Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library welcomes the holiday season by celebrating major achievements in literacy while cherishing the gift of quality time with family.
As of November 2021, Dolly’s childhood literacy program has gifted over 170 million books to children across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. As we enter into the holidays, the Imagination Library continues to embrace the spirit of the season by gifting more books to more children around the world and inspiring us all to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More!
Dolly's dream has always been to inspire a love of reading among preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. What started in 1995 in Dolly's hometown of Sevier County, TN, however, has now grown into an international program. While Dolly and the Dollywood Foundation cover many overhead costs and administration needs, the Imagination Library is made possible through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local communities. So, when the program becomes available to children in new areas, it's an accomplishment worth celebrating!
Imagination Library Expands Across Kansas
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Representative Troy Waymaster and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet recently joined Dolly to announce that the Imagination Library would soon be available to all children under five in Kansas! The goal of the statewide expansion is to make books available to children ages 0-5 in every zip code in Kansas.
Currently Kansas has 82 programs covering portions of 77 of Kansas’ 105 counties. Once full county participation is achieved, Kansas will join only 12 states and the District of Columbia that have earned this distinction. Continue to check availability as the Imagination Library expands programs across the state!
Kentucky Kicks Off Statewide Expansion
Kentucky families are also celebrating after news that the Imagination Library will soon be available to all children under five in the Bluegrass State! Dolly recently announced the statewide expansion of her Imagination Library program in Kentucky, through funding shared by Dolly, the State of Kentucky and local community partnerships.
The Imagination Library of Kentucky expansion will focus on reaching more children and families to increase registration in existing Imagination Library Programs in the state, while finding community partners to start new Imagination Library programs in Kentucky. Visit imaginationlibrary.com/kentucky to learn more and check availability as the program expands across the state!
The holidays are special for many reasons, but perhaps most special of all is the quality time spent with family. The holidays are a wonderful time of the year to cozy up with your child and read a good book together! Here are a few of the specially-selected, age-appropriate books going out to registered children this season.
"The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack KeatsPerhaps nothing is so magical as waking up to wintery blanket of snow, and this book by Ezra Jack Keats captures that magic beautifully!
"Counting on Snow" by Maxwell NewhouseThe gorgeous illustrations in this book by folk artist Maxwell Newhouse provide a lovely introduction to numbers and the animals of the northern wilderness.
"Otto the Book Bear in the Snow" by Katie CleminsonOtto is a bear who lives in a book in the library with his friend, Ernest. Read about their incredible adventure through the snow as they try to get back to the library for the special winter party!
Join in the spirit of the season and share the gift of literacy with families in your community by donating to your local Imagination Library! A donation as small as $25 covers the cost of providing an Imagination Library book to a child each month for 1 year!
Check availability in your area to register a child, sign up to receive a notification when the Imagination Library becomes available to you or learn more about how to Start A Program in your area.
Sail into a season of adventure at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show! Celebrate all of the things that make the holidays special as you treat the family to a swashbuckling dinner spectacular, located in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Myrtle Beach, SC!
Nothing makes the holidays more special than spending quality time with family. And, one of the best times your family can have together is at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show! With daring sword fights, blazing cannons, mystical mermaids and much more, Pirates Voyage combines fun, fantasy and adventure to make for an unforgettable dinner experience worth visiting year after year.
And, It wouldn’t be the holiday season without having a bountiful meal with family. Me Hearties Feast will satisfy even the most hungry swashbucklers right as the action begins! This delicious four-course feast includes a Buccaneer Biscuit, Voyager Creamy Vegetable Soup, Cracklin’ Pan-Fried Chicken, Sugar-Cured Ham, Corn on the Cob, Herb-Basted Potato, Walk the Plank Peach Turnover and unlimited Coca-Cola®, tea, or coffee.
In Myrtle Beach, high tide meets the yuletide in a thrilling holiday spectacular, offering a variety of fun and entertainment that will make for lasting holiday memories for everyone who attends. Join Captain Scrooge and his cavalier crew for a swashbuckling spin on the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” taking you on a journey through Christmas past, present and future. Guests will be thrilled by an epic battle between the crimson and emerald pirates as they compete for the coveted Christmas treasure, and gaze in awe and wonder at a live Nativity as an angel appears with a special message for landlubbers and pirates alike.
Guests are served a mouthwatering four-course holiday feast straight from Captain Scrooge’s galley during their voyage. The meal begins with voyager creamy vegetable soup and buccaneer bread. The feast fit for a pirate continues with a half o’ roasted cackler (chicken), pulled barbeque pork, cob o’ buttery corn, and a pirate herb-basted potato. Apple o’ me eye pie and unlimited Coca-Cola® products, tea or coffee complete the meal.
