The seasons may change, but the energy levels of kids don’t! That’s why when winter rolls around it can be harder to find activities to keep little hands and feet busy — and warm! Knoxville Moms has put together this list to help you solve that problem and fill those cold winter days with fun, too.
There are activities on this list to appeal to a variety of interests ranging from science to cooking to sports. There are also outdoor activities that can only be enjoyed at this time of year. We hope you find the perfect winter activity for your family!
Knoxville Family Winter Activities
Libraries
Knox County Public Library: For ages infant to five years, starting around 10:00am, Monday through Friday. Check the website for the library closest to you and for specific date and age groups. There are nearly 40 fun and educational story times in the Knoxville area each week!
Barnes and Noble: Saturdays 11:00am or 12:00pm. Call in advance for specific details.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Performs at various Knoxville library story times. Check website for dates and locations.
Museums
Muse Knoxville: Designed for ages 1-12 (all ages welcome); Admission $12.00; Seniors, Teachers and military with ID are $5; Babies under the age of one are free; Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm; See website for current updates and changes.
American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge): $10.00 adults, $5.00 youth & seniors, FREE children (5 and under). Monday-Saturday: 9:00am–5:00pm; Sundays 1:00pm–5:00pm. The museum is open daily, except Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge: Adults (ages 18-61) $10.00, Veterans $9.00, Children (ages 3-17) $8.00, Seniors (62+) $5.00, Children 2 & Under free; Open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm. Closed: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Museum of Appalachia (Norris/Clinton exit): Adults (ages 18-64): $18.00, Children (ages 6-17) $10.00, Children under free with paying adult. Family Rate (2 Adults & 2 Children Ages 6-17) $50.00. Open 7 Days a Week. Hours vary by season. Click here for more details on admission times.
Museum of East Tennessee History: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 Seniors 55+, and FREE for children 16 and under. Admission is FREE each Sunday and ETHS Members always receive FREE admission. Monday-Friday 9:00am–4:00pm, Saturday 10:00am–4:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm–5:00pm.
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture: Tuesday–Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm & Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. (The museum is closed on the following dates: January 1, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25.) Admission and parking are free.
Knoxville Museum of Art: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am–5:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm–5:00pm. Admission is free. Closed New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year’s Eve.
Beck Cultural Exchange: Small group guided or self-guided tours by appointment. Tours generally last one hour. Call (865) 524-8461 to schedule. Admission is free.
Farragut Folklife Museum: Monday-Friday 10:00am–4:30pm. Admission is free. ***The Farragut Folklife Museum is currently closed due to the Farragut Town Hall renovations. It is expected to reopen in late 2024.***
Sunsphere: Open Monday to Friday 10:00am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-5:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. Adults are $5,00, children 12 and under are $1.00 with a paying adult. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Click here to buy tickets.
Lenoir Museum: (Norris, about 30 minutes north of Knoxville) Historical artifacts from early life in East Tennessee. Hours vary. Call (865) 494-9688 for more information.
Local Stores
Bricks 4 Kidz: Offers fun, educational programs that are engaging and LEGO-filled for kids ages 5 to 12 in the greater Knoxville area.
Cook N Craft Academy: Cooking and crafting classes for kids of all ages. Located in Loudon.
Home Depot Kids Workshops: First Saturday of the month 9:00am–12:00pm; Each child gets a free Home Depot apron.
Williams-Sonoma Junior Chef Classes: Located in West Town Mall, Saturdays 10:00am. A new “recipe” is introduced each week, with step-by-step instructions in this interactive class.
Smart Toys and Books: Call (865) 394-6060 to book sessions at the indoor playground. Calling in advance to reserve a spot is highly recommended due to limited capacity. The cost is $10.00 for the first child and $7.00 for one additional child. No charge for children under two with paid sibling. Socks must be worn at all times. Socks are available for purchase for $3.49. A waiver must be filled out in advance to play on the playground. You can find it here.
Sporting/Physical Activities
Foothills Gym/Tumble Bears: Every third Wednesday of each month from 10:00am to 11:00am. Cost is $6.00 per child. Ages walking to five-years-old. Registration must be done in advance here.
