6 Million Lights, a Christmas Train, and Award-Winning Food: Dollywood During the Holidays

Tucked into the heart of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Dollywood is the theme park owned by country music legend Dolly Parton. And every year from November to early January, it transforms into an enchanting winter wonderland. The park’s “Smoky Mountain Christmas” festival has been awarded the “Best Christmas Event” 15 years in a row by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket theme park awards, and I was keen to experience the appealing blend of holiday magic and Appalachian charm unique to Dollywood resorts.

If you’re planning a holiday trip to Dollywood, here’s what you need to know, along with some personal tips from my recent visit to help you make the most of your experience.

Scheduling and planning your trip to Dollywood at Christmas

Timing your visit to Dollywood can make a big difference, especially during the holiday season. The official Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration runs from November 1, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The park is closed on Thanksgiving (November 28), as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You’ll avoid most of the crowds by visiting midweek and going in early November/early December, or in the final days of the festival. Early December has the perfect balance of a festive atmosphere and manageable crowd sizes.

In the winter, Dollywood opens at 11 AM, meaning you can have a leisurely breakfast and still arrive in time to be among the first in the park. It’s a refreshing change from the early morning starts I’ve experienced at theme parks elsewhere, where it feels like you need to wake up every day at 6 AM to have a chance at beating the crowds.  I also recommend the “Go Left” strategy, one of my most valuable discoveries I made on my visit. While most visitors instinctively turn right, heading left towards Craftsman’s Valley means shorter lines during the first few hours of operation.

If you’re a shopper, shopping later in the day is ideal, as that’s when ride lines are longer and you won’t have to carry your purchases around the entire day. However, avoid the last hour of park operation when the stores are at their busiest. If you’re staying at Dollywood properties, they’ll send your purchases to your hotel for free.

Tickets and hotels

Park tickets in December start at $92 for adults for a single day, but if you prefer to take your time, a multi-day ticket may be a better value. Two-day tickets start at $119, while three-day tickets are as low as $129 per person.

You can also book package deals, which may offer a more all-encompassing experience. Dollywood has two hotels: DreamMore Resort and HeartSong Lodge & Resort. There’s a “Smoky Mountain Christmas” package for guests who want to visit Dollywood at Christmas, with rates at both hotels starting in the low $500s per night. That includes the room, as well as two one-day tickets to Dollywood. Staying at Dollywood is pricier, but with perks like skip the line passes, priority park access, and complimentary transportation, they can be a great option for families.

I opted for an affordable hotel in nearby Pigeon Forge, just a 10-minute drive from the park (there are also lots of convenient Airbnbs in town). I was at the Twin Mountain Inn & Suites, a basic but comfortable enough property priced at $110 per night, including breakfast. There are a lot of similar economical options in Pigeon Forge. It was a lot more affordable than an official hotel, especially during the busy holiday period. And staying in town allows you to take advantage of my best tip for holiday visits to Dollywood: the Pigeon Forge Trolley. It picks up in the center of town and offers free parking, and for $2.50 per day, will drops you at Dollywood’s entrance — a convenient transportation option that saves time and money. Pay in cash or download the app and buy a digital ticket in advance.

Using a TimeSaver Pass during Dollywood at Christmas

The TimesSaver Pass was my best investment and proved invaluable for maximizing my visit. It’s a one-day purchase in addition to your ticket that lets you skip lines up to five times (though you’re limited to doing it just once on some of the more popular rides). It also includes priority seating and seat reservations at shows. When I flashed my pass, I felt like a VIP, bypassing hundreds of people in the queue.

Though I purchased my TimeSaver Pass in advance, you can wait until you’re inside the park to assess the crowd levels and decide whether to invest in the additional cost. The pass starts at $60 per day and is a worthwhile investment if you’re visiting with restless kids or want to pack as much as possible into one day. If you’re visiting Dollywood at Christmas or other holidays (including some busy weekends or school breaks), it’ll likely be worth every penny.

Dollywood at Christmas is every bit as festival as other parks

There’s a reason Dollywood has won many awards, including multiple “Golden Ticket” theme park awards and “Best Theme Park in the US” in TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards. The park’s six million lights transform the picturesque mountain setting into a dazzling display that immerses you in the festive spirit. A highlight not to miss is Glacier Ridge, a special section of the part set up just for the holidays, where you’ll find a lengthy light tunnel, a 50-foot-tall Christmas tree, and holiday decorations around every turn.

Since it opened in 1986, Dollywood has been known for high-quality entertainment – which makes sense, as namesake Dolly Parton is one of the most well-known country singers in the world. While Dolly herself doesn’t perform in the shows, some of her family members do, and shows are influenced by both her background and the region’s rich musical heritage, blending blues, folk, country, and rock and roll, among other genres. Shows like “Christmas in the Smokies” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas” are ongoing traditions in the park that many families return for year after year. Each show runs approximately 25-30 minutes, perfect for warming up between outdoor activities on chilly December days.

