I'm delighted to return to my happy place after missing out last year due to the pandemic. Visiting Dollywood yearly is my family's tradition, and coming back helped bring back some normalcy in our lives.
I get asked a lot about my experience visiting Dollywood, and I must say that it is my top favorite theme park! The rides, entertainment, food, museums, performances, shops are top-notch! Plus, I love the Christian influences and the friendly staff members that make sure you have a good ol' time. Oh, and I can't forget the Queen herself, Dolly Parton! Unlike other theme parks, Dollywood got that slower pace; country feels, not making you feel so overwhelmed.
The season starter was a bit different this year. Usually, either the Festival of Nations or Flower and Food Festival would kick things off, but no events were happening; yet that is.
Since there were no festivals, the girls focused on rides instead. I got them timesaver passes to skip the lines, and they rode rides back to back! And I must say, getting a timesaver pass is a must! And it's not expensive compared to other theme parks. We visited Universal Studios last month, and their Fast Pass was over $300 per person, compared to Dollywood's $50 per person. What a steal!
If you haven't visited Dollywood, you're missing out on experiencing Pigeon Forge's top family destination. Check out what to look forward to at Dollywood this season.
A new festival highlights spring's spectacle with Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 23-June 7). Guests will be delighted by more than half-a-million brightly blooming flowers that make up numerous displays and lavish landscaping throughout Dollywood. Fun and discovery are around every corner, thanks to larger-than-life sculptures, including a butterfly umbrella, various animal scenes, and even a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. Returning in 2021, the dazzling Umbrella Sky greets guests with a stunning visual upon arrival as hundreds of colorful umbrellas are suspended above Showstreet. In addition to the beautiful flowers, a wide selection of culinary creations abounds to delight guests’ taste buds with a menu full of items inspired by spring in the Smokies. Among the new offerings in 2021 is the Flower & Food Festival Dining Pass, which allows guests to partake in multiple entrees at several culinary locations during the springtime event.
Entertainment—a vital component of the Dollywood experience—plays a lead role this season thanks to many new shows and a concert series that debuts during the Flower & Food Festival. The Melodies of Spring concert series features contemporary Christian artists, Southern gospel groups, and other fresh and inspiring acts appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater. Among the artists currently scheduled are Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, I AM THEY, Rebecca St. James, Sidewalk Prophets, the Rhett Walker Band, Triumphant Quartet, and many more.
Several shows featuring Dollywood’s own performers debuted during the park opening, including Harmonies of the Heart—featuring Dolly’s family—and A Brighter Day. This inspiring show delights guests with uplifting favorites at the Back Porch Theater. In The Village, Dollywood’s talented The Tones offer a fresh acapella take on today’s current hits. Performances of all three will continue until the fall.
Guests visiting during the park’s warmer months can enjoy Dollywood’s Summer Celebration (June 25-July 31), which is—just as the name implies—a celebration of family fun and laughter at a place everyone loves. With later nighttime hours, families can ride Dollywood’s world-class roller coasters all day and well into the night. New during Summer Celebration is a groundbreaking, multi-sensory experience that paints the night sky above Dollywood with stunning animations and superior storytelling to create a symphony of light that represents a true evolution in traditional theme park entertainment.
Taking place every night during Summer Celebration, this sensational show features hundreds of drones flying high above the Smoky Mountain destination to create stunning 3d animations that tell a dynamic, Dollywood-exclusive story. As seen at some of the biggest events around the world, the drones—which are accented by musically-choreographed fireworks show—create a visual and audial event of epic proportions.
As part of the half-a-million-dollar production, a hyped DJ and energetic dancers bring the fun to the streets in Wildwood Grove and make guests part of the action during a 30-minute party that ensures every member in the family is on their feet. As the dancing nears its finale, the party takes to the sky when the drones launch into the air for an unforgettable end to the evening.
Later in the season, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 24-Oct. 30)—named by readers of USA Today as the best theme park harvest event in the world—provides bushels of fun thanks to everyone’s favorite Smoky Mountain tradition, Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Dollywood stays open late each evening, giving families more time to enjoy the glow of thousands of carved pumpkins throughout the park. During the day, guests can expect a packed concert schedule, with hundreds of performances across several genres occurring during the festival.
The season ends with the event that has set the standard for theme park holiday events, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6- Jan. 2, 2022). It’s the perfect place to get in the Christmas spirit with more than five million holiday lights, festive and warm holiday performances, a traditional Christmas atmosphere, and the comforting tastes of classic holiday-themed food. It is easy to see why it has become a family favorite for so many.
With so much excitement planned for 2021, Dollywood season passes are a must-have!
For more information about Dollywood’s 2021 season, operating calendars, and more, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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