Gym Bugs: Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30am to 11:30am. The cost is $5.00 per child. There is a $1.00 sibling discount. Cash or check only.
Sky Zone: Weekday & weekend 90-minute jump is $25.99, all day $33.99. Check website for jump schedule.
Onsight Rock Gym: Adult (Ages 13+) Day Pass $19.00, Youth Day Pass (Ages 6-12) $17, Tot Day Pass (Ages 5 & under) $9.00. Weekdays 11:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 8:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Knoxville Ice Bears: Take the family to watch a hockey game! Tickets as low as $9. Check website for schedule and times.
Chuck E Cheese: Admission is free, games are one token each. Check website for times and location and coupons for pizza/token combos.
Summit Sports Training Center (Lenoir City): Open gym and Nerf battles. Cost is $10.00 per child. For the latest schedule, visit the Summit Sports Training Center Facebook page.
Tataru’s Gymnastics: Open play admission is $10.00. Parents Night Out starts at $10.00 for one hour and pizza can be added for $5.00. Open gym is Monday 10:00am-2:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday 10:00am-12:00pm and Saturday 12:00pm-5:00pm. Parents Night Out is Friday 7:00pm-10:00pm.
Tennessee Elite Gymnastics (Lenoir City): Open gym is held Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 12:00pm and Monday through Friday 7:00pm-8:00pm. Saturdays are 9:00am to 12:00pm. The cost is $12.00 a child for one hour. A free tummy time class is also offered every Wednesday from 9:00am to 11:00am.
Bowling/Ice Skating/Roller Skating
Family Bowl Strike and Spare
213 Hayfield Road
Knoxville, TN 37922
(865) 690-5211
Game rates Monday to Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm $3.95, Sunday to Thursday 6:00pm to close $5.20, Friday 5:00pm to Sunday 5:00pm to close $5.70. Shoe rental: $4.35 plus tax.
Oak Ridge Bowling Center
246 South Illinois Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 220-8500
Monday $2.50, Tuesday two games for $2.00, Wednesday & Thursday $2.50, Friday & Saturday $2.50 until 7:00pm. Sunday is $2.50 until 5:00pm. You can bowl Sundays for $12.00 per person from 5:00pm to close including shoes. Cosmic bowling Friday and Saturday 7:00pm-12:00am. Three games plus shoes are $15.00. Additional cosmic bowling games are $4.00 each.
Ice Chalet
100 Lebanon Street
Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 588-1858
Admission $7.50
Skate Rental $7.50
Ages five and under $7.50 total
Check website for latest public skate hours.
Cool Sports
110 Watt Road
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865) 218-4500
Admission Adults & Children (Ages 3+) $15.00
Skate Rental $5.00
Skate Aids $10.00
Check website for public skate hours.
Ober Gatlinburg
1001 Parkway #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5423
Included with Wristband purchase. The unlimited activity wristband for ages 5 and up are $49.00. The wristband includes the tram and other activities. Children ages four and under are free with a paying adult. Skates are available in toddler size six through adult size 15.
Knoxville’s Holidays on Market Square
Market Square
Knoxville, TN 37902
Adults (Includes Skate Rental): $12.00
Children 12 & Under (Includes Skate Rental): $9.00
***Only Open during Christmas Holiday Season***
The Change Center Roller Skating
203 Harriet Tubman Street
Knoxville, TN 37915
(865) 951-1567
Admission: $8.00 (with or without skate rental), Skate Mates available for $4.00.
Hours: Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm, Saturday 2:30pm-9:30pm and Sunday 6:00pm-9:00pm
Skatetown
5713 North Broadway Street
Knoxville, TN 37918
(865) 688-1981
Admission: $7.00-$15.00
Skate Rental: $5.00-$6.00
Hours: Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm, Tuesday 7:30pm-9:30pm, Wednesday 6:30pm-8:30pm, Thursday 7:30pm-10:00pm, Friday 7:30pm-11:00pm, Saturday 12:30pm-3:30pm & 7:30pm-12:00am.
