Dollywood enjoyed a marquee year for entertainment in 2006. Excitement surrounded the debut of two new Dollywood shows, "Dollywood's Babes in Toyland" and "Dreamland Drive-In." "Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland" was the most elaborate stage production in Dollywood’s 20-year history. It was a never-before-seen adaptation of the family classic with a Dolly twist, of course. And the ‘50s and ‘60s musical revue, "Dreamland Drive-In," delighted audiences as it showcased the much-loved music of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Dolly said,
"Dollywood’s entertainment holds a special place in my heart, and I’m as excited as I’ve ever been about inviting folks to enjoy 'Dreamland Drive-In' and 'Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland.' It’s a chance for everyone to get lost in the great music and share some special times."
Dolly Parton treated one lucky fan to a "backyard barbeque and bluegrass festival" to coincide with the launch of "Dolly's Dixie Fixin's," her new cookbook to benefit Imagination Library. Dolly's cookbook is sold exclusively through Dollywood and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show. She said,
“Since I don’t have any plans to tour this year, it would be difficult for me to perform at Dollywood to benefit the Imagination Library. I have been working on this cookbook for a while, so I thought now would be the perfect time to release it and devote all the proceeds to the Dollywood Foundation.”
"Dolly's Dixie Fixin's" features more than 125 recipes, including many from Dolly's personal collection of southern specialties like her popular banana pudding. Many of the recipes were passed down to Dolly from her late mother, Avie Lee Parton, as well as several from her mother-in-law, "Mama (Ginny) Dean." The cookbook also includes recipes from Parton's family entertainment companies, including Dollywood theme park's Noodlin' Ned's Catfish and Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show's one-of-a-kind cream of vegetable soup. She even includes recipes for dishes inspired by her favorite restaurants discovered during more than 40 years of touring.
The sweet, irresistible aroma of chocolates, candies, ice cream and taffy now greets guests in Dollywood’s Showstreet area of the theme park. It’s 6,500-sq-ft. of YUM! The brand new Dollywood Sweet Shoppe includes an ice cream parlor, candy shop and taffy kitchen. Guests can visit the new 100-seat Victorian-styled ice cream parlor which featured a variety of Edy’s® Ice Cream.
Selections include hand-dipped ice cream served in fresh-baked waffle cones, milkshakes, Coca-Cola® and Barq’s root beer floats and family-sized "build your own" sundaes. More than 70 toppings are available at the "ultimate topping bar," where everything from sprinkles to syrups allows guests to create one-of-a-kind sundaes. Next-door in the Candy Shop, Dollywood's master candy makers entertain guests as they make fudge, brittle, potato candy, caramel, candied apples and Dollywood’s own special recipe for Smoky Mountain Mud.
Dollywood's 20th-anniversary season introduced a new National Music and Harvest Celebration. The celebration featured 38 days of free concerts. Award-winning country, bluegrass, Americana and Southern gospel artists were showcased on stages throughout the park. Dolly said,
“I’m a fan of every kind of music, but I wanted our music festival to reflect the music that has been a part of my life growing up here in East Tennessee. Every artist on our lineup knows how to bring a crowd to its feet, and I hope everybody’s looking forward to that kind of entertainment—I know I am!”
Considered the Academy Awards of the amusement industry, the Golden Ticket Awards are presented to the "best of the best" in 22 categories based on the results of an international poll conducted by Amusement Today magazine.
The Thunderhead roller coaster was also named Coaster of the Year and Best New Wood Coaster at the 2005 Coasters' Choice Awards. It was the first wooden coaster to take the top honor in the awards' five-year history.
