Dollywood is strikingly beautiful dressed in her winter finest. Shades of green and gold, red and silver bedecked with glitter and baubles - the park is a coat of many colors when Smoky Mountain Christmas gets underway each holiday season. It's a time for families, friends, feasting and simply being together - the perfect recipe that helps the park come alive with holiday spirit.
Now in its 32nd season, Smoky Mountain Christmas is resplendent with the glow of more than 5 million gleaming holiday lights outlining theaters, shops, restaurants, the trees - everywhere you look. Even the magnificent Dollywood Express, a 110-ton, coal-fired steam engine, is decked out in colorful lights as she chugs around the park carrying her load of passengers on a 5-mile ride through the foothills of the Smokies.
For many, a visit to Dollywood is a family holiday tradition. For first-timers, it's a chance to create new memories.
"I had so much fun, I'm going to dream about it tonight," said 5-year-old Madeleine Shapero after her first visit. Then, looking up at her parents, she asked, "Can we come back next year?"
In her cheerful Southern drawl - so familiar you can hear it even in a written news release - Dolly Parton said, "I hope that everyone who visits Dollywood this season experiences the love and joy of a traditional Smoky Mountain Christmas. During their time here, we hope they'll laugh, love and linger as they enjoy the light of the season. We also hope they create those new memories and family traditions that they'll share for many years to come."
Here's a little of what you can expect at Smoky Mountain Christmas this season - something new and some things you've seen before, but all things you'll remember for years to come.
FOR THE FAMILY
Smoky Mountain Christmas closes Jan. 2, so it's important to make the most of your visit. That may mean waiting in a couple of lines at the beginning, but it will pay off in the end. If you need a stroller, book one in advance at dollywood.com if you don't want to pack one when you leave home. Then, have the children in your party measured to see what rides are best-suited according to height, and they will be fitted with a color-coded wristband. At the entrance to each ride are color-coded signs to match their wristbands, and this means no tears and sad faces after waiting in line only to find out a youngster is not big enough yet. Just move on to the next ride, and happy faces will abound.
Here are some other suggestions from Dollywood when you have little ones in tow.
- Arrival: You don't necessarily need to show up right when the park opens. If your younger children get tired or won't make it through an entire day, go a little later so that they won't be too tired when it gets dark. After dark is when the 5 million lights really glisten and create a winter wonderland. You can even see snow at Wonderful Christmas, an LED light show that happens at The Plaza in Wilderness Pass and tells a story through images.
- Fireworks: Merry & Bright, a Christmas fireworks show, begins at 9 each night. It's a great way to end the day for your family. If you stay for fireworks and have a drive home, bring your little ones' Christmas pajamas along so you can change them into their PJs before you head home. Transfer sleepyheads from the car to their beds, then moms and dads, grandmas and granddads, aunts and uncles - the whole family - can take a well-earned break.
- Suitable clothes: Don't forget to pack plenty of coats, hats and gloves. The Smokies at Christmas can be quite cold, particularly after the sun goes down. Another good way to warm up is by enjoying one of the indoor shows or visiting the indoor play area, Hidden Hollow. It offers a collection of kid-friendly activities, and there's a separate area for toddlers to safely explore.
- TimeSaver Passes: These cost extra but are a great idea during Christmas. It means less time waiting in lines for rides, and seats for shows can be reserved at the time of purchase. It truly is a time-saver. Decide in advance what shows you want to see and the times you want to see them, then reserve your seats.
- Dining: Kids can get impatient when hungry - don't we all? So plan to eat at off-times when the waits are shorter, or make reservations at the full-service restaurants - Front Porch Cafe and Aunt Granny's Restaurant - in advance.
JUST FOR FUN
No trip to the Smoky Mountain Christmas is complete without a visit to Santa, and this year, he's found a new home in the Heartsong Theater. Children will be escorted into the theater, where they will write letters to Santa, get a sneak peek inside his Smoky Mountain cabin and find out if they made the naughty or nice list. This is a good experience to hit early in the day before the line gets longer.
Most of the rides for young children are found in one of two areas: Wildwood Grove, where children can take their first roller-coaster ride, and Country Fair, where the lines for Busy Bees and Lucky Ducky are filled with happy faces.
