Fall in Love with Autumn At Dollywood

By Sandra Chambers

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is the perfect destination this fall. With cooler temps, mountain vistas and brilliant foliage, autumn is one of the most popular times to visit the theme park. Visitors will discover plenty of family-friendly activities, festivals, thrill rides, top-rated entertainment and delicious culinary offerings.

One of the unique features of this 165-acre theme park is that it is surrounded by nature. In fact, when Dollywood was first planned, the natural beauty of the mountain landscape was considered a key attraction. Built right into a mountain, the theme park has a strict policy about not removing trees, so them. The park’s layout is easy to navigate as it’s divided into several different themed areas. If you’re a thrill seeker, head to Wildwood Grove, which is the location of Dollywood’s award-winning 10 coasters and other thrill rides. Craftsman Valley offers live demonstrations and crafts created by local Eastern Tennessee artisans and a Country Fairthemed area salutes an All-American summer activity and offers fun rides for the little ones in the family. The one thing you won’t want to miss is a ride aboard Dollywood’s authentic steam train, which will give you a great overview of the entire park.

Dollywood is open mid-March through early January, and throughout the year, four

A rendering of Heartsong Resort & Spa Harvest Festival and to finish out the season, the Smoky Mountain Christmas.

The upcoming Fall Festival takes place this year from Sept. 20-Oct. 30. This “not scary,” family-friendly celebration includes thousands of glowing and carved pumpkins throughout the park. Some of the massive pumpkins weigh between 800-1,500 lbs. each and come from growers across the East Coast. At night, Great Pumpkin LumiNights and Hoot Owl Hollow feature carved pumpkins and a massive 14-foot-tall owl created with white pumpkins.

During the festival, Dollywood’s culinary team creates a cornucopia of harvest-themed foods. Just follow the delicious smells of smoked bratwursts, turkey legs, three-bean pumpkin chili and desserts like maple-pecanbacon funnel cakes and pumpkin spice churros. Be sure to purchase a tasting pass which allows you up to five festival foods for one low price.

No festival is complete without awardwinning entertainment, and with more than 1,900 performances taking place both outdoors and indoors during the Harvest Festival, everyone is sure to discover some favorites.

Dollywood Company is much more than just a theme park. It also includes a 35acre Splash Country water park and the DreamMore Resort and Spa. Currently the company is in the midst of a $500-milliondollar expansion that includes the Big Bear Mountain Coaster, the longest coaster at Dollywood, which opened in the spring of 2023. It also includes a second resort property — Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

Dollywood has garnered many awards over the years. It has been recognized as a topthree U.S. theme park in the country by USA Today and was TripAdvisor’s 2022 #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. dollywood.com