We can’t think of a better place on Earth to celebrate National Women’s Day than at Dollywood with the iconic Dolly Parton.
The Dollywood Parks and Resorts are a perfect getaway in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee that include rides, music, food, performances, and unforgettable good times. The park has more than 50 world class rides and entertainment opportunities for people of all ages.
The park was created by country singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, who grew up in the area. She dreamed as a little girl that if she ever made it big, she wanted to bring back something great to her hometown. She did exactly that with Dollywood.
This was our first visit to Dollywood and we had an amazing day seeing Dolly discuss the new park attractions for 2024, riding as many rollercoasters as possible and capping off our visit with a parade featuring Dolly riding a carriage covered in beautiful flowers. There was rain in the forecast but the weather cleared and provided perfect overcast skies and 65 degree weather for our trip to the park.
Dollywood is celebrating their 39th season this year, and kicked off the festivities today for season pass holders and members of the media with an announcement of the exciting events guests can expect to see this season at the park. The events kicked off at 11 a.m. in the Celebrity Theater with a wonderful musical number by Three Times A Lady previewing their new show called Trio Again. Dolly Parton came onstage next and delivered a sneak peek of park events to season pass holders and the media.
Dolly talked about her recent accomplishments, like the release of her newest album Rockstar, her UT football halftime performance with Peyton Manning and the halftime performance she did for the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day dressed as a Cowboys cheerleader. She also talked about her pet gala that she hosted in Nashville in February.
Dolly announced a new festival this year, the “I Will Always Love You” Festival, in honor of the 50th anniversary of her song of the same name. The festival will take place from March 9th to April 14th and will include new performances, interactive installations, and more.
A total of $1 million dollars in sight and sound upgrades were made at the park. New performances and shows will include: From The Heart: The Life & Music of Dolly Parton, Trio, Again featuring Three Times a Lady, and Sing-a-long with Dolly. It was also announced that The Dreammore Resort and Spa has refreshed guest rooms and corridors. Upgrades will continue to be made to Dolly’s resorts and spas throughout the year.
Parton brought out Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton to join her for a Sing-a-long to preview that new show and officially welcome guests to the park for the 2024 season.
Dolly also announced The Dolly Parton Experience, a series of exhibits that outline the life, career, and wardrobe of Dolly. It is set to open in May of this year and is three times the size of the former Chasing Rainbows Museum.
In The Precious Memories exhibit, guests will see memories from Dolly’s past and continue to watch her family and friends perform in the DreamSong theater. In the Behind The Seams exhibit, guests can explore a curated selection of Dolly’s wardrobe through the years. Lastly, in The Songteller exhibit, guests can take a walk-through journey around Dolly’s life, career, and inspirations.
There have also been changes made to the Lighting Rod roller coaster which re-opened today. The ride debuted with a new, high-speed chain lift that provides guests with a more consistent and efficient ride experience. The Lightning Rod was our first stop after the kickoff to try out the re-vamped coaster and the ride did not disappoint. We also took rides on The Wild Eagle and the parks newest coaster Big Bear Mountain to round out our adrenaline filled afternoon.
At 4:15 p.m. the parade started as thousands of fans lined the streets of Dollywood under the Celebration Sky featuring pink shimmering ribbons on display from above. Dolly rides from the back of the park to the front entrance to greet fans in a carriage that is covered in beautiful floral arrangements.
One of the big changes being made at the park is a change from the turnstiles at the park’s entrance to an upgraded QR scanning system, making it easier for guests to enter the park. Additional parking will also be added to accommodate the large volume of guests.
39th Season Schedule:
- I Will Always Love You Festival: March 9 – April 14
- The Flower & Food Festival: April 19 – June 9
- Dollywood Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration: June 15 – August 11
- Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin Luminights: September 9 – October 28
- Smoky Mountain Christmas: November 1 – January 5
- Splash Country Waterpark: May 11 – September 15
This season has a ton in store for guests! In true Dolly fashion, there is never a dull moment in Dollywood, especially after all of these exciting upgrades and new shows. The 39th season has already begun, so make your way out to Tennessee to experience fun for the whole family. We had a perfect day at the park and will definitely be back soon.