The merriment of the season returns during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025) with cherished traditions for generations of Dollywood guests. From award-winning stage productions to delicious culinary masterpieces and 6 million twinkling lights, there is something festive in store for every family member.
Guests are sure to feel the holiday spirit throughout the park during Smoky Mountain Christmas thanks to awe-inspiring displays located around every corner. It is this dedication to creating the industry’s best Christmas event that led the Golden Ticket Awards to name the event a “legend” after 15 consecutive “best of” wins.
Photos © Curtis Hilbun / Dollywood
Joy is everywhere at Dollywood with interactive elements and experiences for all guests. Wildwood Grove transforms into a snowy winter wonderland with a brand-new immersive experience, Snow in the Grove. Guests will feel the Christmas magic as snow gently begins to fall upon Wildwood Creek as the Wildwood Tree glows to life every evening. The merrymaking continues as Dollywood’s Christmas characters, Roly and Poly, join in the fun as the snow descends. Dollywood’s Merry and Bright! fireworks show returns to dazzle guests with a festive end to the day on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Also new this year is the Christmas Reflections light installation in Rivertown. As night descends, the Rivertown pond shines brightly as five brilliantly decorated trees shimmer to life with their lights reflecting onto the water below. This display will be a beautiful addition to the more than 6 million lights sure to dazzle guests on their visit. Glacier Ridge presented by Goo Goo Cluster returns to Dollywood’s Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove and Wilderness Pass with a vibrant nighttime display.
Dollywood’s beloved entertainment shines on both indoor and outdoor stages. A new offering this year is “Heidi Parton’s A Christmas To Remember,” where Dolly’s niece, Heidi, shares songs and stories from her family’s Christmas traditions. The show takes place in the Dreamsong Theater. The festival’s family-favorite headline show, “Christmas in the Smokies,” returns to Celebrity Theater and delights guests as it has every year since its debut in 1990. Other Dollywood Christmas classics return including “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs” and more.
One of the most unique experiences guests can enjoy this Christmas at Dollywood is Santa’s List... Naughty or Nice? Santa gives visitors a sneak peek into his cozy Smoky Mountain cabin. Families can see him hard at work finalizing this year’s naughty and nice list, and even talk with the jolly old elf himself! Santa returns to the North Pole for a well-deserved vacation after Christmas Day, so families wanting to see him shouldn’t wait!
Guests will delight in the delicious holiday menu created by Dollywood’s chefs. From hearty rosemary garlic white pizza to warm holiday stuffing stackers and tomato florentine soup, food connoisseurs are sure to find something to love. For those with a sweet tooth, Dollywood has a wide array of treats to offer, including red velvet whoopie pies, peppermint twist cupcakes, traditional sugar cookies, gingerbread people and more!
During the holidays, guests can experience the thrill of Dollywood’s world-class rides, as most attractions are operational during the Christmas season. From these rides, guests can take in the dazzling display of millions of lights shining down below.
The Christmas spirit also can be found at Dollywood’s resort properties, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, where guests can enjoy roaming entertainment, marshmallow roasting and hot apple cider. Camp DW provides holiday crafts and activities to spark joy in the youngest visitors.
At Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, every corner is adorned with colorful holiday décor. Guests can gather around the breathtaking two-story Christmas tree that brightens both levels of the lobby or enjoy the beautiful Christmas Tree Show on the resort’s pool deck. DreamMore Resort’s culinary team prepares decadent meals in Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery. The resort is a great place to taste delicious meals during Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort celebrates its first anniversary on Nov. 3, 2024, and is decking the halls with beautiful Christmas décor inspired by the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains. In the lobby, guests can relax by the fire in front of the lantern-inspired four-story windows. Guests will be welcomed to the table at HeartSong Lodge’s restaurant Ember & Elm: Tastes Rooted in the Smokies. This unique dining location will present delicious dinners crafted by the culinary team for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
For anyone wishing to share the magic of creating cherished family memories, a Dollywood Season Pass is the best gift to give loved ones. Diamond and Gold Season Passes purchased during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas allow admission to this year’s festival and Dollywood during the entire 2025 operating season. Guests can purchase their 2025 Season Pass now or upgrade their regular admission ticket on the day of their visit. Ticket purchasers receive credit for the value of a regular one-day ticket toward purchasing a 2025 Season Pass. Next year marks Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season, and with so many surprises in store to celebrate the milestone, it will be a year to remember.
For more information, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana—the 13-time and only winner of Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for Best Theme Park Christmas Event—has been nominated in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for Best Theme Park Holiday Event.
