A Dollywood Christmas
LEE ZIMMERMAN | BCQ A sign at Dollywood signals the beginning of Christmas at the park.
BY LEE ZIMMERMAN
The holidays are always special, of course, but never more so than at Dollywood, where the sights, sounds, and spirit of the season come alive, beckoning visitors to discover magic and memories through timeless tradition.
Dollywood’ s Smoky Mountain Christmas, presented by Humana, is indeed the place to be for both the young and the young at heart.
This year, the colors of fall are freely mingling with the holiday decor festooned throughout the park, including some six million twinkling lights and all forms of happy holiday happenstance. The blended beauty is truly breathtaking.
While some may still relish fall’ s final colorful display, at least temporarily, the ornaments, snowmen, polar bears, and a nativity scene that adorn the park’ s premises serve as a timely reminder that, indeed, Christmas is on its way.
Likewise, there’ s an abundance of live entertainment, as well.“ Christmas in the Smokies” returns to the Celebrity Theater to delight guests as it has every year since its debut in 1990.“ Heidi Parton’ s A Christmas To Remember” takes place in the Dreamsong Theater, where Dolly’ s niece, Heidi, shares songs and stories from her family’ s Christmas traditions. Other Christmas classics are also in abundance, including“‘ Twas the Night Before Christmas,”“ Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs,”“ O’ Holy Night,” and“ Appalachian
Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band,” among the array of offerings.
Every part of the park shares in the splendor. Glacier Ridge returns to Dollywood’ s Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass, and Upper Craftsman’ s Valley with an expansive, vibrant arctic display that dazzles and delights guests year after year. The Christmas Reflections lights in Rivertown cast their glow as night falls, as five brilliantly decorated trees shimmer to life with lights that reflect on the water below. The Country Fair area offers a sweet treat courtesy of Peppermint Valley, featuring sparkling red and white candy cane lights and a colorful display.
And of course, what would Christmas be without Santa? Guests can watch the Jolly Old Elf himself hard at work at his Dollywood workshop as he goes through his list of who’ s been naughty and who’ s been nice.
Dollywood’ s Smoky Mountain Christmas continues through Jan. 4, 2026, and given the awe-inspiring displays and decor throughout the park, even old Ebenezer Scrooge would have a hard time denying the special spirit that’ s so evident at every turn.
It’ s hardly surprising, then, that the Golden Ticket Awards named Dollywood’ s event a“ legend” after 15 consecutive
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28 | BLOUNT COUNTY QUARTERLY • WINTER 2025-26