An all-new electric light parade highlights Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede's third season

By 1990, Dolly’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge was being billed as one of the largest dinner attractions in the world. For its third season, this unique dining experience found another way to thrill audiences, an electric light parade.

With more than 30 horses and their riders and 15,000 sparkling lights, Dolly and her team wanted to make sure there was something for everyone. General Manager Jim rule said,

“It has everything, including action-packed adventure for the men, romance and beauty for the ladies, fascinating animals for the kids and laughter for all.”

Dolly echoed that statement, saying,

“It’s the most fun place to eat in the Smokies!”

Rule told a local newspaper there were lights on the horses’ saddles, bridles, stirrups, and breast harnesses. The lights are also on the riders’ hats, shirts, vests, pants, boots, guns and holsters.

Audiences to Dolly’s dinner attraction also looked forward to synchronized horse drills, horse barrel racing, Brahma bull riding competition, buckboard wagon racing and women’s horse racing.

Another highlight of the third season was a stage descending to the center of the arena, with Southern Belles singing and dancing.