Dollywood is turning on its 5 million lights this weekend for the start of its annual Smoky Mountain Christmas event, which runs select dates November 7, 2020-January 3, 2021.
This year’s Smoky Mountain Christmas will feature a new fireworks show, new themed areas and lighting displays throughout the park as well as more live lighted Christmas trees than ever before featured in the event.
“Christmas is so precious because of the time we take to gather with friends and family to share the light of love and hope with each other. It’s so good to be able to laugh about old memories and traditions, and even start a few new ones,” said Dolly Parton.
“Some Christmases are more memorable than others, and I think this year is certainly one we won’t forget. I want families to feel the warmth and comfort of all the great things they remember about Dollywood at Christmas, with a few new experiences that will become the memories they share years from now. In twenty years, when someone says, ‘Do you remember 2020?,’ of course they’ll think about how strange this year has been, but I also hope they’ll stop and say, ‘Yes, but remember that special time we had at Dollywood during Christmas that year.’”
Smoky Mountain Christmas Entertainment
New to Smoky Mountain Christmas in 2020, the “Merry & Bright!” fireworks display will light up the sky every Friday and Saturday during Smoky Mountain Christmas (as well as busier operating days throughout the event).
The longtime guest favorite of 30 years, Christmas in the Smokies, returns indoors to center stage at DP’s Celebrity Theater (remember, face masks are required at Dollywood). It joins returning guest favorite, Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs at the Pines Theater. A new show, Heart of the Holidays, will feature several members of Dolly’s family and will include a selection of some of her holiday favorites alongside songs from her new Christmas album, A Holly Dolly Christmas.
Additional holiday entertainment will be found throughout the park: O’ Holy Night, Appalachian Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band, Holiday Wild Roots, The Mistletones and the Candlelight Carolers, a new choral group performing on the steps of the Robert F. Thomas Chapel.
In total, more than 40 holiday performances currently are scheduled to take place each operating day during Smoky Mountain Christmas.
The Glacier Ridge arctic experience returns to the Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass and Upper Craftsman’s Valley areas of the park. The Wilderness Pass Plaza area acts as one of the highlights of Glacier Ridge with the Wonderful Christmas! tree show, featuring a 50-foot-tall animated tree that “sparkles to life to present a fully-synchronized, dazzling light show throughout the evening.”
New this year, kids and kids-at-heart can see inside Santa’s cabin in the Smokies as he reviews…the list! “Kids discover whether their name is on the naughty or nice list, and they even have their photo made as they peer through the window during this once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Santa at work.”
Smoky Mountain Christmas Food
Of course, it wouldn’t be the holidays at Dollywood without some delicious food. The park’s culinary team are unveiling a menu full of surprises.
At Front Porch Café, diners can enjoy beef tenderloin medallions with a cabernet demi reduction, seared trout with sweet Cajun glaze, or a glazed ham steak with pineapple chutney.
New in 2020, the Blue Ribbon Buffet is an “unparalleled all-you-can-eat menu with buffet service, featuring roasted pork loin, herb garlic roasted chicken, carved prime rib and spiral ham, served alongside roasted sweet potato wedges, herb potato puree, baked macaroni and cheese, and more.”
Wow.
Now let’s talk about the sweets.
The park’s Spotlight Bakery will offer a variety of decorated holiday cookies, gingerbreads and cupcakes as well as hot chocolate, of course.
And don’t forget a loaf (or two) of that oh-so-good cinnamon bread, now available at the Spotlight Bakery or, as always, the Grist Mill.
Most of Dollywood’s rides will operate during Smoky Mountain Christmas, weather permitting. You can see a list of minimum operating temperatures for Dollywood’s major rides and attractions here.
To learn more about how Dollywood “flips” from its Harvest Festival event to Smoky Mountain Christmas, read this fascinating post on the official Dollywood blog.
See our coverage of past Smoky Mountain Christmas events here.
And to learn more about the event, visit the Dollywood website.
Have you visited Dollywood for Smoky Mountain Christmas in past years? Are you planning to go this year? Discuss in the comments section below!
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