*Also open anytime Knox County Schools are out
Skate City Crossville
204 Woodmere Mall
Crossville, TN 38555
(931) 484-0200
Admission: $9.00 includes skate rental, $6.00 spectator only
Hours: Friday & Saturday 6:00pm-10:30pm
Roll Arena Party Zone
2801 East Broadway Avenue
Maryville, TN 37804
(865) 724-1652
Admission: $6.00-$8.00
Skate Rental: $3.00, Speed Skates $5.00
Hours: Tuesday 1:00pm-4:00pm & 6:30pm-9:00pm, Friday 7:00pm-11:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm-6:30pm & 7:00pm-10:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm. Closed Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Twi-Lite Roller Skating Rink
112 South Sugar Hollow Road
Morristown, TN 37813
(423) 581-6160
Admission: $5.00-$12.00 (Includes Skate Rental/Cash Only)
Speed & Inline Skate Rental: $3.00
Hours: Tuesday 6:00pm-9:00pm, Thursday 6:00pm-9:00pm, Friday 6:00pm-10:00pm, Saturday 12:00pm-3:00pm & 6:00pm-10:00pm.
Skateland of Niota
819 West Wilson Street
Niota, TN 37826
(423) 568-3205
Admission: $8.00 includes skate rental, $5.00 with own skates
Hours: Friday 7:00pm-11:00pm, Saturday 7:00pm-11:00pm and Sunday 2:00pm-5:00pm.
Roll Arena Party Zone
1215 East Tri County Boulevard
Oliver Springs, TN 37840
(865) 435-9541
Admission: $5.00-$8.00
Skate Rental: $3.00, Speed Skates $5.00
Hours: Tuesday 5:30pm-8:30pm, Friday 7:00pm-10:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm-4:30pm & 7:00pm-10:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm-4:30pm
Special: Tuesday $6.00 or Family of Four $35.00 (Includes a pizza and a pitcher)
Snow Tubing
Ober Gatlinburg
Drive Time: 55 Minutes
1001 Parkway #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5423
Admission Ages 5 & Older: $35.00 Sunday-Thursday/Non-Holiday, $45.00 Friday & Saturday/Holidays
Admission Ages 3 & 4: Free with Paid Adult
(2 & Under not permitted to ride)
Snow tubing sessions are 90 minutes long. The tubing hill is 350 feet long with a 50-foot drop. The “magic carpet” (outdoor escalator) takes you back up to the top of the hill following each run. Ages 3-5 must ride with an adult 18 years or older. Must be at least 6 years old and 42 inches to ride alone. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Pigeon Forge Snow
Drive Time: 40 Minutes
2533 Teaster Lane
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 366-1334
One Hour of Tubing (All Ages): $39.99 Holiday Weekend Rate
30 Minutes of Snow Play (All Ages): $9.99
One Hour of Tubing & Snow Play (All Ages): $44.99 Holiday Weekend Rate
This indoor snow tubing park is open year-round. The tubing runs and snow play area have real snow with no additives. The temperature is always 60 to 70 degrees inside. For the tubing guests must be 38 inches and 3 years old. Everyone can play in the snow play area regardless of age or height. No advanced reservations are required. All participants must sign a waiver. It can be signed in advance here.
Rowdy Bear Smoky Mountain Snowpark
Drive Time: 37 Minutes
2155 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 365-1883
Admission: $36.99
Rowdy Bear is billed as the largest outdoor snow tubing hill in Tennessee. The tubing lanes are 500 feet in length with a 70-foot drop, plus it’s real snow. There are two “magic carpet” conveyors to the top of the hill. Riders must be 48 inches to ride alone. Children must be 40 inches tall to participate with an adult over the age of 18. The tubing sessions are 90 minutes long and run daily. Advanced reservations are required. Must arrive 30-minutes prior to your session.
Tube World
Drive Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
4721 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-0285
Weekdays: $35.00
Weekends/Holidays: $40.00
Wee Bowl: $10.00 per child
Tube World, located in Maggie Valley across from Ghost Town in the Sky, is the home of great snow tubing fun each winter! The groomed slope is made for riding specially designed inner tubes. Guests will ride the moving carpet lift to the top of the hill, then tube down the snow-covered run. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes long and run every two hours. There is a 42-inch minimum height requirement. Only Tube World equipment may be used. No two-person tubing allowed. Sessions can be reserved up to two weeks in advance.
