Families are invited to Dixie Stampede in Branson, MO, to a free, fun-filled day of games, face painting, animal exhibitions, giveaways and more. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will come to life at the annual stick horse rodeo and family fun day, Saturday, October 3. This is a free event designed to celebrate the joy of reading among families while children enjoy riding stick horses "rodeo style" in the Dixie Stampede performance arena. Dolly said,
"My Imagination Library 'Whoadeo' is a fun event for all ages. There’s nothing better for a child’s mind than reading, so it is my hope that with each book, the child will dream more, learn more, care and be more."
"Whoadeo" will showcase kids' events including Barrel Racing, Obstacle Course, and Bucking Horse competition, astride some of the wildest steeds in the stable. They will compete on a stick horse as they race around barrels, jump over obstacles and try their best not to get "bucked" off their horse. It’s Dolly’s true belief that all children are winners, so medals will be awarded to every kid who participates. Dixie Stampede will provide stick horses or children may bring their own.
All proceeds from Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show performance that evening, Saturday, October 3, will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. To date, the organization has sent over 71 million free books to children in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Here in Missouri, there are 37 Imagination Library affiliate communities with 14,012 children enrolled in the program.
Visit Dixie Stampede for more information on Whoadeo benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dollywood’s D.P. Celebrity Theatre packed in an enthusiastic crowd of fans eager to hear The Band Perry perform their hits on home turf. With an intimate, acoustic setting, the vocally gifted siblings did not disappoint. Performing hit after hit, from “If I Die Young” to “Better Dig Two,” their harmonic voices were the perfect blend of what Dolly calls “blood harmony.” Kimberly even surprised the audience with her rendition of Dolly’s mega-hit song, “I’ll Always Love You,” and as you can imagine, the crowd went wild.
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Although Kimberly, Reid and Neil were all happy to be back home in East Tennessee playing for fans at Dollywood, they were also there to show their love and support of Dolly’s book gifting program for children, the Imagination Library. When asked what it was about the program that made them want to get involved, Kimberly said,
"We are big believers in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. With Imagination Library specifically, the three of us grew up loving, loving to read. It was one of the greatest loves that we remember and some of the earliest memories that we remember."
Neil went on to say,
"You never know how it will influence you in life. For the three of us and our writing, it was a big, big factor in the way we write our songs. You never know what reading a book will do to change your life. It's a really great thing and we're glad to be a part of it."
Dolly was thrilled that The Band Perry came out to support the program. She shared,
"I'm so proud to know that my Imagination Library has had such a positive influence on Kimberly, Reid and Neil, and I appreciate them coming to Dollywood to show their love and support!"
The Band Perry gave fans an amazing night of great entertainment, and more than $75,000 was raised for the Imagination Library! If you’ve not had the pleasure of seeing this trio perform, do yourself a favor and go see them.
Check out The Band Perry’s website for show dates and times.
Dolly announced earlier this year that Dollywood was bringing back the Showcase of Stars to help raise money for her Imagination Library. She herself kicked off the series in early August with two days of concerts that raised more than $500,000.
As the final artist in Dollywood’s Showcase of Stars lineup, Dolly’s longtime friend and duet partner, Kenny Rogers, will appear in concert on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the D.P. Celebrity Theatre.
Tickets to see Kenny Rogers at the D.P. Celebrity Theatre available at Dollywood.com.
Dollywood hosts The Band Perry in concert as part of the Showcase of Stars concert series benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. One of the most dynamic acts in music today, the sibling trio proved to be a powerful new force when they delivered their platinum self-titled debut: "The Band Perry," which offered up five hit singles, including the quintuple-platinum chart-topper "If I Die Young."
In recent years, the band has earned multiple awards from The Academy of Country Music, The Country Music Association, CMT Music Awards and The American Country Awards including a 2014 ACM award for Vocal Group of the Year. This is the first time the group from nearby Greeneville, Tennessee has performed at Dollywood.
The Band Perry will appear on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tickets available here.