The USA Today contest, which is now live, runs through Monday, December 6 at 11:59 a.m. A page with a link to the voting page can be found at Dollywood.com/vote. Anyone is eligible to vote and may do so once per day, per device. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, which includes a combination of editors from USA Today, editors from 10Best.com, expert contributors and more.
The theme park industry’s premier Christmas event has been a long-held tradition for generations of guests since its debut in 1990. With more than five million holiday lights, festive holiday performances and a cheerful Christmas atmosphere, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas truly captures the essence of Christmas. From the joy of traditional holiday shows to the excitement of watching Santa at work in his Smoky Mountain cabin, Dollywood’s Christmas festival helps families create memories to share for a lifetime. Guests can also enjoy Dollywood’s signature rides and attractions that operate in this merry environment.
Dollywood’s family favorite shows light up both indoor and outdoor stages. The festival’s headline show, “Christmas in the Smokies,” has been a must-see for families every Christmas season since it began more than 30 years ago. Families will also enjoy “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “O’ Holy Night,” “Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs,” “The Mistletones,” “Appalachian Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band” and more.
Returning for its second year, the “Merry & Bright!” fireworks display is a sparkling ending to a Christmas-cheer filled day at Dollywood. “Merry & Bright!” fills the sky above Dollywood with dazzling lights set to the rhythm of upbeat contemporary holiday hits. The show—which was only on weekends in 2020—was so popular that guests will now be able to experience it each evening of operation during the festival! Families can dance and sing along to favorite Christmas songs as the fireworks shine and shimmer above, creating another special memory before leaving the park.
For those looking to celebrate the holidays with the perfect family meal, Dollywood’s team of chefs has a menu full of culinary surprises sure to delight. From creole-roasted turkey breast and smothered pork loin to braised beef short ribs and lobster bisque, a number of hearty favorites are sure to remind guests of Christmases past. An array of unique items abounds, including eggnog cheesecake, hazelnut churros, Santa’s chilled cocoa and more.
For more information about Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
The holidays are in full swing in Pigeon Forge,TN, where guests can experience America’s best Christmas tradition, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, beginning Saturday, November 6 and running through January 2, 2022.
The light shines on Smoky Mountain Christmas thanks to the glow of more than five million gleaming holiday lights, award-winning stage productions and the warm family traditions that so many guests have enjoyed for more than 30 years. Dollywood is fresh off its 13th consecutive Golden Ticket award for Best Theme Park Christmas event. In fact, it is the only park in the world to earn this prestigious industry honor. For guests, Smoky Mountain Christmas always marks the beginning of the “Dolly-days.” Dolly said,
“Christmas really is the most special time of the year, because it’s when we all come together to share those precious memories we all hold dear. It’s when we take time to remember those cherished times and stories from the past, but it’s also when we start so many new traditions that will become the stories we tell years from now. I hope that everyone who visits Dollywood this season experiences the love and joy of a traditional Smoky Mountain Christmas. During their time here, we hope they’ll laugh, love and linger as they enjoy the light of the season. We also hope they create those new memories and family traditions that they’ll share for many years to come.”
Glacier Ridge presented by Goo Goo Cluster fills Dollywood’s Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass and Upper Craftsman’s Valley with an expansive arctic experience sure to inspire and delight guests. Wilderness Pass serves as one of the highlights of Glacier Ridge, thanks to the Wonderful Christmas! Plaza Tree Show, which features a 50-foot tall animated tree sparkling to life to present a fully-synchronized, dazzling light show throughout the evening.
Dollywood guests are immediately enveloped in the illumination of millions of holiday lights, which create a festive Christmas atmosphere that has become a cherished family tradition for generations. While the lighting itself remains familiar to guests, area-based themes and lighting designs throughout the park provide a sense of wonder and discovery around each turn.
Last year, Old Saint Nick allowed visitors to watch him hard at work in his little cabin in the woods at Dollywood. For the kids (and kids at heart) wondering what Santa is up to this year, he enjoyed his time in the Smokies so much that he has returned to his new home away from home.
Most people don’t know that when he isn’t hard at work at the North Pole, Santa likes to visit East Tennessee and his great friend, Dolly! Guests who visit Santa’s cabin can literally see inside as he reviews "the list"! Kids discover whether their name is on the naughty or nice list, and they might even have their photo made as they peer through the window during this once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Santa at work.
Dollywood’s family favorite shows will be lighting up both indoor and outdoor stages. The festival’s headline show, “Christmas in the Smokies,” has been a must-see for families every Christmas season since it began more than 30 years ago. Families can also enjoy “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “O’ Holy Night,” “Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs,” “The Mistletones,” “Appalachian Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band” and more.