Zip N Slip Snow Tubing Park
Drive Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes
10725 US-23
Mars Hill, NC 28754
(828) 689-8444
Admission (All Ages): $30.00 (1 Hour), $45.00 (2 Hours)
Children 5 & Under: Free
Zip N Slip boasts a tubing run of over 500 feet. There is also a “magic carpet” to help get riders back to the top. A solarium with a fireplace gives people a cozy spot to watch the fun. The sessions are one to two hours long. Children ages 3 and up are allowed to participate.
Hatley Point Snow Tubing (Formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Resort)
{***TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS***}
Drive Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes
578 Valley View Circle
Mars Hill, NC 28754
(800) 817-4111
Admission (Monday-Thursday): $20.00 (1 Hour), $30.00 (2 Hours)
Admission (Friday-Sunday & Holidays): $25.00 (1 Hour), $35.00 (2 Hours)
Children 5 & Under: Free
Slide down the run then take a “magic carpet” lift back to the top to repeat the fun. Wolf Ridge also features snow making capability and a lighted hill for nighttime fun. Featuring one big slope 60 feet wide at the top, 100 feet wide at the bottom and 350 feet long of sliding fun! No designated lanes mean tubers have the option to link up tubes increasing the fun factor.
Beech Mountain Ski Resort Snow Tubing
Drive Time: 2 Hours 24 Minutes
1007 Beech Mountain Parkway
Beech Mountain, NC 28604
(800) 438-2093
Admission (Weekday): $34.00
Admission (Weekend/Holiday): $42.00
With chutes up to 700 feet in length, all ages can enjoy an exhilarating ride. The tubing area has a “magic carpet” conveyor, which transports riders quickly to the top. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes. Riders must be 42 inches. Children are not allowed to ride on a parent’s lap. Tickets for all sessions are available on the Beech Mountain website. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Skiing
Ober Gatlinburg
Drive Time: 55 Minutes
1001 Parkway #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-5423
They have 12 slopes, four lifts, one tram, two magic carpets, a 556-foot vertical drop, and 38 skiable acres. A full weekday ski session for an adult is $54.00 and $44.00 for kids and seniors. Twelve-hours of skiing on a Saturday is $84.00 for adults and $70.00 for kids. Sundays a full session is 9:00am to 7:00pm. The cost for adults is $69.00 and $59.00 for kids. Night session tickets are also available. Equipment rental for skis is $40.00 and $45.00 for snowboards.
Cataloochee Ski Area
Drive Time: 2 Hours
1080 Ski Lodge Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-0285
Catalochee offers over 50 ski-able acres, a 740-foot vertical drop, three lifts, 16 trails, and night skiing. Cataloochee offers four-hour, six-hour skiing sessions as well as night skiing. Four-hour sessions range from $30.00-$42.00 on weekdays and $54.00-$68.00 on weekends. Six-hour sessions range from $42.00-$52.00 for slope tickets and $62.00-$83.00 for slope tickets. Ski and snowboard rentals range from $36.00-$46.00. Helmet rentals are $10.00. Pre-purchasing tickets is highly recommended. Passes can be purchased up to two weeks in advance.
Hatley Point (Formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Resort)
{***TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS***}
Drive Time: 2.5 Hours
578 Valley View Circle
Mars Hill, NC 28754
(800) 817-4111
Wolf Ridge has 15 trails and four lifts. Season passes are $750.00, and they give a discount for family season passes. Individual passes start at $37.00, and you can ski all day and night for as little as $57.00-$92.00 depending on day of the week or holiday rates.
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
Drive Time: 3 Hours
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive
Sugar Mountain, NC 28604
(828) 898-4521
Sugar Mountain has 125 ski-able acres, 21 slopes, seven lifts, plus ice skating and tubing. They also have night skiing. Season passes are $1,200 when purchased during the regular season. One-day tickets range from $54.00-$88.00, and you can get a deal with multi-day tickets.