The "world’s friendliest park" is set to celebrate 2017 and "The Year of the Family!" When visiting Dollywood, friends and families can enjoy more than 40 rides as well as 15 outstanding shows. The park also features five of the South's largest festivals and plenty of Southern-style dining!
The exciting 2017 season starts on opening day, March 18. Dollywood's Festival of Nations (March 18 - April 9) displays the most captivating entertainment from around the world. Park visitors can sample a celebration of music, dance, food and art. Many guests are excited about the return of Mother Africa. This amazing show combines skillful acrobatics, modern and traditional dance, comedy and colorful costumes, all set to the music of a renowned live band.
Slask, one of Europe’s most prominent folk dance and music ensembles will perform at Showstreet Palace Theater. Hodman & Sally from the country of "Oblivia" will stroll the park and pose for photos. Husband and wife duo, Dearbhail Finnegan and Robin Slater will bring their Irish harp and flute duo to the Back Porch Theater. Other acts include Streichmusik Alder, Invaders Steel Orchestra and Kelly Shipe!
This summer, Gazillion Bubbles Show returns to Dollywood’s Summer (June 17 - Aug. 6)! Guests visiting during this time can enjoy extended hours and nightly fireworks. Plus, Parade of Many Colors will return during Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 4 - Jan. 1, 2018).
New additions include Great Pumpkin Luminights during the Harvest Festival (Sept. 29-Oct. 28). Also, enra, a Japanese performance art company, will perform during Spring Break (April 10-22).
Festival of Nations: March 18 - April 9
Barbeque & Bluegrass: May 26 - June 4
Spring Break Featuring enra: April 10 - 22
Dollywood Summer (Extended Hours & Nightly Fireworks): June 17 - Aug. 6
Harvest Festival Featuring Great Pumpkin Luminights: Sept. 29 - Oct. 28
Smoky Mountain Christmas: Nov. 4 - Jan. 1, 2018
Drop Line
Whistle Punk Chaser
TailSpin Racer
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins
In 2017, Dollywood’s "The Year of the Family" offers 250 days of memory-making fun starting March 18! Visit Dollywood.com for dates & hours, show schedules and to get your season passes.
This winter, Dollywood is vigorously working through a 250-point check list of both small and large projects. These range from total renovations of some areas to adding a fresh coat of paint to others. All total, $8-9 million is being invested at Dollywood and $2.5 million at Splash Country making it one of the busiest off-seasons the parks have ever seen.
Notable renovations include a total transformation of Backstage Restaurant to what will become Front Porch Café. Guest are also in for a treat with a newly remodeled Rainbow Blown Glass shop which will become Mountain Blowing Glass. The new configuration will allow for two glass-blowing artisans to work at the same time. Visitors can enjoy a new area dedicated to making their own ornaments where items will be available to take home the same day.
More renovations are taking place in Timber Canyon. Lumberjack Pizza will remain a staple dining option with some noticeable modifications to make for faster ordering and more choices. The pathway to Timber Canyon has been widened and scenic features have been added to make the trek more enjoyable. Brian Dudash, Dollywood Vice-President of Maintenance & Construction commented on the wide scope of projects going on simultaneously. He said,
“One minute you are talking about blowing glass equipment and the next thing is a freestyle machine in a restaurant then we’re talking about the foundation on our new ride. It’s a variety of stuff and it’s challenging but that’s what makes it fun too!”
The winter renovations and maintenance tasks are taking place now while work is also beginning on the new attractions coming to Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country this summer. Drop Line and Whistle Punk Chaser will be added in Timber Canyon at Dollywood. TailSpin Racer will be unveiled at Splash Country later this season.
Visit Dollywood.com for more on opening dates, tickets and upcoming festivals.
With the excitement of what is shaping up to be a record season in 2016, The Dollywood Company announced the addition of TailSpin Racer to Dollywood’s Splash Country for 2017.
This thrilling new attraction allows up to six guests to race each other on mats through the twists and turns of TailSpin Racer’s unique spiraling tube design. The race begins with riders descending a daring first drop inside intertwined, high-speed AquaTubes. After navigating the wet and wild curves, riders emerge from the translucent tubes on a traditional mat racer-style slide. From there, it’s an all-out race toward the splashdown finish. Dollywood’s Splash Country General Manager Mike Brown said,
"TailSpin Racer is an exciting addition to the park that we know our guests are going to love. We always seek to add slides and attractions which will leave our guests with big smiles and memories to share. I think we’ll see a lot of fun as families and friends challenge each other to races down this great new slide."
