Visit the beautiful Smoky Mountains and experience nature’s renewal along with your own. Dolly invites families back to the Smokies and shares why they really are some place special. Here families can laugh, play and stay as they rejuvenate their spirit and make lasting memories together. Dolly says,
"Come on back; we’re here and better than ever."
With the award-winning atmosphere of Dollywood theme park, America’s must-see water park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, and multiple lodging options, families can create a unique experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.
Families can also find world-class entertainment in Pigeon Forge at Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Adventures - the all-new dinner and show now in its premier season.
Plan an exciting summer getaway in the Smoky Mountains - Some Place Special!
Dollywood
Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction
Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Adventures
All photos courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
On Friday, May 5, Grand Marshal and hometown girl, Dolly Parton, led the 32nd Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade. She waved to the crowd lining the route down the Parkway. This year she sat atop a Dollywood-sponsored float celebrating the Great Smoky Mountains. The float was dedicated to those she affectionately calls “my people” with #SomeplaceSpecial and the words "Mountain Tough."
Dixie Stampede debuted their special 30th Anniversary float. The dinner attraction is celebrating their 30th season in Pigeon Forge, TN this year. The season marks the return of the Thundering Longhorns, a fan favorite, to the main show.
Additionally, Pigeon Forge’s newest show, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures made their first appearance in the parade. The show opened this spring. Dolly Parton and resident storyteller AppleJack tell this thrilling story. Visitors can expect music, laughter, edge-of-your-seat special effects and thrilling specialty acts. The show features competitions, romance and much more.
The parade also featured a host of elaborately decorated floats from some of the area's most popular attractions. Music filled the air from marching bands. Veteran groups proudly walked the route and entertainers of all varieties brought smiles and laughter to everyone in attendance.
The annual event draws crowds upwards of 50,000 people. Folks travel from near and far for the chance to experience the excitement and to welcome Dolly home.
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Once again, the Smoky Mountain songbird will act as the Grand Marshal of the Annual Homecoming Parade given in her honor. Over 50,000 people are expected to line the route.
The line-up includes beautiful floats, lively marching bands, entertainers, veterans and more. Dolly will sit atop a specially designed float and wave to everyone in attendance.
This year, in honor of the grand opening of Smoky Mountain Adventures and in celebration of the 30th Anniversary at Dixie Stampede, eager parade watchers will have the chance to win tickets to both shows!
See Dolly’s Dinner Shows Giveaway
Before the parade starts, Dollywood and Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show have special Grand Opening events planned. Dolly will welcome everyone to a special show at Smoky Mountain Adventures. As a bonus, portions of that event will be live streamed on Facebook.
Visitors should arrive early to get a good spot. The parade will start at 6 PM. It begins at traffic light #6 and it will head toward Sevierville to traffic light #3 along the main parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN.
In past years, Dolly’s parade floats have featured some of Dollywood’s newest attractions including Mystery Mine, Wild Eagle, and FireChaser Express. This year will mark the parade debut of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures. Also, Dixie Stampede will celebrate their 30th anniversary in Pigeon Forge, TN.
The May 5 Grand Opening show at Smoky Mountain Adventures is part of a special day of exciting activities in Pigeon Forge, TN. Dolly will welcome guests to the all-new show. Portions of the grand opening will be live streamed, starting at 11 AM, on Facebook giving folks a sample of the fantastic new show.
Starting at 6 PM, Dolly will make another appearance as the Grand Marshal of the 32nd Annual Homecoming Parade given in her honor.
In addition to the grand opening of Smoky Mountain Adventures, Dixie Stampede is celebrating their 30th anniversary season in Pigeon Forge. To mark the occasion, these two fantastic dinner attractions are teaming up to offer parade watchers the chance to win Free Combo Tickets to both shows!
Share a photo of yourself from the parade sidelines* to Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter using #DollysDinnerShows for a chance to win a set of two (2) combo tickets to Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede (Pigeon Forge Location Only).
Winners will be chosen and announced during the parade. The parade starts at 6 PM. All winners will be announced between 6 and 8 PM on May 5 from the official social media outlets of Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures.
To enter, share a photo of yourself taken along the parade route before or during the parade on May 5, 2017, in Pigeon Forge, TN, to Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag, #DollysDinnerShows.
By participating in this contest, you agree to abide by the following rules and give Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures permission to use your name and profile picture should you be chosen as a winner: (1) you must be 18 years or older to participate; (2) the winner cannot be an employee or relative of an employee of Dixie Stampede or Smoky Mountain Adventures; (3) six random winners will be selected using a hashtag monitoring platform selected by Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (4) the winners will be rewarded with two combo tickets to Dixie Stampede (Pigeon Forge Location Only) and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (5) winners will be notified on the official social media outlets of Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (6) winners must pick up their tickets at the Smoky Mountain Adventures box office on the same day before 8 p.m. EST and present a valid photo id. Prize ticket certificates are subject to availability and blackout show times; (7) This contest begins on 05/05/17 at 6 p.m. EST and ends on 05/05/17 at 8 p.m. EST; (8) This contest is in NO way affiliated with Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter.
*You must maintain a safe distance from the parade route. You must remain in accordance with local law enforcement requirements at All Times. NO entries will be considered by anyone who crosses safety boundaries or barricades!