Celebrate the Fun, Feast & Adventure of the holiday season at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, located in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Myrtle Beach, SC! What are ye waiting for, matey? Visit Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show to book your tickets today!
Christmas has come early for Dolly Parton! The recent announcement of the 2021 Emmy Nominations brought news that Dolly's Netflix Christmas musical, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square,” has been nominated in two categories: Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. Dolly said:
“Well Christmas sure came early this year! I’m thrilled about our two Emmy nominations for ‘Christmas on the Square.’ Thank you to Netflix and everyone who dreamed along with me to help make it possible.”
Come celebrate Christmas in July on Dolly's Front Porch as we watch interviews with the cast and team behind her festive Emmy-Nominated Christmas special.
With so much iconic talent involved in the film, it's no wonder that "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Television Movie. Starring Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis, Treat Williams, and directed and choreographed by three-time Emmy and Golden Globe winner Debbie Allen, “Christmas on the Square” features 14 original Dolly songs in what has now become a hit holiday classic.
Award-winning actress, Christine Baranski, plays the leading role of Regina Fuller in “Christmas on the Square.” A Tony and Emmy award-winning actress, singer and producer, Baranski has an incredibly busy work schedule, but she jumped at the chance to collaborate with Dolly in a holiday musical.
Her character, Regina Fuller, is a cold-hearted, wealthy woman who returns to her hometown of Fullerville after her father passes away. She is on a mission to force all of her father’s tenants out of their homes, so she can close a real estate deal with a mall developer. Instead, she finds herself reconnecting with people from her past and having an unexpected encounter with an angel, played by none other than Dolly herself, giving Regina an opportunity to have a change of heart.
The story of redemption in “Christmas on the Square” serves as a beautiful reminder that the most valuable gifts we can give are treasures that money cannot buy. It’s a message of hope that renews our faith in the human spirit and affirms the fact that change for the better always begins in the heart.
Hollywood star Jenifer Lewis delivers a sensational performance in the role of Margeline, a lovable beauty shop owner from Fullerville. Lewis has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, appearing in many notable movies and television series. And, like Dolly, she comes from a small town and a big family. Her larger-than-life role makes an indelible impression in the film as she lights up the screen with luminous joy.
The enormously talented actor, Treat Williams, has a rich and diverse resume. Having over 120 credits in film, stage and television, Williams was the perfect fit for the role of Carl Pellam, an antique store owner and caretaker of the town's history.
Williams was a natural for this part, especially considering the fact that his mother owned and operated an antique store for many years. He understands on a deep level the connection between an object and someone you dearly love and brings this understanding to his portrayal of Carl Pellam in the film.
“Christmas on the Square” really came to life when Debbie Allen accepted the roles of director and choreographer. The multi award-winning actress, dancer, choreographer, singer/songwriter, director and producer has enjoyed a show-stopping career, encompassing everything from Broadway to a hit television series to the silver screen.
The energetic icon brought to the set her incredible ability to marry movement and music. Her innovative giftings, combined with Dolly’s innate way of crafting lyrics and melodies, created an endearing result of Christmas magic. Dolly composed all 14 songs that are featured in the Emmy-nominated musical. Together, these two talented women brought the heartwarming holiday story to life.
Celebrate Christmas in July by watching Dolly's Emmy-nominated holiday musical “Christmas on the Square,” available to stream on Netflix!
It’s Christmas and Dolly is sharing a few of her favorite childhood memories. She recalls the excitement in their home when it came time to get and decorate a tree. This tender memory comes to life within the lyrics of “Comin’ Home For Christmas.” The handmade ornaments and tinfoil star were some of the most treasured in those days, mainly because of the special care and love her mother put into the preparations. Dolly said,
“In those early days, we didn’t even have electricity so we didn’t have electric lights for it. Mama was always great with making things out of colored paper or different rags that she would tie. We could make bows out of colored rags...Mama always made everything special.”
Dolly shares this memory and more in her Christmas message. She also adds a last-minute holiday message for Jolene.
This year’s event features more than five million lights and the return of indoor entertainment. Also, beginning Friday, December 18, guests can enjoy nightly fireworks as Dollywood ends 2020 with a bang!
During Smoky Mountain Christmas, Dollywood guests love the special culinary items available throughout the park. With many families creating their own holiday meals this season, culinary hosts are providing a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most popular items.
In this video, Verlee Curtis tells the story behind a regional (and Dollywood) favorite, potato candy. Look for this Appalachian favorite in Dollywood's Sweet Shoppe.
Dollywood’s Head Pastry Chef, Giget Davis provides tips to help your family decorate homemade cookies this holiday season.
For more information about this year’s festival and a park operating calendar, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