Dolly Parton announced the return of Dollywood’s popular Showcase of Stars concert series in March as part of the award-winning park’s 30th anniversary season. Parton, whose last benefit concert at Dollywood was in 2005, kicked off the series with four sold-out concerts Aug. 8-9 at D.P.’s Celebrity Theater, and raised $500,000 in the process.
Showcase of Stars offers guests the experience of great performances in an intimate setting, while allowing them to simultaneously support a worthy cause. Dollywood season passholders have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to the show. Passholders will receive an email with an exclusive link to purchase. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the general public at a later date.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program administered through the Dollywood Foundation which provides an age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five in participating communities. To date, the Imagination Library has provided more than 71 million books in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The Imagination Library has many volunteers and community members who devote a tremendous amount of energy to helping the program grow. In 2015, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Legend Award was created as a way of recognizing these individuals. David Dotson, president of the Dollywood Foundation, said,
“We are blessed that so many individuals tirelessly work to launch and sustain the program in their community. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’s Legends are those folks who have been at it for quite a while, who have overcome personal obstacles to lead and inspire, and who have built a local presence with the strength and capacity to provide the Imagination Library to their children for decades to come.”
This year, the award was given to Six Nations Imagination Library from Canada. After a year of seeking funds and support their team officially began registering children in June of this year. Holly Frank spearheaded efforts to launch the program and was on hand to accept the award during Homecomin' 2015. She said,
“It was a moment of shock and awe with a huge rush of excitement. It was hard to believe that the Six Nations Imagination Library was called up to the stage to accept the Legend Award, we were so lost in the moment with happiness and joy.”
Holly says they will use the funds to register more children and "give them the many gifts a book brings."
The Legend Award is funded by a grant from the Dollywood Foundation. Recipients of the Legend Award receive $1000 for use within their local Imagination Library. This award was created in memory of Gord Kretz. Gord was the founding member and Treasurer of the Dollywood Foundation Canada.
There was no person more responsible for the Imagination Library's presence in Canada than Gord. Sadly, in 2015 he succumbed to a brain tumor leaving behind his lovely wife and three children. He handled his illness just like he led his life--with compassion, wisdom, patience and humor.
Dolly’s Imagination Library is currently celebrating its 20th year. Each month the organization sends over 800,000 free, age-appropriate books to children around the world. By June 2015, the total number of books mailed by the program reached over 70 million - an exciting announcement for those in attendance at this year’s Homecomin' event.
Homecomin' is a special gathering of the program's affiliates and partners from all four countries in which the program is offered. The event celebrates past accomplishments and allows the organization's leaders to share future goals and opportunities.
This year's Homecomin' was filled with guest speakers, informative sessions, and plenty of fun as well. On Tuesday, June 23, First Lady Crissy Haslam (TN) and First Lady Betsy Dalrymple (ND) showed their continued support at the welcome dinner. Imagination Library President, David Dotson greeted everyone in attendance. He said,
“We dream of the day when all children have the opportunity to love reading, to love books and to love learning. Each day, we take another step toward that dream because of the wonderful people who are gathered tonight in this room. We have indeed accomplished quite a bit but we have so much more to do.”
Wednesday was filled with informative sessions followed by an exciting event at Dolly's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction that evening. On Thursday, Dolly greeted everyone in a special message sent from Los Angeles, CA, where she is currently working on casting her new NBC television movie, "Coat of Many Colors" set for release in December.
Afterward, affiliates from United Way of Aroostook in Presque Isle, ME, entertained everyone with an encore performance of "All About Them Books." Their enthusiasm for the Imagination Library in their community inspired everyone.
Author and illustrator Lori Nichols made a special presentation and signed copies of her book, "Maple." Additionally, on Friday, the entire group visited Dollywood. To everyone's delight, "Betty Bunny" by Michael Kaplan and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch came to life on the Little Engine Playhouse stage.
Plans for the growth of the program were shared with affiliates in attendance as well as a new campaign to raise awareness about Imagination Library. The new campaign was launched with the first of many stories about how Dolly’s Imagination Library has changed lives. Read more on the Imagination Library Blog.
After a wonderful week in Pigeon Forge, TN, everyone is looking forward to the new awareness campaign and the next Homecomin' set for 2017.
