All photos courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
On Friday, May 5, Grand Marshal and hometown girl, Dolly Parton, led the 32nd Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade. She waved to the crowd lining the route down the Parkway. This year she sat atop a Dollywood-sponsored float celebrating the Great Smoky Mountains. The float was dedicated to those she affectionately calls “my people” with #SomeplaceSpecial and the words "Mountain Tough."
Dixie Stampede debuted their special 30th Anniversary float. The dinner attraction is celebrating their 30th season in Pigeon Forge, TN this year. The season marks the return of the Thundering Longhorns, a fan favorite, to the main show.
Additionally, Pigeon Forge’s newest show, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures made their first appearance in the parade. The show opened this spring. Dolly Parton and resident storyteller AppleJack tell this thrilling story. Visitors can expect music, laughter, edge-of-your-seat special effects and thrilling specialty acts. The show features competitions, romance and much more.
The parade also featured a host of elaborately decorated floats from some of the area's most popular attractions. Music filled the air from marching bands. Veteran groups proudly walked the route and entertainers of all varieties brought smiles and laughter to everyone in attendance.
The annual event draws crowds upwards of 50,000 people. Folks travel from near and far for the chance to experience the excitement and to welcome Dolly home.
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Once again, the Smoky Mountain songbird will act as the Grand Marshal of the Annual Homecoming Parade given in her honor. Over 50,000 people are expected to line the route.
The line-up includes beautiful floats, lively marching bands, entertainers, veterans and more. Dolly will sit atop a specially designed float and wave to everyone in attendance.
This year, in honor of the grand opening of Smoky Mountain Adventures and in celebration of the 30th Anniversary at Dixie Stampede, eager parade watchers will have the chance to win tickets to both shows!
See Dolly’s Dinner Shows Giveaway
Before the parade starts, Dollywood and Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show have special Grand Opening events planned. Dolly will welcome everyone to a special show at Smoky Mountain Adventures. As a bonus, portions of that event will be live streamed on Facebook.
Visitors should arrive early to get a good spot. The parade will start at 6 PM. It begins at traffic light #6 and it will head toward Sevierville to traffic light #3 along the main parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN.
In past years, Dolly’s parade floats have featured some of Dollywood’s newest attractions including Mystery Mine, Wild Eagle, and FireChaser Express. This year will mark the parade debut of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures. Also, Dixie Stampede will celebrate their 30th anniversary in Pigeon Forge, TN.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of both Dollywood and the yearly homecoming celebration honoring everyone’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton. Crowds line the streets of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to see beautiful floats, hear lively bands and, of course, to welcome Dolly back home.
As Grand Marshal, she rides atop a lavish float. In past years, her parade floats have featured some of Dollywood's newest attractions including Mystery Mine, Wild Eagle, FireChaser Express and Dollywood’s Splash Country’s RiverRush.
The entire Pigeon Forge community comes together to wow crowds of over 50,000 visitors including Dolly's Dixie Stampede. The Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction float is another fan favorite displaying the sights and sounds of "The Most Fun Place to Eat!"
This year also marks two additional milestones. Dollywood's DreamMore Resort will open later this summer and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is celebrating its 20th year as well. Surely, with all these landmark occasions there is cause for celebration and what better way to celebrate than with a parade!
Dollywood works with The Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events to organize the event. The parade begins at 6 p.m. The route starts at traffic light #6 and travels north on the Parkway ending at traffic light #3.
Celebrating the opening of Dollywood’s historic Wild Eagle, Dolly flew atop the wings of a float themed after a bald eagle during her 27th Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade. She soared above thousands of fans lining the streets of Pigeon Forge where Dollywood is located. Her eye-catching float and feathered jacket reached new heights for the annual parade.