TailSpin Racer’s slides are longer than a football field in length and stand five stories above the park. The $2 million attraction, which uses ergonomically designed starting blocks, will be located alongside Big River Pavilion near the park entrance.
Thanks to strong visitation to Dollywood’s Splash Country in 2016, officials added five new days, Aug. 15-19, to the park’s operating calendar. The award-winning water park now is open daily through Aug. 21 and on weekends through Labor Day.
As the June sun heats up, people head to the water to seek relief from the rising temps. In an effort to educate and raise awareness about staying safe while having fun, Dollywood’s Splash Country hosts Water Safety Day in conjunction with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on Friday, June 24 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Event partners LeConte Medical Center, The Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation, WATE-TV and Star 102.1 join Dollywood’s Splash Country to put on this fun event. Guests can visit interactive vendor booths to learn about water and sun safety and they also can participate in an attempt to set a new world record during the Seventh Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson at 10 a.m!
This worldwide swim lesson happens at water parks around the globe on June 24. Dollywood’s Splash Country is one location where swimmers of all ages and abilities come to take part in the lesson in hopes of breaking the world record. Last year, 38,170 people from 22 countries participated to set the Guinness World Record for largest swim lesson. This year, the WLSL team hopes to have more than 40,000 people participate as they spread the message that swimming lessons save lives. LeConte Medical Center President/CAO Jenny Hanson said,
"Water Safety Day is a very effective way for LeConte Medical Center and the Dr. Thomas Foundation to provide important health education to the families in our community. We are continuing to partner with Dollywood's Splash Country in an effort to keep the children of Sevier County healthy and safe this summer and beyond."
Time in the water can be dangerous for children because drowning remains the leading cause of unintended injury-related death for kids ages 1 to 5, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children ages 1 to 4.
The attempt to set a new world record begins at 10 a.m. at Mountain Waves wave pool. Vendor booths are open until 2 p.m.Guests who visit the vendor booths to learn about water and sun safety will receive a Splash Pass, allowing them to receive a prize at each booth. Once the participants have visited all vendors, they may turn their pass in for the chance to win two season passes to Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Splash Country General Manager, Mike Brown said,
“As a water park, we recognize the importance of water safety education. We love that we’re able to host an informative event and have some fun while we do it. The safety of our guests will always be our top priority.”
Water Safety Day and WLSL registration begins Friday, June 24 at 9 a.m. at Dollywood’s Splash Country. The park opens to guests at 9:30 a.m. Guests should arrive early to register before the WLSL begins at 10 a.m. Dollywood’s Splash Country admission is required to participate in Water Safety Day and may be purchased on-site or online at Dollywood.com.
Dollywood's Splash Country opening is set for May 14, 2016. The water adventure park—home to RiverRush®, Tennessee’s first and only water coaster—continues to improve the guest experience as it begins its 16th season. Dollywood’s Splash Country General Manager, Mike Brown said,
“We always want to treat our guests to a few surprises each season. This year, we hope they notice more efficiency, more amenities and great new food options. Our team is ready for the 2016 season!”
From its 2001 opening, Dollywood’s Splash Country was designed to be a uniquely themed, state-of-the-art, family water park where families could come to recharge and reconnect. It has continued to impress guests and industry experts alike, garnering national and international recognition. Among the list of accolades, Dollywood’s Splash Country has been named America’s Must-See Water Park by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions and as one of America’s best water parks by the Travel Channel.
This season, guests can look for added value and efficiency with upgrades to the turnstiles, retreats and canopies, food locations and more family locker space.
And when all the swimming and sliding works up guests’ appetites, they can enjoy new food offerings including gourmet hot dogs from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs®, a 1/3 lb. burger on a brioche bun, crinkle cut fries, homemade cookies from Dollywood’s Spotlight Bakery and fried dough pastries called BeaverTails®—with choose-your-own toppings!
Dollywood’s Splash Country lifeguards also are re-energized for the new season as Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc. just honored them with the prestigious Platinum International Aquatic Safety Award for their diligence while guarding the pools at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort™.
Whether guests love thrills like Fire Tower Falls, the state’s tallest twin speed slides; playing with the family in Bear Mountain Fire Tower®, a multi-level interactive attraction; or prefer relaxing in the Downbound Float Trip a 1,500-foot lazy river—everyone is going to love soaking up the fun at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
Discover Dollywood’s Splash Country
