GATLINBURG, Tenn. – The Gatlinburg Department of Tourism announced today that its Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade has been recognized for excellence as presented at the Kaleidoscope Awards competition during the annual Southeast Festivals and Events Conference held earlier this week in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Gatlinburg Christmas parade won the silver Kaleidoscope Award for Best Festival or Event with a budget under $75,000 for its 33rd annual Fantasy of Lights event, which draws as many as 75,000 spectators and participants to the City for the early December event.

Gatlinburg entries also received honors for Best Website (silver), and for Best T-Shirt (bronze), for its www.gatlinburg.com and 2008 Ribfest & Wings entries, respectively.

Each year, the Southeast Festivals & Events affiliate of International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) recognizes outstanding examples of quality and creativity in the programs and materials produced by festivals and events around the world, with the Kaleidoscope Awards. Events from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida were included in the competition. 

Gatlinburg Special Events Manager George Hawkins acknowledged that, “Coming in second place was quite an accomplishment, seeing that this was the first time we had entered in the Kaleidoscope Awards competition for Gatlinburg. We are always proud and grateful for the hard work and efforts put into our events by staff and volunteers.”

This prestigious awards competition strives for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions, and in doing so, has raised the standards and quality of special events industry-wide. During the awards program, top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the festivals and events industry by receiving the prestigious Kaleidoscope Award. The awards program is sponsored by RCS Productions, Inc. of Atlanta.

The Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade was also honored in September of 2008 with a Grand Pinnacle Award (bronze) from IFEA during its international conference in Boise, Idaho.