Dollywood opens Saturday, March 13, (Friday, March 12, for season passholders). With only a few days until the 2021 season opening, the maintenance team is busy wrapping up their usual off-season ride maintenance. Dollywood's Rides Maintenance Director, Barry Stiltner said.
“What I love about Dollywood maintenance is just that they are so genuine about their job. They love making sure that the rides are operating as high of percentage time as they can.”
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the maintenance shop with Barry as he shows the team’s hard work and dedication.
With thrills for all ages, it is a place the whole family can enjoy. Plan your trip to Dollywood and be sure to check out a season pass for an entire year of laughter, entertainment, thrill rides and memories.
For more information about the upcoming season and a park opening calendar, visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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.
Many families make a visit with Santa at Dollywood a part of their special holiday tradition. Dollywood's hard-working team created the perfect solution for that all-important chat. Santa’s List…Naughty or Nice is the best way to see Santa this year and we know families are going to embrace this new take on a cherished classic. Bernard, one of the elves who traveled with Santa to Dollywood—shares what guests will experience this year.
For the kids—and kids at heart—wondering what the Jolly Old Elf is up to this year, Dollywood shines a little light on Old Saint Nick’s home away from home. When he isn’t hard at work at the North Pole, Santa likes to visit East Tennessee and his favorite Smoky Mountain songstress, Dolly! Thanks to this brand-new experience, guests literally can see inside Santa’s cabin in the Smokies as he reviews…the list! Kids discover whether their name is on the naughty or nice list, and they even have their photo made as they peer through the window during this once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Santa at work.
This season’s Christmas event at Dollywood features more than five million lights, the return of indoor entertainment including the guest-favorite Christmas in the Smokies, and seasonal culinary offerings like the new Blue Ribbon Buffet. For more information about this year’s festival and a park operating calendar, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
She has a new holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, she is starring in a new Netflix musical, Christmas on the Square and she just announced the premiere of a new documentary about her global book gifting organization called, The Library That Dolly Built. We know she is always working but even while managing all these facets of her life, Dolly took time to sit down and talk about a few of the things that matter most to her. Here Dolly shares a few of her most treasured Christmas memories from her childhood. She also explains why Christmas at Dollywood is so important to her and how she loves seeing families enjoying themselves at the park and making great memories.
Dolly recalls two of her most precious Christmas memories from her childhood in East Tennessee. In one, she talks about her brother Randy and why they consider him their "Christmas Baby." Dolly explains how Randy is the inspiration behind, "You Are My Christmas," a new song from her holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas. Dolly also retells the story about the family's plan to buy her mother her first wedding band one year. Her father had devised a scheme to award a prize to the child who found the ring which he had hidden on Christmas Eve. One might imagine the chaos caused by the kids as they frantically search for the special gift for their mother. Dolly said,
"I swear that I found it. My brother Denver swears he found it. So we 'bout tore the house down, fighting, trying to get the ring."
Dolly goes on to say,
"Truth be told, Daddy had got a big box of candy for the one that found the ring. But it was so big that we had to share it with everybody else so it really was a gift for all of us."
In reflecting on the true meaning of the holiday season, Dolly says,
"Well Christmas, personally to me, means the birth of Jesus Christ. Who I'm so happy every year to say 'Happy Birthday dear Jesus.'"
She also finds joy in celebrating Christmas with the same traditions that many of us hold dear.
Over the years, Dollywood has garnered a grand reputation as offering one of the biggest and brightest Christmas celebrations in the country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas boasts over 5 million glistening lights, award-winning shows, culinary delights and, for the first time ever this year, nightly fireworks. The park brings families together for a magical holiday celebration, year after year all to Dolly’s delight. She said,
“I love the fact that Dollywood is now known for a tradition...It's just like a wonderland."
Finally, Dolly shares her favorite thing about Dollywood’s Christmas season. You might be surprised by her answer. Watch the video clip below to learn what Dolly looks forward to every year.
Visit Dollywood this holiday season and celebrate with your family. Smoky Mountain Christmas runs through January 3, 2021.
A Holly Dolly Christmas
Christmas on the Square
The Library That Dolly Built
As Dollywood gears up for Saturday’s (Nov. 7) opening of the family tradition that is the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, it’s also beginning to feel like Christmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Throughout the holiday season, guests to the resort can enjoy live entertainment and holiday meals, along with festive fun and excitement. Special events include breakfast with Santa’s Elves in December and the dancing tree show that takes place on the swimming pool deck each evening. For those looking for sweet treats, the resort even offers Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread in the DreamMore Pantry.
The Christmas atmosphere welcomes guests as soon as they arrive at DreamMore Resort, and one of the people responsible for that is Bridget Farmer with the Resort Décor Team. Bridget said,
"My favorite part of the DreamMore decor is the lanterns in the trees... It is a design that comes from years and years past when people would put lanterns and candles in their trees."
Watch this behind-the-scenes look at the preparations made by Bridget and her team as they transform the resort for the season.
Book your stay at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa during the holidays and be sure to visit Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas beginning Nov. 7.
