By Jeanni Ritchie
Dollywood has always held its own brand of magic—warmth, nostalgia, family memories, and that unmistakable Dolly charm. But visiting during Smoky Mountain Christmas on the park’s 40th anniversary felt like stepping into the holiday chapter of my youth.
I hadn’t originally planned to include Dollywood in my 12-city Christmas trek. I was heading north, not east, and I was finally grasping geography enough to realize it just wouldn’t fit into my schedule. But then I saw that the Nashville Gray Line tour bus offered a day trip to Dollywood—and I knew immediately I’d be on that bus.
We left at sunrise, stopping once at a Buc-ee’s some thought was a destination unto itself (!) and rolling into Pigeon Forge three and a half hours later. It had been many years since I’d been to Dollywood and I’d forgotten how beautiful it is when it transforms for the holidays. Lights everywhere. Music in the air. Cinnamon, cider, and cold mountain breezes. It is a true Smoky Mountain Christmas—you feel it as much as you see it.
The Dolly Parton Experience
I started at the Dolly Parton Experience, wandering the memorabilia, costumes, and storytelling panels that paint the picture of the girl from Locust Ridge who grew up to become a global legend. It’s the perfect place to begin a Dollywood day, especially at Christmas—because Dolly’s story is Christmas at its core: humble beginnings, big dreams, and a whole lot of heart.
A Day of Shows (the Heart of the Park)
While others hightailed it to the rides, my heart was set on seeing all of the shows. They are the soul of the park, especially during the holidays.
Twas the Night Before Christmas (Pines Theater)
A charming family favorite filled with singing, dancing, and classic storytelling warmth about a little girl whose wish to Santa comes true.
Christmas in the Smokies (DP’s Celebrity Theater)
A long-running Dollywood tradition that weaves together modern Christmas favorites and the biblical retelling of the birth of Jesus, with a full company, rich harmonies, and beautiful staging.
Holiday Wild Roots (Showstreet Gazebo)
Live holiday music outdoors, drawing a crowd that ended up dancing together to Run, Run, Rudolph in the chilly mountain air—the kind of moment that reminds you why people love Dollywood: community, joy, and music shared with strangers.
O’ Holy Night (Valley Theater)
An outdoor living nativity across from the Grist Mill, complete with costumed actors, scripture, and Christmas hymns. Simple, reverent, and powerful.
Holiday Mountain Time (Back Porch Theater)
Acoustic, bluegrass-style Christmas music with that unmistakable Smoky Mountain feel — relaxed, warm, and rooted in tradition.
Heidi Parton’s A Christmas to Remember (Dreamsong Theater)
A festive, family-style Christmas concert led by Heidi Parton—full of music, storytelling, and that unmistakable Parton charm.
Candlelight Carolers (Robert F. Thomas Chapel)
A peaceful, intimate set of traditional carols performed inside the chapel. Soft, nostalgic, and reverent — the quiet side of Dollywood’s Christmas.
Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs (Showstreet Palace Theatre)
My personal highlight of the entire day. This iconic Southern gospel quartet—celebrating their 40th consecutive year at Dollywood—brought back the music I grew up on. Their harmonies filled the theatre, and the sense of history, worship, and tradition wrapped around the crowd like a warm blanket. I even visited with the guys after the show. Pure joy.
Whether you stay for every set or just catch a song in passing, the whole park feels like it’s humming with Christmas.
Rides, Carousels, and Christmas Magic
I’ve never met a vintage carousel I didn’t love, so naturally I hopped on for a ride. I also briefly considered trying Dollywood’s new 3,990-foot family coaster, Big Bear Mountain, which has just enough drop to thrill you without making you feel like you’re going to meet Jesus at the bottom. I even “rode it” virtually on my phone. Then the rain came…and so did my coaster plans. Maybe next time!
If you’re more thrills than theatre, Dollywood’s rides span everything from world-famous thrill coasters like Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle, to gentle family rides like the Scrambler, kiddie areas, and scenic routes like the Dollywood Express—the steam locomotive that carried me through the park on a 20-minute tour of Smoky Mountain beauty.
Santa, S’mores & Cinnamon Bread
After disembarking the train, I stopped by Santa’s S’mores workshop to make a s’more over the open fire pits. Then I made my way across the street to Imagination Playhouse to visit Santa’s workshop—an immersive walk-through where children write letters, check the Naughty-or-Nice list, and meet Santa himself. Next I wandered through Country Fair for a wave of childhood nostalgia before heading to the Grist Mill for Dollywood’s famous hot cinnamon bread. Fresh. Warm. Stretchy. Melt-in-your-mouth. Worth every calorie.
I shared a table with a young Nashville couple and ended up swapping stories, including a TikTok my son Cody sent me—ending in the punchline: “That’s not the woman who raised me…that’s an old woman trying to get into Heaven!”
I left them the rest of my cinnamon bread. That’s how you make friends at Dollywood.
A Taste of the Holidays
After leaving Kingdom Heirs, a light rain shower had arrived so I headed to Front Porch Café for the much-recommended Holiday Turkey Stacker—a cornbread dressing waffle topped with turkey, mashed potatoes, maple cranberry butter, and pure comfort. Middle-aged wisdom: when it’s starting to get dark and raining, you always choose food.
So Much More to See
As day turned to night, thousands of twinkling lights illuminated the park. There was Glacier Ridge, a winter wonderland of millions of blue and white lights; Mistletoe Campground, nostalgic and rustic; Santa’s Village, with its meet-and-greets and magical photo ops; Craftsman’s Valley, where artisans created homemade gifts on-site; and Festival of Lights, a park-wide transformation every evening, complete with a fireworks show.
Dollywood is the kind of place where families make memories, couples stroll hand-in-hand, and strangers share benches and cinnamon bread like old friends.
Jeanni Ritchie is a travel writer from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
