The fifth annual Festival of Nations kicked off the 20th anniversary season at Dolly's Smoky Mountain theme park. Dollywood's six-week multicultural celebration featured music, dance, art and food from 10 countries. The Moscow Circus headlined this year's festival bringing the pageantry of 25 aerialists, singers, gymnasts, contortionists, clowns and folk musicians.
Other first-time Festival of Nations performers include the Russian Academic Band jazz band, a cappella children's choir Zambian Vocal Collection, Noticky, a children's ensemble and Ondras, a folk singer/dancer ensemble from the Czech Republic.
A 45-foot-tall, three-tiered Christmas pyramid—the country’s tallest—was the focal point of Dollywood’s 2004 Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The pyramid is part of Dollywood’s An Olde World Christmas, the newest element of the theme park’s Christmas festival.
Standing 45.9 feet tall, the pyramid was located at the entrance to the park’s Craftsman’s Valley. It gently revolved, revealing intricate carvings depicting the Nativity. Measuring 20 feet in diameter, the first tier represented the magi keeping a watchful eye for the Christ child. The second tier revolved to reveal shepherds and sheep while trumpeting angels occupied the third tier.
This pyramid honors the rich heritage of Germany’s Erzgebirge region where miners first crafted the popular holiday icon. And, keeping with the German theme, Dolly said she looked forward to some traditional German specialties from the kitchen like Deep Dish Lasagna, German skillet cabbage, Olie Bollens, German tomato salad, Belgian waffles, strudel, bratwurst and mettwurst sandwiches and eggnog ice cream. She said,
“Christmastime in the Smokies reminds me of family gatherings, filled with good food, good times and laughter. I want families to experience all that and more at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas.”
Dollywood announced plans to expand its Country Fair area inside the park to include 10 new rides and a new look for the 2005 season. The emphasis of the expansion focused on family rides.
The Country Fair area already is one of the most popular areas within Dollywood. The expansion increased the area’s capacity by more than 2,000 passengers an hour. The rides include a mix of traditional favorites and unique experiences new to the industry. A 70-foot-tall airplane-style ride allowed passengers to create their own flight experience. Other themed rides offered twists, turns, spins and dips. Most allowed parents and children to experience the ride together.
Dolly believed in providing a park the whole family can enjoy. The new Dollywood family rides featured several attractions specifically designed for small children.
Dollywood’s resident gospel quartet the Kingdom Heirs took home the 2004 Band of the Year Award at this year’s Singing News Fan Awards on Sept. 16. The fan-voted awards ceremony was part of the National Quartet Convention.
This is the second time the Kingdom Heirs received this award. The Kingdom Heirs recorded a new Christmas album, "The Spirit of Christmas," which they featured during the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival.
Dollywood theme park hosted a spectacular Harvest Celebration. It featured an array of talented artisans, special entertainment and fantastic foods amid a backdrop of lavish fall décor. The event included a five-week competition between some of the country’s premier caricature carvers and their finest handiwork. Meanwhile, visiting chefs revealed kitchen secrets during cooking demonstrations. More than 30 Southern gospel artists performed on various park stages.
The Great Smoky Mountains, provided the amazing fall color. To further enhance the beauty of the season, visitors saw 4,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash. There were 5,500 stalks of corn and 3,000 potted mums in a variety of colors. Hundreds of yards of honeysuckle vine completed the scene.
