Aloha, Tennessee, and happy holidays!

The long Aloha Sprit Championships schedule continues with a lone December event, the 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

The competition is one of more than a dozen on tap for the Aloha Sprit team this season, with a slate that began in mid-November and will run through mid-April 2026.

The year-ending competition will take place Dec. 13-14 and bring All Star cheer teams back to the familiar Gatlinburg Convention Center, which also hosted the event last December. 

Oh, and Varsity TV will be there to provide live coverage of all the action!

Since 2001, Aloha Spirit events have been bringing a bit of Hawaiian flair to each event and host city. At the luau-themed competitions, there is an emphasis on “Ohana” or family, and even the awards share the same theme. 

Another special feature of each event is a 3-foot custom trophy known as the KA MAHALO Award. It is given to the team that exemplifies the spirit of the islands and displays above-and-beyond sportsmanship throughout the competition. 

Enjoy complete coverage of the event, as teams from Division I and Division II go head-to-head with their sights set on obtaining points to The Varsity Cheer League and a bid to one of the prestigious end-of-season championships!

• Who: All Star Cheer Teams
• When: Dec. 13-14, 2025 
• Where: Gatlinburg Convention Center in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The Varsity Cheer League: 500 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About The Gatlinburg Convention Center

When people think of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, cheerleading might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the area – and the Gatlinburg Convention Center – quickly are becoming special destinations for the cheer teams and their supporters.

Other travelers know Gatlinburg more as a headquarters for adventure, welcoming waves of visitors to the Smoky Mountains each year and tens of thousands of visitors to convention center for a variety of events.

The venue features more than 160,000 square feet of versatile meeting space and is conveniently located near all of the amazing attractions, restaurants and experiences that make downtown Gatlinburg so special.

The convention center includes:

The Great Hall – 67,000 square feet of space (50,000 of which is uninterrupted) with room for more than 6,000 spectators in theater seating.

Tennessee Ballroom – Another 17,000 square feet and 27-foot ceilings, easily enough room to accommodate even the highest-flying cheerleaders. 

Mills Auditorium – 8,800 square feet and room to seat 1,100 people theater-style or almost 600 in a banquet setting. There’s also a 925-square foot stage and more than a dozen smaller meeting rooms.

Learn more about the Gatlinburg Convention Center: Floorplans | Virtual Tour | Event Calendar

Things To Do In Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Though the weather could be a concern as winter approaches, hopefully the cheer teams and their guests will be able to enjoy some downtime or a few extra days in Gatlinburg before returning to the hustle of real life and/or the chaos of the holiday season. 

The city may be on the smaller side, but it’s warm and hospitable. It has three park entrances and is a stopping point for 14 million park visitors annually. 

Park entrances?

Yes – to the most-visited national park in the United States – Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And Gatlinburg is an ideal starting point for a Smoky Mountain adventure.

Gatlinburg is surrounded on three sides by the Smokies, and beyond the amazing views, the area is rich with culture and tradition and offers endless things to see and do, inside and out.

Click here to learn more about Gatlinburg, from places to stay to things to do to all the places to get the best meals.

Like any vacation, the adventure begins with your accommodations. In Gatlinburg, it can be a hotel, motel, campground, resort, cabin – you name it. 

Then, if you’re outdoorsy, or want to be, there’s plenty of hiking, fishing, rafting, horseback riding, biking, bird watching and other ways to take in the picturesque scenery and enjoy the fresh air. There’s also shopping, galleries crafts, mini golf, an aquarium and more for those who prefer being inside.

Gatlinburg is influenced by Cherokee culture and European flair from the Ireland, Germany, Scotland, France and England, but there also is a clear presence of Southern hospitality and charm. And all of that is reflected in the local cuisine!

Grab some delicious barbecue, Memphis hot chicken, biscuits and gravy, Tennessee mountain cake and so much more. If it can be fried or sauced, you’ll probably find it nearby!

Need a car to get around Tennessee? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown

The 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

If you’re going to be in Tennessee and want to see the event in person, tickets can be purchased here.

Missed the Action? Watch The Rebroadcast

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

Relive The Action With Varsity TV 24/7 Network

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a coach or an athlete, Varsity TV 24/7 Network brings the action of the competitive cheer and dance season straight to you—anytime, anywhere. 

The always-live stream will feature all-access content and video replays hand-picked by experts on the Varsity TV team. Tune in to Varsity TV 24/7 Network live, starting on Nov. 1.

2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown Results

Results for the 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown can be found here.

2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown Schedule

The schedule for the 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown can be found here.

Tentative block schedule

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown

• 14 At-Large Bids to The Summit
• 12 At-Large Bids to The D2 Summit
• 6 At-Large Bids to The Youth Summit
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Regional Summit
• 6 At-Large Bids to The Recreational Summit 
• 1 Silver Bid to The Quest
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Quest
• Golden Tickets to The U.S. Finals

The Varsity Cheer League

The Varsity Cheer League is the official ranking system for the sport of All Star cheerleading, changing the conversation from “Who won the weekend?” to “Who ranks at the top this season?”

Every All Star elite team in Youth, Junior and Senior divisions will be included in the Varsity Cheer League.

Team rankings are determined by the point system displayed here. 

At each Varsity All Star event your team completes, your team will earn points based on the assigned event and placement point value. 

At the end of the season, your six best Varsity All Star event scores will be used to calculate your final rank.

In total, 92 winners will be recognized from first to third place across each region.

One champion will be crowned in each of the five regions across the six eligible divisions and two League 6 conferences. Champions will win cash and prizes!

Click here to learn more about The Varsity Cheer League

500 Points Up For Grabs In Gatlinburg

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown.

Tune in to Varsity TV on Dec. 13-14 to watch all the action live from the 2025 Aloha Gatlinburg Showdown in Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

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