Lights, Nutcrackers, Christmas! 5 must-do holiday events in Knoxville

There's so much to do during the holiday season, it's hard to choose which activities to include on your Christmas activity to-do list.

If the array of dozens of concerts, light displays, appearances by Santa and holiday-themed shows has you gleeful like a kid with a full stocking on Christmas morning, great! But if trying to figure out where to go and what to see melts your Christmas spirit into a puddle of panic, we're got a gift for you: a shorter list of some very specific options that will hit on all the traditional sights and sounds of the season, easily scheduled out across the days between now and Dec. 25.

Central High School's marching band in the 2024 WIVK Knoxville Christmas Parade in downtown Knoxville, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

Here's your list of must-do activities around Knoxville this Christmas season!

Turn out for a Christmas parade

A Christmas parade is a beloved tradition for many local communities, offering multiple chances to hear local bands and wave to various holiday characters.

• Downtown Knoxville Christmas parade, 7 p.m. Dec. 5. The parade runs along Gay Street to Jackson Avenue, ending past Covenant Health Park.
• Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 5. The parade route starts at the intersection of Baskins Creek Bypass and East Parkway and ends at Traffic Light No. 10.
• Fountain City Christmas Parade, 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 6. The parade route starts at Gresham Middle School, crosses Broadway and finishes at Central High School.
• Karns Christmas Parade, 9 a.m. Dec. 6. The parade will begin at Ingles Market, 7466 Oak Ridge Highway, and end at Karns Red Light Oak Ridge Highway and Byington-Solway.
• Sevierville Christmas Parade, 11 a.m. Dec. 6, beginning from the parking lot of First Baptist Church Sevierville.
• 11th annual Rocky Hill Christmas Parade and festival, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. The festival begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Rocky Hill Center parking lot, 7513 S. Northshore Drive, followed by the parade at 6 p.m. and tree lighting by Santa afterward.
• Farragut Christmas Parade and Santa's Village, 1-5 p.m. Dec. 7. The parade starts at 4 p.m. on Jamestowne Boulevard at the Farragut Community Center and ends near Santa's Village behind Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza, beside the Farragut Skating Rink in Village Green Shopping Center. Santa's Village will be open 1-5 p.m.
• Gibbs Christmas Parade, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7. The parade will begin at Gibbs High School and end at the Clear Springs Baptist church property.
• Corryton Christmas Parade, 11 a.m. Dec. 13, starting at the Corryton Branch Library.
• Halls Christmas Parade, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 13, starting from Halls High School.
• Oak Ridge Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. Dec. 13, along the Oak Ridge Turnpike. This year's parade is country-themed.

See the Smokies ballpark in a whole new (holiday) light

• Capping off their very first year in the new downtown Covenant Health Park, the Knoxville Smokies will present the Smokies Winter Wonderland Lightshow Dec. 5-Jan. 5, excluding Christmas Day. The lightshow will operate 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Tickets start at $9.99 for single-day admission, and $8 per ticket for groups 20 or more. Kids age 3 and younger are free.
• Enjoy holiday fun for all ages with meet-and-greets with Santa (Thursday–Saturday), festive cookie decorating and ornament painting, and a special station to write letters to Santa. Families can take a kids’ train ride around the ballpark, shop local vendors and themed Smokies merchandise, and indulge in seasonal food and drinks, including build-your-own s’mores.
• For information or group reservations for the Smokies Winter Wonderland Lightshow, call the Smokies ticket office at (865) 286-2300 or visit milb.com.

Visit the Kingdom of Sweets at 'The Nutcracker'

Two different productions of the classic Christmas ballet will offer the chance to see dancing mice, soldiers and sweets and hear the familiar Tchaikovsky music.

• The Appalachian Ballet Company, accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, will offer performances of "The Nutcracker" at two local venues this season. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Knoxville Civic Auditorium, and at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. Tickets and information: appalachianballet.org.
• The touring production "NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet" will bring an international ensemble that melds classical ballet with avant-garde circus techniques to the Tennessee Theatre. Performances will be at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets and information: tennesseetheatre.com

Watch a live portrayal of the nativity story

• Now in its 57th year, the annual Nativity Pageant of Knoxville portrays the Christmas story with community volunteers making up the 120-member cast and the 150-voice choir. Special music will begin 30 minutes before the start of the pageant.
• Performances will be at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave. Admission is free and seating is open. The one-hour performance starts in darkness, so guests are asked arrive early to avoid searching for seats in the dark.
• For more information about the pageant or how to donate to support it, go to knoxvillenativity.com.

Enjoy Christmas movie magic at the Tennessee Theatre

• Get your ho-ho-ho's with screenings of a couple of now-classic Christmas comedies at the historic Tennessee Theatre: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at 8 p.m. Dec. 13, or "Home Alone" at 2 p.m. Dec. 14.
• Get tickets at tennesseetheatre.com.