Each November, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, transforms into a mountain holiday destination that feels both timeless and spectacular. It’s the annual Winterfest celebration, now in its 36th year, brings millions of LED lights, festive shows, themed attractions, and small-town charm to families who return year after year. What began in 1989 as an effort to extend the visitor season has become one of the region’s most successful economic drivers.
On November 25, 2025, the hard work that goes into Winterfest paid off in a meaningful way: Newsweek named Pigeon Forge the number two Best Christmas Town in its Readers’ Choice Awards. This award is part of an annual competition that recognizes the places, products, and companies that earn customer loyalty. Readers vote over 28 days, and the winners are awarded a seal of approval that’s widely displayed.
Winning a spot on the list required votes from everyday travelers, and with just a little over two weeks between the late October nomination announcement and the November 18 voting deadline, there was no time to waste. As soon as the nomination was confirmed, My Pigeon Forge’s PR agency, Artists & Outlaws, contacted Orange 142 to help get the word out and drive participation on social media. With only eighteen days to vote and stiff competition from fourteen other destinations, speed and coordination were essential.
“With such a short voting window, this was never going to be a traditional PR push. It required immediate coordination across digital, social, and community partners, and Orange 142 was able to move faster than anyone we’ve worked with. Their existing relationships and ability to activate them on demand helped turn a nomination into national recognition,” said, Trish McGee, VP of Public Relations at Artists & Outlaws.
Orange 142 has worked with My Pigeon Forge for many years, running digital, social media, and influencer campaigns that promote the destination’s seasonal offerings. Through the years, the Orange 142 team has developed partnerships with local businesses, attractions, and area influencers. Thanks to these existing relationships, the Orange 142 team was able to act quickly and mobilize support without the delays that come with formal campaign launches.
The Orange 142 team began by sharing the Newsweek voting link across My Pigeon Forge’s social channels, and My Pigeon Forge posted it on the city’s official accounts as well. Both audiences are large, active, and deeply tied to the local tourism economy. Local businesses and partners picked it up and reshared it, helping the message spread quickly across the community. Influencers who have worked with Orange 142 in the past also voluntarily amplified the content, without being asked or compensated, extending reach even further.
Their willingness to participate is a testament to the strength of long-term relationship-building and the credibility the DMO has cultivated through consistent collaboration.
Orange 142 also invested in paid social media during the final days of voting to extend visibility. As part of their ongoing strategy for My Pigeon Forge, the team regularly allocates small budgets to boost posts that perform well organically. In this case, the tactic helped widen reach locally and sustain momentum as voting approached the finish line.
The campaigns delivered significant results, including:
|
Total Engagements |
Reactions |
Comments |
Shares |
Link Clicks |
|
11,390 |
3,892 |
146 |
255 |
567 |
The stellar engagement paid off, despite the short voting window. Pigeon Forge placed number two in the Best Christmas Town category, a remarkable result in a field that included some of the nation’s most well-known holiday destinations. The placement puts Pigeon Forge on the map as one of the country’s top holiday destinations, something visitors already know from experience.
But the award also positions the destination for future success. Travelers plan their holiday getaways months, and Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice list will remain visible long after voting ends. Over the next 12 months, families searching for the best places to visit in November and December will see Pigeon Forge ranked near the top, strengthening the town’s reputation and helping drive future consideration, bookings, and return visits.
The win was especially rewarding for the leadership team. Assistant tourism director Amy Warner joined the My Pigeon Forge team in early September, and the recognition provided a decisive early moment in her first season, highlighting the partnership among the DMO, its brand agency, Artists & Outlaws, and digital agency of record, Orange 142.
“Winterfest has been a community effort for more than thirty-five years and seeing Pigeon Forge recognized on a national stage is a point of pride for everyone here. The support from our local partners and the responsiveness of our agency teams helped us move quickly, and the number two ranking shows what can happen when the community rallies together,” said Mrs. Warner.
For Orange 142, the project is an excellent demonstration of the value of agility in destination marketing. The team was able to mobilize local businesses, tap into long-standing relationships, and move quickly, unlike traditional media buying programs. It also underscores the importance of community-driven promotion in tourism. The strength of the local network helped make this campaign successful, and community-driven promotion can have a greater impact than paid media alone.
About Orange 142
Orange 142 is a digital marketing and advertising company with offices across the US. We service marketers and agencies. We are part of Direct Digital Holding, the ninth Black-owned company to go public.
We help marketers of all sizes grow their reach and revenue through data-driven media strategies. We also partner with agencies and execute campaigns on behalf of their clients.
Our team of experts deeply understands the digital landscape and the latest advertising and marketing technologies. We work closely with our clients to develop and execute custom advertising and marketing campaigns that meet specific goals.
We are committed to providing our clients with the highest service and transparency. Open communication and collaboration are essential to the success of every advertising and marketing initiative.
