5K races near White Pine

The Light The Way 5K is a nighttime 5K held annually at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It takes place in November, coinciding with the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Runners and walkers navigate Dollywood after dark, surrounded by millions of Christmas lights. The course begins near Dollywood’s toll booths, follows the park’s tram road, and concludes amidst the Christmas light displays within the park. Over half of the 5K route extends beyond the park's main area. The course was re-certified to enhance the race setup. Participants should aim to complete the 5K within approximately 90 minutes. A 1-mile Fun Walk is also available for slower walkers and families.

Dollywood's Light The Way 5K is a nighttime 5K in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, run through the park's Christmas lights during the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The race begins near Dollywood's toll booths on Dollywood Parks Boulevard, offering runners a route after dark integrated with the theme park's holiday display, with millions of lights surrounding them as they approach the finish. The course follows Dollywood's tram road initially, with over half of the route situated outside the park, before directing runners back through the Christmas lights to conclude the race. The course has been re-certified, participants must be clear by 12:30 a.m., and individuals uncertain of finishing the 5K within 90 minutes are directed to the 1-mile Fun Walk. It appeals to runners seeking a festive 5K rather than a typical road race, along with walkers and families extending a Dollywood holiday weekend.

The Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K is a Thanksgiving Day run and walk in Sevierville, Tennessee. It is a relaxed local 5K, not a high-pressure race, and participants can cover the distance at their own pace. Proceeds support the SCHS STEM Scholarship, directing funds toward science, technology, engineering, and math students. The event attracts local families, holiday visitors, runners, and walkers who want to move before Thanksgiving dinner. The course is mostly flat, with shelter and bathrooms conveniently located. Most people can finish the outing within about an hour and a half. Age-division awards are given three deep, with good odds mentioned for runners over 40 and over 50. Student encouragers add jokes along the route, and the field may include Sevierville figures such as Coach B, Kristi Atchley, local dignitaries, and the occasional strong racer like Spartan racer Jamie McCart.