Despite the days getting shorter, Dollywood is gifting guests with even more fall fun—at night! Thanks to the new Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 29 - Oct. 28) stays open until 9 p.m. every day.
This season marks the first time the Smoky Mountain theme park has opened every day—and stayed open after dark—during its family-favorite harvest event. The expanded operating schedule allows Dollywood to provide guests with additional autumn experiences. These experiences are designed to help them create cherished family memories.
The biggest names in Southern gospel take to stages every day throughout the park with more than 500 individual performances as part of the Southern Gospel Jubilee presented by Humana. Additionally, Great Pumpkin LumiNights offers whimsical, family-friendly activities that are sure to make this event a new harvest tradition.
“Fall truly is the most beautiful time of year here in the Smokies,” Dolly Parton explained. “I love coming home to see the amazing masterpiece God has painted across the mountains. Our folks at Dollywood always do a great job of making sure the park looks stunning with those fall colors as a backdrop. You also know that Southern gospel music holds a very special place close to my heart. I guess you could say my singing career really got started in that kind of music because our family would visit churches and sing about God’s love for us.”
Dolly continued,
“This year we’re adding even more fun to the festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights, and I know families are going to love all those glowing pumpkin displays up through Timber Canyon. I used to love sitting around with my brothers and sisters during the fall carving pumpkins and tellin’ stories, but I don’t think our pumpkins turned out quite the same as these though!”
Families will bask in the glow of thousands of intricately-carved pumpkins as they wander through immersive harvest-themed displays. Look for these display throughout Dollywood’s Timber Canyon and Wilderness Pass areas. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find a number of exciting activities to create thrilling memories together. With so many carved pumpkins needed to create Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood has “pumpkin artists” who will host demonstrations to help guests learn how to produce the perfect pumpkin masterpiece.
Unique harvest games and attractions—including a glow maze—for kids, a nightly Pumpkin Boogie Dance Party, and friendly costume characters help add to the festive atmosphere. New themed food options and exclusive harvest-themed Coca-Cola products make Great Pumpkin LumiNights the place to be when the sun goes down in the Smokies.
Alongside Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood once again hosts the largest Southern gospel music event in America. Guests can see the biggest names in the genre during the Southern Gospel Jubilee. Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 21-22), Guy Penrod (Oct. 23-24), The Isaacs (Oct. 12-13), The McKameys (Oct. 6-7), Gold City (Oct. 2-3) and many more provide inspirational music to fill the autumn air.
Dollywood’s own Kingdom Heirs perform throughout the festival, while Singing News and Praise 96.3 FM operate multiple stage locations featuring several up-and-coming and breakout artists.
Dollywood celebrates Smoky Mountain crafts all year with the park’s well-known master craftsman. During the Harvest Festival, however, more than 30 visiting artisans from across the country bring their wares and share their talents with Dollywood guests. Craft demonstrations include textile art, inspirational jewelry, loom weaving, paper marbling, bentwood boxes, rug hooking, fiddle making, dulcimer making, and much more.
Menus across the park change to reflect the offerings of a bountiful harvest. Guests can look for dishes including fried green tomatoes and a fried green tomato BLT. In addition, there is succotash featuring grilled chicken and potatoes with chili and cheese cooked on the park’s famous BIG SKILLET. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the fried apple pies, apple turnovers, apple stack cakes and more.
Learn more about Dollywood’s Harvest Festival featuring Southern Gospel Jubilee and Great Pumpkin LumiNights or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
Feature photo by Curtis Hilbun, Dollywood
Today, Dolly shared her vision for Dollywood’s newest nighttime harvest experience. The Great Pumpkin LumiNights will take place Sept. 29 - Oct. 28. Families will enjoy the glow of thousands of carved pumpkins throughout Dollywood’s Timber Canyon during the nightly finale of Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find a number of exciting activities to create thrilling memories together. With so many carved pumpkins needed to create Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood has a number of “pumpkin artists” who will host demonstrations to help guests learn how to produce the perfect pumpkin masterpiece. Dolly said,
“I’m also really excited to be here to let you know about our brand new nighttime event we are adding for families in October called Great Pumpkin LumiNights. You know, people from all around the world know us for the millions of twinklin’ lights we put up at Christmas time. Well, when guests see thousands of these glowing pumpkins all lit up in Timber Canyon, they’re going to have that same special feeling. We think Great Pumpkin LumiNites will become just as popular with families as our Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of new family traditions made this October.”
Unique harvest games and attractions—including a glow maze—for kids, a nightly Pumpkin Boogie dance party, and friendly costume characters help add to the festive atmosphere. New themed food options and exclusive harvest-themed Coca-Cola products make Great Pumpkin LumiNights the place to be when the sun goes down in the Smokies.
Along with Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood will once again host the largest Southern gospel music event in America, Southern Gospel Jubilee. Some of the biggest names in the genre will visit Dollywood, Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 21-22), Guy Penrod (Oct. 23-24), The Isaacs (Oct. 12-13), The McKameys (Oct. 6-7), Gold City (Oct. 2-3) and many more.
Dolly also spoke about the park’s award-winning Smoky Mountain Christmas festival! The Smoky Mountain Christmas festival will take place Nov. 5 - Jan. 1. Dolly said,
“The Parade of Many Colors is back this Christmas, along with seven holiday shows and four million beautiful lights. We even have Rudolph and his friends back for another year of creating family memories. It will be a November and December to remember!”
Earlier this week Dolly announced her new children’s album “I Believe In You” which will benefit the Imagination Library
