.
Surprises aside, the memorable event — which is recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast — was bolstered by significant community involvement. Area schools and local groups played a big role in the milestone festivities. Among them was the Lawrence County High School Band, which brought a spirited performance that energized the crowd and asserted the parade’s continued commitment to showcasing regional talent and holiday traditions.
For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be broadcast across 34 U.S. television markets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Viewing dates and times are available here. It will also be available through a collaborative partnership with Nexstar, allowing over 100 million viewers the chance to enjoy Gatlinburg’s holiday magic from home.