As long as you have a cozy jacket, you’ll also want to check out some of the outdoor shows, which never have much in the way of lines. One of the best is the “Wings of America Birds of Prey” show, featuring bald eagles. The birds are permitted by US Fish and Wildlife and allowed to be kept for rehabilitation and breeding programs.

The theaters accommodate large crowds, but TimeSaver pass holders can book reserved front-row seats in advance. Some shows run multiple times daily, while others are one-time events, so review the daily schedule (always published a few weeks in advance) and plan accordingly.

The rides aren’t just for kids

As someone who’s experienced theme parks worldwide, I was impressed by the thrill rides at Dollywood. I thought the most fun option was the Wild Eagle. It was the first wing coaster in the United States, meaning that riders sit in seats hanging off either side of the track, with their feet dangling freely. The novel design makes it feel much more like riders are flying as you’re surrounded by air, not tracks – and it doesn’t hurt that it makes a 135-foot-high drop while moving at 61 miles per hour. Travelers who like a bit of extra excitement will find riding it at night especially thrilling.

Other notable thrill rides likely to satisfy most adults’ need for adrenaline include the FireChaser Express (a family coaster with both forward and backward launches), and the Lightning Rod, America’s first wooden launching coaster that exerts 3.5 times the force of gravity as riders go flying down drops.

For families with younger children, Dollywood also offers plenty of gentler rides with no minimum height requirement. Keep in mind that mountain weather can impact your ride plans, as some attractions close when temperatures drop below freezing.

One ride everyone should experience during Dollywood at Christmas is the Dollywood Express, a steam-powered train that takes visitors on a 20-minute journey through the stunning Smoky Mountains. The ride is even more spectacular at night as the train winds past millions of Christmas lights – but it can be cold. In December, Pigeon Forge, TN, has an average high of around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. I suggest buying a hot chocolate before you board the train, especially for evening rides.

Dollywood dishes go beyond typical theme park fare

The food at Dollywood deserves special mention. You can forget the standard theme park pizza and burgers and taste local, authentic Appalachian cuisine. The famous Cinnamon Bread at the Grist Mill is a must-try holiday treat, and you’ll know you’ve found the place likely by the scent before anything else. Follow your nose inside, and watch the bread being made before grabbing your own icing-covered sweet treat. I recommend arriving earlier in the day to skip the lines, and opting for the apple butter topping. If you’re looking for anything else sweet, you’ll find holiday cookies and cupcakes nearby that won’t disappoint.

If you know you’ll want to try all types of dishes at Dollywood during Christmas and holiday celebrations, you may want to buy a Festival Tasting Pass at $35-$39 for five dishes (the pass name changes seasonally, but is available to purchase online). It’s the best way to sample the variety of eats available for foodies and families who want to dine throughout the day. And if you want to take a longer break, try Aunt Granny’s, an all-you-can-eat family-style restaurant serving classic Southern comfort food. It was named one of the top 10 theme park restaurants by USA Today in 2024.

For $27 plus tax per person, each table chooses three mains and four sides with unlimited refills, plus a dessert and drink per person, making it great value for families celebrating the holidays. It’s a cozy spot to take a break, and the combination of family-style serving and traditional southern dishes gives it a festive atmosphere. Since reservations aren’t accepted, it’s best to visit outside of peak meal times.

The Dolly Parton Experience

While the park offers plenty of classic theme park entertainment, it’s also worth learning more about Dolly Parton, the fascinating singer, songwriter, actress, and performer behind it all. Visitors can do so at the newly opened Dolly Parton Experience, a multi-building attraction chronicling the country music icon’s journey from her beginnings in nearby Locust Ridge, Tennessee, through her rise to stardom.

The interactive exhibits put guests in Dolly’s shoes, offering insights into her career milestones and her family’s role in shaping her success. It makes for a nice break from rides and entertainment and is an excellent place to escape the cold during winter visits.

Making the most of Dollywood’s Christmas magic

The park’s 150-acre footprint means you’ll do plenty of walking, as it’s far larger than parks like Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida – my Apple Watch logged more than 20,000 steps during my full-day visit. While this may help make room for more cinnamon bread, families with young children will likely want to rent a stroller. Fortunately, the park is spread throughout a mountain setting and means that crowds never feel too overwhelming, unlike some other theme parks during the holiday season.

I recommend downloading the Dollywood app in advance as you can use it in the park to check wait times and get directions. But you’ll find that a “long” wait at Dollywood is closer to 20 or 25 minutes. Compare that to wait times of several hours at more well-known parks like Disney World or Universal Studios Hollywood, and you’ll learn that even a “busy” Christmas season at Dollywood is nothing like the chaos of larger parks (not to mention that single-day tickets at Disney Resorts can cost more than $200 per person).

Dollywood’s mountain charm, regional culture, and holiday traditions create a distinct atmosphere that sets it apart from other theme parks, even those with more elaborate productions or cutting-edge technology. The experience felt more genuine and personal to me because it reflected the local heritage, making it feel less like a commercial attraction and more like a true Smoky Mountain Christmas.