Returning for its second year, the “Merry & Bright!” fireworks display is a sparkling ending to a Christmas-cheer filled day at Dollywood. “Merry & Bright!” fills the sky above Dollywood with dazzling lights set to the rhythm of upbeat contemporary holiday hits. The show, which was only on weekends in 2020, was so popular that guests will now be able to experience it every evening of operation during the festival! Families can dance and sing along to favorite Christmas songs as the fireworks shine and shimmer above, allowing families to create one last special memory before leaving the park.
For those looking to celebrate the holidays with the perfect family meal, Dollywood’s team of chefs have a menu full of culinary surprises sure to delight. From creole-roasted turkey breast and smothered pork loin to braised beef short ribs and lobster bisque, a selection of hearty favorites are sure to remind guests of Christmases past. A number of unique items abound including egg nog cheesecake, hazelnut churros, Santa’s chilled cocoa and more.
As always, guests can experience Dollywood’s world-class rides amidst the hustle and bustle of the park during the holidays, as most rides are operational during the Christmas season. Nothing compares to racing quickly through the night sky with millions of lights twinkling below.
No matter what activities are on the Christmas list this year, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is sure to shine a familiar light on holiday traditions that families will share and cherish for years to come.
The Christmas fun makes its way to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa with even more ways to help families create memories this holiday season. To create a truly immersive Smoky Mountain Christmas experience, the resort is celebrating the holidays with a variety of festival-inspired activities, crafts, entertainment, décor and culinary options.
The resort’s halls are decked in beautiful décor inspired by warm, rich memories of Christmas in the Smoky Mountains. The centerpiece is an awe-inspiring, two-story Christmas tree that can be seen from both levels of the lobby.
DreamMore Resort’s culinary team is preparing delicious holiday meals in Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery. Guests can gather together to give thanks and enjoy a delicious meal throughout the season, or experience one of three holiday dining experiences—Thanksgiving brunch, a Christmas Eve dinner or a Christmas Day brunch.
On select nights during the week, live entertainers will put guests in the holiday spirit with beloved Christmas tunes, while a special Christmas Tree Show takes place hourly each evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. by The Swimming Hole.
For more information and a park operating calendar, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
Light the Way 5K returns this holiday season with a new and improved course that winds its way through the holiday atmosphere at Dollywood, not once, but twice. Participants in the ninth annual Light the Way 5K will run through five million Christmas lights inside Dollywood beginning 11 p.m. on Friday, November 12, as they make this festive race one of their favorite holiday traditions.
When the race had to be canceled in 2020, Light the Way 5K officials looked at how to improve the experience for both serious and casual runners. Participant feedback over the last several years prompted changes that are being implemented for the 2021 race; the decision to provide finishing medals for all participants and a change that allows more time to run through the theme park.
Light the Way 5K’s new route will start runners at Dollywood’s front gate area and take them through the theme park twice, allowing time to take in the five million Christmas lights of the award-winning Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Walkers will have the opportunity to follow the route for one loop around the park. Additionally, 2021 will be the first year participants will experience Wildwood Grove, which opened in 2019, as part of the race course.
Proceeds from the event will benefit both the Keep Sevier Beautiful and Share It Forward program at Dollywood. Keep Sevier Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer-based organization which focuses on waste reduction/recycling, litter prevention and beautifying public spaces through education and community-based programs. Keep Sevier Beautiful’s goal is to protect the natural beauty of the area that millions of visitors come to experience each year. Share It Forward is a non-profit organization which serves The Dollywood Company employees and their families through a variety of quality programs. Share It Forward programming is funded primarily through employee donations, which are matched dollar for dollar by The Dollywood Company.
“It’s so exciting to be hosting runners at the Light the Way 5K, with an expanded course,” said Aaron Newberry, Executive Director of Share It Forward. “The beauty of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, combined with the challenge of a course that only a theme park can provide, makes Light the Way a one-of-a-kind event for runners and walkers.”
“Most importantly, this event helps provide our non-profit organizations with financial assistance just before the holidays,” added Lisa Bryant, Executive Director of Keep Sevier Beautiful.
The certified race will be chip timed and managed by Scenic City Multisport. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers for both men and women.
Pre-registration is encouraged for the Light the Way 5K as the race is limited to 1,500 participants. Registration fee until race day is $50. Register online at www.lighttheway5k.net. Race day registration takes place from 11AM-9PM at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
For more information, email info@keepsevierbeautiful.org or visit www.lighttheway5k.net.
