With amazing new entertainment, extended park hours and a nightly fireworks show, Dollywood is the perfect place for families to celebrate the fun and excitement of summer.
From June 11- Aug. 7, Dollywood’s park hours are 10 AM - 10 PM daily, allowing guests more time to create memories and share experiences together. In addition to extended hours during this time, visitors can enjoy Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors, a spectacular synchronized fireworks show which paints a colorful canvas across the Smoky Mountain sky. Guests also can join in the excitement of Lite the Nite, a high-spirited dance party which occurs each evening prior to the fireworks extravaganza.
Two new shows headline the summer beginning with award-winning illusionist Brad Ross’ Unbelievable magic show June 11- July 10. Ross takes audiences on an inspirational journey into a world of fun and magic where anything is possible. Along the way, children learn to discover the magic in everyday items and events they find all around them. Each show features unbelievable magic and illusions, comedy and audience interaction. It’s an awe-inspiring show that is fresh and fun for both kids and adults. Brad said,
"I'm beyond thrilled to be joining the Dollywood family and bringing our incredible illusions, world-class magic and pure family fun to Pigeon Forge this summer. One of the things I'm most excited about is the opportunity to help families experience magic in a whole new way - my show is all about finding the magic that's all around us and there is no more perfect place to make that happen than at Dollywood!"
Dollywood goes to the dogs July 11- Aug. 7 with the high-flying antics of Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience. These talented animals will leave audiences begging for more. Trainers work with these performing pooches to create a high-energy show which features remarkable tricks and eye-popping special effects. All of the dogs in Perondi’s show are adopted from pounds and shelters nationwide. Perondi’s stunt dogs have been featured on “The Tonight Show,” “Ellen” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Chris said,
“I am ‘dog-gone’ excited to bring back my Stunt Dog Experience to Dollywood this summer. Dollywood is one of our favorite theme parks and performing in the Celebrity Theater is an honor. I can promise this show is fur-flying fun for the whole family!”
Summer also means it’s story time again at The Little Engine Playhouse, as some of the Imagination Library’s best titles are brought to life! "Old Bear and His Cub" and "Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It" are featured as 25-minute musicals with special sing-along songs written by Dolly. Everyone’s favorite, "The Little Engine That Could," also comes to the stage with a delightful reminder of what can happen with a bit of determination and courage.
Festive food adds to the Dollywood experience during the summer with unique new items including macaroni & cheese with various toppings, pretzel dogs, banana split funnel cakes and frozen chocolate-dipped bananas.
Explore Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD for park hours and show information.
Dollywood’s Great American Summer provides the ideal atmosphere for families to create lifelong memories thanks to a number of new entertainment offerings. This year, visitors can enjoy extended park hours and a nightly fireworks show. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the award-winning park’s 30th anniversary season!
Dollywood celebrates 30 years of the world’s best entertainment with the debut of two dance parties and an interactive new show. The new production features a number of America’s chart-topping songs. The Little Engine Playhouse features two new children’s stories, "Betty Bunny Didn't Do It" and "Old Bear and His Cub." Both shows are based on books of the same name from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library book selection list.
"Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors" has been reimagined to feature popular music from the last 30 years. Another guest favorite, "The Gazillion Bubbles Show," moves to D.P.’s Celebrity Theater. The new location offers an even larger space to fill with the fantastic bubble-making spectacle. Extended park operating hours—10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily— give guests more time to create the perfect summer getaway.
Dolly’s love for kids is shown again in 2012 with Dollywood's Kidsfest, headlined by Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience. Dolly said,
“Like so many folks, I’m just a huge dog lover. I truly believe they are man—and woman’s—best friends, and I couldn't be happier about giving families a show that goes ‘dog wild’ at my Kidsfest celebration this summer at Dollywood. Our four-legged friends are going to put smiles on everybody’s faces and warm some hearts, too.”
Kidsfest at Dollywood also included "The Gazillion Bubbles Show," an unbelievable display of bubble magic, and Dolly's Imagination Playhouse in which Dolly stars in each show, making a special appearance via the magic screen performing songs she wrote especially for the productions.
Dollywood's KidsFest welcomed a brand-new lineup of superstar children’s characters to headline its seven-week summer festival during Dolly’s park’s 20th anniversary. Dolly said,
“I’m just a big kid at heart, and I believe that having fun is the best way to spark a child’s imagination, and I hope we can ignite that spark in each and every guest at KidsFest.”
This year’s festival featured Clifford the Big Red Dog™, Mad Science® Movie Magic—the Science Behind the Movies and some of Nickelodeon’s® most popular characters like SpongeBob SquarePants™. In addition to these favorite children’s characters, KidsFest also included Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse featuring the Penguin Players.
Dollywood and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library opened the park’s Imagination Playhouse with a little help from Dolly herself. This interactive children’s show brought classic children's stories to life and showcased Dolly’s lifelong love for reading. Dolly said,
“I’ve always loved to read and I believe reading has the power to let your imagination soar.”
The 20-minute musicals, featuring original music by Dolly get kids involved in their favorite stories, by utilizing six cast members, custom-made puppets and character costumes against lively, colorful scenery.
