Since 1987, Gatlinburg has welcomed the New Year in grand style with the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show from the Gatlinburg Space Needle. The family friendly celebration is one of the largest organized New Year’s Eve events in the nation.
Nearly 50,000 people will gather around the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle late Thursday night, December 31 to ring in the New Year. At the stroke of midnighton January 1, 2016, fireworks will blast off the rooftop of the 400-foot tall Space Needle with special music choreographed for the fireworks show produced by Pyro-Shows of LaFollette, Tennessee.
The Space Needle has added rhythmic LED lights to the tower, making for a spectacular display.
Leading up to
midnight, there will be free music in the area adjacent to the Gatlinburg Convention Center near traffic light number 8, which is the perfect vantage point for viewing the fireworks show.
“New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show is a 28 year tradition in Gatlinburg. The ball drop and fireworks from the Space Needle create a unique experience for our visitors,” said Jim Downs, Special Events Director for Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. “No doubt, we will have a big crowd to help us usher in 2016 in a big way.”
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of the celebration specials offered by many Gatlinburg restaurants and businesses. For more information on New Year’s Eve in Gatlinburg, call the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau at
800-588-1817 or visit
www.gatlinburg.com/nye.