When you think of Christmas in the Appalachians, where is the first place that comes to mind? For us, it’s Dollywood, and for many who live in the Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina region, Christmas just doesn’t feel complete without attending a night at Dollywood. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival has been going strong since 1990, and many of us throughout this region of the Appalachians have made it part of our Christmas traditions. Dollywood goes all out for the festive season, and you would have thought they hired Clark Griswald to hang the lights as they bolster over six million Christmas lights. One of our favorite aspects of Christmas at Dollywood is the shows every year Dollywood puts on some of the best entertainment for the season; one in particular that my family has to see every year is “Christmas in the Smokies,” even though they spell it wrong. Psst… It’s supposed to be (Smoky’s.) Christmas in the Smokies tells the story of a family coming together for the holidays, all while singing some of everyones favorite Christmas songs.
Over the years, Dollywood has grown its holiday festivities, and this year is no exception. Wildwood Grove, the darkest newest expansion, transforms into a snowy winter wonderland and features a brand new immersive experience, Snow in the Grove. Guests will now experience a light snowfall while in Wildwood Grove, along with a couple of new Christmas characters, Roly and Poly. If you attend on a Friday or Saturday, you will also get to experience Dollywood’s Merry and Bright fireworks show. In addition to the new Wildwood Grove experiences, Dollywood will also feature a new Christmas Reflections light installation in Rivertown.
As Dollywood grows, so does its guest count. Roughly 3.5 million people visit the park each year, according to the Dollywood representative we contacted. So if you are like us, and you want to go when there are fewer people, try visiting on a weekday. Dollywood will also feature festive food and treats throughout the park, some of the items include a rosemary garlic white pizza (yum), holiday stuffing stackers, tomato Florentine soup, and for those looking for something sweet, they will also have a red velvet whoopee pie, peppermint twist cupcakes, sugar cookies and gingerbread. Let’s be honest, though; we are all grabbing a loaf or two of the cinnamon bread; it’s a must and the absolute best food item at the park. It is.
For those looking to make this a multi-day event or a weekend getaway, you should look at Dollwood’s two resorts, DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort. DreamMore is the one we can personally speak about as we have stayed here, and it is one of our favorite resorts to date. If you are looking for good food, a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, and, most importantly, a great room with a comfy bed and a spacious shower, then DreamMore has you covered. The hot tub is also fantastic.
If you would like to know more about Dollywood, the shows, food or anything else, then check out their website Dollywood.com. Take a walk through six million lights, grab a loaf of cinnamon bread, catch a show and immerse yourself in a Smoky Mountain Christmas.
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