Experience Dollywood: What’s New This Year
Dolly Parton is one of our faves – not only is she uber-talented, but she’s just got it GOING ON…you know what we mean?
- Her voice? Over the top amazing
- Her outfits? Over the top flashy
So when she puts her name behind a theme park, want to guess how to describe it?
The Dollywood theme park is made of up several themed areas, each with rides, food, and entertainment your whole family (from grandparents to littles) will love. The park has a lot to offer year-round! We loved visiting the park recently to check out everything new for 2023! Ready to hear about new celebrations, new rides, and even a new resort? Continue reading, mamas!
Dollywood Festivals and Event Schedule
- I Will Always Love You Celebration: March 11 – April 8
- It has been 50 years since Dolly’s release of one of her biggest hits and Dollywood is ready to celebrate! Join in on the celebration with live entertainment, fun event décor for special photo ops, and inspired snacks at the park.
- Flower and Food Festival: April 21 – June 11
- We can’t wait to walk beneath the colorful umbrella sky, explore the larger-than-life mosaiculture displays, watch the special street performances, and enjoy a taste of Spring with garden-fresh flavors throughout the park!
- Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration: June 17 – August 6
- Enjoy long summer days at Dollywood and create lasting memories with your kids at The Gazillion Bubble Show Aurora. End your day with the Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show.
- Harvest Festival: September 20 – October 30
- Everyone knows that the Smoky Mountains come alive in the fall. With pumpkin displays throughout the park, illuminating at night, it’s no surprise that USA Today Readers voted Dollywood’s Harvest Festival America’s #1 Fall Family event.
- Smoky Mountain Christmas: November 4 – January 6
- The park lights up during the Christmas season with over 6 million lights, festive shows, and sweet seasonal treats. Be sure to visit Santa during his yearly trip to hang out with his BFF, Dolly.
And don’t forget about Dollywood’s Splash Country! Open every day from May 13th through August 6th, it’s the perfect spot to cool down in the Smokies.
Ride Announcements
Dollywood is currently home to 7 thrilling roller coasters, but we are excited to share that in May they have added an 8th! Get ready to join a family-friendly expedition in search of Big Bear on Big Bear Mountain. This is now the longest coaster at Dollywood – 3,990 ft and a ride time of nearly 2 minutes. And the best part is that it was built for the whole family! We can’t wait!
New Resort Opening
We already know and love Dolly’s first resort, DreamMore Resort, and Spa… and when I say “love”, I mean L-O-V-E! Beautiful rooms with bunk beds for kids, amazing spa, huge indoor and outdoor pools, delicious on-site dining options, outdoor playground, Camp DW for making memories with your kids… the list goes on.
But starting in the Fall of 2023, we will have another beautiful resort to choose from, the HeartSong Lodge and Resort! Four-story stone fireplace in the cozy lobby, 302 spacious rooms (some with balconies because who doesn’t love waking up to that mountain air?), mountain-inspired décor, full-service dining options and lounge, and an even bigger pool than the one at DreamMore!
Decisions, decisions… you really can’t go wrong with either resort. Check out these perks of being a resort guest:
- Complimentary Dollywood TimeSaver Pass – a value of $60 per person, per day!
- Complimentary Door-To-Door Transportation to the park – leave your car at the resort and save a minimum of $25 in parking fees per day!
- Complimentary Package Delivery – park merchandise purchases delivered to your resort!
- Saturday Early Park Entry for Exclusive Ride Time – enter one hour before opening time!
Ready to visit Dollywood or Dollywood’s Splash Country? Purchase tickets here! And to experience the parks all year long, be sure to explore the perks of a Season Pass.
For an in-depth look at how to plan a trip to Dollywood, take a look at our Dollywood 101 post here.
What an awesome entry & giveaway! I feel like Dollywood is so much better then Disney…. Yes I said it. Dollywood is peaceful not stressing. The crowd is better, the food tastes amazing (kettle cook popcorn & cinnamon bread 😍), and lastly the bluegrass music that plays is just relaxing. We can’t wait to take our daughter this year! Her first time 💖
Lots of exciting things going on at Dollywood this year!
Such a great giveaway! Dollywood holds a special place in my heart, it’s where our family has fun and truly enjoys spending time together! The delicious snacks are an added bonus. Our toddler would LOVE the opportunity to go check out all the new family friendly areas in the park!
This sounds so fun! I’d love to take my kids!
Such a great giveaway! And to think it’s so close to me in Georgia and I’ve never been to Dollywood!
We’d love a chance to go! There’s not a ton that my teen and younger child like to do together, but I think they’d have a great time!
I did not know Dollywood had all this stuff to offer. You just opened up my mind to new a place to check out for my birthday. Hollywood sounds like an amazing place to visit and I think I will be planning our summer trip around Dollywood.
Huge fan of Dolly and would love to visit for the first time!
Oh my gosh this would be a perfect getaway from Atlanta!
I love Dollywood! I grew up near the theme park so it was one of my favorite things to do. I would love for my kids to go this year and experience all of the fun things to do at Dollywood.
So cool!!!! I can’t wait to come visit 😍😍😍
This looks like so much fun. My mom and I want to take my 4 year old here this summer. My mom is in her 70s and showing signs of dementia, so I want to go as soon as I can.
Dollywood is so impressive!! I love that they do seasonal festivals and events. I can’t wait to take my kids!
We love going but its just been too pricey for us lately! I’d love to bring my kids before their new sibling arrives.
Wow so many fun things , can’t wait to visit
Dollywood is great and I would love to go and see all the new things!
Sounds like a lovely giveaway!!! Dolly is my all time hero, so a trip there would feel like a getaway to my mother land ❤️❤️❤️
Dollywood has always been on my list of places to check out. Can’t wait to see what it has to offer thanks for info and tips
I had no idea all that Dollywood has to offer! We would love to take a trip there! The flower festival time would be perfect!
Dollywood looks AMAZING! I would love to experience this place with my family! We would make such great memories!
I just rented a house for our family trip to pigeon Forge. We are so excited to take our grandson to Dollywood for the first time! We are going the first week of June
Would love to visit!
So fun! Definitely want to check it out!
I’d love to go and take my kids!
Amazing giveaway! All the magic that I saw in the info, the place will be so fun to spend time with my family there.
My kids love a good adventure especially when it includes a theme park! They’ve never experienced Dollywood and doesn’t everyone need to taste the cinnamon bread?!?! Also, I just subscribed to your newsletter. Thanks for offering this giveaway!
My so would love to celebrate his 4th birthday at Dollywood!!! This is on our must do list!
Great article! I love Dollywood. I have many wonderful memories of my visits there. It would be nice to visit again since it has been awhile.