Fall Fun Awaits – Exploring Anakeesta and Bear-Varian Festival in Gatlinburg

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Fall Fun Awaits – Exploring Anakeesta and Bear-Varian Festival in Gatlinburg.  For adventure, exploration, natural beauty, and memories that last a lifetime, there’s no better place to explore than ANAKEESTA GATLINBURG. Located 600 feet above Gatlinburg, Tennessee, atop a 70-acre mountain, Anakeesta offers something for everyone.

From ziplining and rope bridges to botanical gardens and sweeping views, Anakeesta is one of the best places to experience the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains. 

 

About Anakeesta Gatlinburg

Anakeesta is a Cherokee word that translates literally to “the place of high ground”, and it really is. The entire adventure park is located at the top of the 600-foot Anakeesta mountain and offers a wide range of activities and views that everyone in the family will love. 

Make sure to stop here for a photo.  We even saw a proposal.

What to do at Anakeesta Bear-Varian Festival 

From now until October 31, is a perfect time to visit as the evenings are getting cooler and the hints of fall color is appearing. 

A few of my photos make the leaves to appear yellow, but they were still green, it was just the bright sun.  We got there about an hour before sunset so we could enjoy the scenery in the daylight, catch a sunset, then see the lights come on around the park.  To me, this was the perfect time, and we did see a great sunset over the mountains.

Held every fall, the Bear-Varian Fall Festival highlights the best that the Smoky Mountains have to offer. With seasonal decor and entertainment throughout the park, along with delicious fall foods, and craft beers from regional breweries, the Bear-Varian Fall Festival has something for the entire family. 

Family-friendly activities include The Sekeltones, Anakeesta’s resident Halloween band, playing all the great Halloween songs from yesterday and today, The Scarecrow Brothers, offering slapstick comedy that promotes audience interaction, and The Witches 3, a trio of witches that need the help of the guests to brew the perfect Halloween potion. 

The park totally transforms as the sun goes down with wonderful lighting.

 

It’s all about the food & drinks.

A wide variety of fall themed foods and drinks are offered at food trucks and vendors.  These might include:

• Giant Pretzels
• German Chocolate Funnel Fries
• Apple Cider Donuts
• A variety of pumpkin flavored treats
• Pan Fried Pork Schnitzel
• German Style Fondue
• Grab & Go Charcuterie Boards
• Black Forest Cake
• German Beers – buy a Beer Tasting Card

Adventure at Anakeesta

Adventure lovers will enjoy the 14-bridge Treetop Skywalk with over 880 feet of connected bridges at heights of up to 60 feet above the ground, as well as the Dueling Zipline Adventure. This exciting mountain-top obstacle course features over 2,400 feet of zip lines, rappelling areas, and more. Those who enjoy adventure with a bit less adrenaline can also take advantage of TreeVenture on the mountains of Vista Gardens. Here, visitors climb, crawl, and slide their way through an interactive mountainside course. And don’t forget to take a ride on the Hellbender or Rail Runner Mountain Coaster roller coasters. 

Natural Beauty Everywhere

Anakeesta Gatlinburg offers as much natural beauty as it does excitement. The Chondola or Ridge Rambler transports to the peak of the mountain offer gorgeous views even before you get to the park proper. Of course, nothing beats the views at the top of the AnaVista Tower, the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg. The tower boasts 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains, with visible peaks located as far away as Kentucky. From the top of the tower, gorgeous views of Vista Gardens 60 feet below the tower can also be seen. 

And speaking of Vista Gardens, there’s no better place to enjoy the beauty of nature. The gardens are home to more than 3,000 plants, flowers, and sculptures, including the famous “Keeper of the Forest”, a massive Willow standing over 20 feet tall. For even more Smoky Mountain beauty, visitors can take advantage of the many meandering trails in the area offering unmatched immersion in nature, with trees and foliage all around, natural waterfalls, and maybe even a peek at the local wildlife. 

The Perfect Spot for Sunset

Walk up to the top of Anavista Tower.  You get a 360 degree view of the Smoky Mountains.  We were lucky to have a clear evening to watch the final sunset views.

Dining and Shopping

Anakeesta Gatlinburg might be rustic, but it has its fair share of shopping and dining opportunities. Visitors can head to Firefly Village, Black Bear Village, or Vista Plaza to enjoy a wide variety of dining options, from laid-back fair to elevated dining at Cliff Top, southern BBQ at the Smokehouse, (our favorite spot to eat and enjoy the views) or a variety of craft beers and specialty cocktails at the full-service bar, complete with outdoor seating. 

There are also a number of shops offering a wide variety of souveniers, memorabilia, and much more. 

Special Events

Anakeesta Gatlinburg is also home to several yearly special events designed to highlight the natural beauty of the park and kick the fun up a few more notches. 

Astra Lumina

Astra Lumina at Anakeesta is a multi-sensory night walk experience that any visitor will love. The 15th installment in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series and the first in the United States, Astar Lumina offers immersive lighting, projection, and sound throughout the entire walk experience, bringing the stars from the heavens straight down to the visitors who walk the Lumina paths. 

Along its winding path, Astar Lumina will enchant visitors with immersive experiences like Falling Stars, Nebular Waves, Astral Genesis, and many more installations designed to stimulate all the senses. 

There is an additional charge for this.

So Many Photo Ops at Anakeesta

 

 

Fall Fun Awaits – Exploring Anakeesta and Bear-Varian Festival in Gatlinburg

If you’re planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, make sure Anakeesta Gatlinburg is on your travel bucket list. This adventure park offers some of the best entertainment, food, adventure, and views in all of the greater Gatlinburg area, and it’s one of the best spots for creating a ton of family memories. 

 

Glamping in the Smoky Mountains

At Roamstead, try out a cabin, a yurt, or bring your own RV or tent.

 

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