GATLINBURG, TN
2025
WINTERFEST
FEBRUARY 7-9
EVENT SPONSORED BY:
Ticket Fees:
Participants $65
Advisor/Unit Leaders $25
Prices increase after January 17, 2025. Spectator tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Please see the 2025 Advisor Guide for full details.
About
The Event
Winterfest is an exciting, fun-filled, and competitive event for Explorers, Venturers, Sea Scouts & older youth registered in Scouts BSA troops. Winterfest is an action-packed 2-day event filled with competitions, aquatic and STEM events, shooting sports, climbing, sports tournaments and more! Many events are related to various career fields such as Fire Service, Law Enforcement, and EMS.
Participants can also enjoy snow skiing, shopping, and sightseeing in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee.
Winterfest is open to all currently registered Venturers, Explorers, Sea Scouts, and Scouts BSA of Venturing age (14+ or completed the eighth grade).
-
Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement Skills competitions
-
Climbing challenges
-
Training, Exhibits, Expos
-
Interactive STEM activities
-
SIRT range (pistol and rifle)
-
Aquatics, Discover SCUBA, Cardboard Boat races
** Events are still being determined and are subject to change, the Event Guide will be updated as changes are made. All participants, adults, and spectators are required to have a wristband for entry to all events and activities or to ride the shuttle. Wristbands will be provided at check-in and will also be available for purchase throughout the weekend. Please make sure all parents, relatives, and visitors attending understand they will need a wristband. Youth Protection Training (YPT) is required for ALL particpants and Advisors over the age of 18. See the Advisors Corner page of this site for the link to the YPT training.
Program
Areas
EXPLORING
Fire, EMS & Law Enforcement
Exploring posts offer a unique career exploration program for youth ages 14 - 20 years old. The program provides hands-on experience and interactive character and career activities to help young people determine whether or not a particular career field is right for them. Posts are facilitated by trained professionals already working in those fields.
VENTURING &
SEA SCOUTS
Co-Ed Scouting
14-21
Venturing & Sea Scouting are inclusive programs through the Boy Scouts of America for males and females aged 14-21 (or 13 and completed the 8th grade). It’s operated through Venturing Crews & Sea Scout Ships, units of youth and advisors that meet on set schedules and plan activities and events for youth like you! Venturing emphasizes 4 main areas - Adventure, Leaderships, Personal Growth and Service. Sea Scouts prepare youth for the routine and unexpected challenges of seamanship while encouraging citizenship, developing boating skills, and promoting water safety through hands-on experience on a watercraft.
SCOUTS BSA
OLDER TRoop MEMBERs,
ages 14+
The traditional Scouting program, Scouts BSA is where youth develop outdoor survival skills, self-confidence, and ethics through youth-planned activities with increased attention to service, community engagement, and leadership. Scouts BSA prepares youth to make ethical
and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the
values of the Scout Oath and Law. Throughout their
time in Scouting, Scouts learn the value of hard
work and experience the thrill of seeing it pay off.
Agenda
Friday
February 7
Saturday
February 8
Sunday
February 9
1pm-10pm
8Am-11am
All Day
CHECK-IN
WHERE:
Rocky Top Sports World
1870 Sports World Blvd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Late CHECK-IN
WHERE:
Rocky Top Sports World
1870 Sports World Blvd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
explore gatlinburg!!
6:30AM
2-8Pm
Friday Events OPEN
1st Annual Winterfest 5K Run
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL WINTERFEST APP FOR UP TO THE MINUTE SCHEDULING INFO
& TO RECEIVE EVENT MESSAGING
8Am-5Pm
7:00PM
Lessons From apalachee HS Active SHooter
WINTERFEST EVENTS OPEN
8:45PM
Official Opening
8:00 PM
9PM
KEYNOTE Speaker - Glen Pounder, BSA & Homeland Security Investigations
ADVISOR BRIEFINGS/
NEW UNIT ORIENTATION
9:30PM
8:30 PM
WINTERFEST Awards Show
LAW ENFORCEMENT & FIRE/EMS BRIEFINGS
The
Venues
Gatlinburg is a great town to visit. Your youth will have a blast! Most units will travel by personal
vehicle to Winterfest, but be
sure to check into alternative
means of transportation. You may
be able to save money by working with other units in your area to charter a bus.
Rocky Mountain Sports WORLD
1870 Sports World Blvd.
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
PLUS:
Gatlinburg Community Center
Boys & Girls Club
Event Parking is FREE!