Dollywood has roller coasters that will take you on some of the wildest rides in the Smokies - and the most crowded. This is when you'll be glad you added the TimeSaver pass - or wish you had. Tennessee Tornado takes you on a loopy trip, but it's not the most heart-pounding of Dollywood's coasters. Leave that to Lightning Rod, a coaster with a hybrid track of wood and steel that goes from zero to 45 mph in seconds before it launches you more than 40 stories high, then back down to Earth at a heart-stopping 73 mph. You might think coasters and other rides that take you high in the sky above the park aren't meant for wintertime night riding. But Smoky Mountain Christmas might be the best time, as you can look down on the millions of lights in the park sparkling down below.
But there's more to Dollywood than rides. There are shows to be seen.
"'Twas The Night Before Christmas" is a favorite indoor show for kids and adults featuring mischievous "mice," Santa Claus and a true Christmas miracle. The festival's headline show, "Christmas in the Smokies," has been a must-see for families every Christmas season since it began more than 30 years ago. Families also may enjoy musicals such as "O' Holy Night," "Christmas With the Kingdom Heirs," "The Mistletones" and "Appalachian Christmas With the Smoky Mountain String Band."
Craftsman Valley is the place for shows of another kind. See how blacksmiths use the same skills their ancestors did when forging metals to make gifts, home and garden decor and other handiwork. Or watch as artists blow through long glass tubes to make exquisite works of glass, candle makers craft candles, crafters hand-tool leather and bakers make the popular cinnamon bread. The Valley is awash with creativity, as is the entire park when Dolly and her elves get to work decorating and making sure everything is perfect for visitors.
NEW ON THE MENU
Just as with all festivals at Dollywood, the restaurants, snack bars and bakeries do something a little special to celebrate the seasons. For the holidays, the two full-service restaurants, Front Porch Cafe and Aunt Granny's Restaurant, beef up their menus with the addition of new dishes. Front Porch's new items include Bush's Three-Bean Chili, lobster bisque, smothered pork loin, Creole roasted turkey breast, Southern Cobb salad and, for dessert, eggnog cheesecake and peppermint chocolate molten lava cake. Aunt Granny's will be dishing out deep-fried turkey, spiral-sliced ham and slow-cooked pot roast, in addition to creamed corn casserole, dressing, maple-glazed sweet potatoes and more side dishes to tempt your palate.
If vision of peppermints are dancing through your head, then stop by the Sweet Shoppe for a peppermint shake. Dollywood will make it like none other with vanilla ice cream, peppermint syrup and raspberry coulis with whipped cream, sugar cookies and a cherry on top. Or visit Sweets & Treats for a hazelnut churro. It's dusted with cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar, then served with Nutella for dipping.
In Market Square, you'll find that a guest favorite, the Savory Sausage Sandwich, has reappeared for the festival, along with the Market Square Steak Sandwich and Santa's Chilled Cocoa with chocolate milk, chocolate sauce and a hint of peppermint. However, if you need a sip of warmth, hot chocolate can be found in spots all around the park.
SPEND THE NIGHT
Your choices are many when it comes to overnight accommodations at Dollywood, and packages are available if you stay at a Dollywood property. Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Cabins range from one to multiple bedrooms. They are several miles from the park but are ideal for families. Many feature hot tubs, most have stunning views of the Smoky Mountains and all have Wi-Fi and fireplaces. Full kitchens allow for making your own meals. The relaxed time at the table is a great way to relive the best moments at the park when day is done or to plan the next day's visit. For information or to select a date, log onto dollywood.com/cabins.
Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa (dollywood.com/resort) is a large resort with dining venues, a full-service salon, shops, indoor and outdoor pools and kids activities. During the Christmas season, the resort's Camp DW expands its offerings with a variety of festival-inspired activities for kids, such as wreath-making, building gingerbread houses, making Christmas travel pillows and writing letters to Santa. Camp DW also serves warm apple cider in the resort lobby from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. At night, gather the family around a large fire and make s'mores, then take the young ones for bedtime stories in the DreamMore barn. Camp DW is included in stays for DreamMore guests only. Guests at DreamMore can even request a fully decorated Christmas tree set up in their rooms upon arrival by choosing the Christmas Tree Decor package.
Smoky Mountain Christmas packages can be reserved when you make your reservation at the cabins or resort. Resort Stay & Play and the cabins' Christmas Memories packages include Dollywood TimeSaver passes with each ticket. Passes, which shorten waiting times, can be used on eight select rides and unlimited daily shows. They also include transportation to and from the park (DreamMore guests only), priority access to the park and reserved parking, a huge help and time-saver.
For a complete rundown of what's happening at Dollywood as it wraps up its 2021 season with one of the most-spectacular festivals of the year, log onto dollywood.com.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com or annebraly.com.