Dollywood Theme Park is well-known around the region not only for its founder but also for its endless rides, attractions and events. The staff at Dollywood have gone to great lengths to make their 2019 season better than ever.
“There are a lot of factors involved when we choose which events to feature and new things to add to the park,” said Wes Ramey, senior public relations manager at Dollywood. “We really try to find out what guests are excited about and give them the best experience we can. We’re always looking for new and innovative things to add.”
The season features a full lineup of festivals, such as Barbeque and Bluegrass, Summer Celebration, Thrills in the Hills, Rock the Smokies, The Harvest Festival and a Smoky Mountain Christmas. However, there’s also a new addition coming to Dollywood – Wildwood Grove.
“Wildwood Grove is a new section that’s been added to the park,” said Ramey. “It opens May 10, and it’s our biggest addition to date. The 2019 season will probably be one of our biggest.”
The theme park’s current festival, the Festival of Nations, runs through April 14 and even has some new additions of its own. Along with the festival’s usual cultural performances, a cultural cuisine experience has been added. Patrons can visit different restaurants and have their Passport to Food stamped. Each year, spring and summer events such as this have the park filled with visitors, but other festivals offer just as many exciting opportunities throughout the year.
“At the end of their performances, performers typically come down to interact with guests,” Ramey said. “The Festival of Nations is a teaching opportunity, and I think the Passport of Food brings in a new way for people, especially kids, to be more involved.”
Through the duration of Barbeque and Bluegrass, the parks hosts over 300 concerts, and the Harvest Festival brings about the Southern Gospel Jubilee and the Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas has even been in the running as one of the best theme park Christmas festivals in the world for 11 years.
“Christmas is one of our most popular times because it’s become a family tradition for many of our guests,” said Ramey. “It’s beautiful and features 5 million lights throughout the park.”
Dollywood offers several options for admission. Customers can purchase one to three day tickets, season passes and double-park tickets with admission to Splash Country.
For more ticketing information, visit https://www.dollywood.com/Tickets. To learn more about the park’s 2019 season, visit https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/Festivals. Schedules are also updated regularly on the Dollywood app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
