Summer At Dollywood
By Leif Palmer
Posted on June 3, 2021
They're planning big things for this summer at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. For starters, they're finishing up the final days of the Flower & Food Festival, which has seen the park dressed up in hundreds of thousands of colorful flowers and plants since spring. They've also introduced a lot of new and unique food items for Dollywood guests to nosh on while they're enjoying the rest of the park.
But now that June is here, they'll be gearing up soon for another festival, the Summer Celebration, which runs June 25 through July 31. It's a celebration of family fun and laughter that lasts not only through the day but also into extended nighttime hours. That's a lot more time each day to ride roller coasters and other rides, enjoy fun attractions, savor Dollywood's Southern cuisine and browse the park's many craft shops and kiosks.
Summer Celebration has several special components this year, including a new 3D drone presentation called Dollywood's Sweet Summer Nights. Taking place each night throughout Summer Celebration, this show features hundreds of drones flying high overhead to create stunning 3D animations that tell a story.
This half-million-dollar production starts with a DJ and energetic dancers that bring fun to the streets of Wildwood Grove and get guests on their feet and dancing during the 30-minute event. In the big finale, the drones take to the skies to deliver an unforgettable, musically choreographed end to the evening, complete with a fireworks show.
Summer Celebration is just the icing on the cake for a great season at Dollywood. Of course, the park has its usual lineup of rides, shows, attractions, shops and food vendors. And don't forget that Dollywood Splash Country is open now as well. Located adjacent to the theme park, Splash Country has all kinds of way to stay cool this summer and have a blast doing it. Water slides of all sizes, lengths and levels of scariness as well as a wave pool, lazy river and kids' play areas make Splash Country a great summer-fun experience for all ages.
Even if you're visiting Gatlinburg this summer, it's easy to work Dollywood into to your travel plans. You can park in Gatlinburg at any of our many downtown lots, which offer some of the best parking rates in Gatlinburg. Then all you have to do is take the trolley that runs exclusively to Dollywood while leaving your vehicle safely parked in one spot for the entire day.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.