You hear it all over Dollywood. Young parents, sitting with their children in the passenger cars of the Dollywood Express, or holding hands as their board any of the other rides and attractions, saying: “Grandma and grandpa used to take me on this when I was your age.” And the children, wide-eyed and giggling, don’t yet know they’re the newest generation in, what has become for so many, a family tradition.
That’s the way it is at Dollywood. Everywhere you go throughout the park, everything and everyone is buzzing with boundless energy and a sense of purpose.
Dollywood’s 2018 schedule is as fun-filled as it’s ever been, dubbed the "Season of Showstoppers." Be there to enjoy the sights and sounds of Dollywood and acclaimed music from artists and bands like Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Daily & Vincent at Dollywood's Barbeque & Bluegrass May 25-June 10. DRUMLine Live! performs during Dollywood's Summer Celebration, which also includes iLuminate - a show of music, electrified glow-in-the-dark costumes, dance and illusions. Rock the Smokies features TobyMac and Crowder Aug. 25; and the largest Southern gospel event in the U.S. makes its home at Dollywood Sept. 28-Nov. 3 as part of Dollywood's Harvest Festival presented by Humana.
For a truly one-of-a-kind immersive experience at Dollywood, be sure to book your stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa, where guests enjoy perks such as door-to-door transportation to the theme park, time saving passes for long lines and exclusive theme park entry.
And this new energy and purpose is not confined to Dollywood. All throughout Pigeon Forge, the travel season is in full swing:
Alcatraz East Crime Museum is one of Pigeon Forge’s most intriguing attractions. Dedicated to cultivating and displaying an incredible array of artifacts and exhibits on the history of crime and crime fighting in America, this museum was relocated to Pigeon Forge from Washington D.C. Inside, tour galleries are filled with everything from medieval punishment devices to the getaway car of famed Depression-era ganger John Dillinger.
And tried-and-true Pigeon Forge favorites such as the Titanic Museum, continue to amaze and inspire visitors. This permanent, immersive experience begins when you receive the name and story of a person who actually sailed on the Titanic in 1912.
Throughout the powerful and moving exhibits, which range from approx. 400 Titanic-era artifacts to a pool of 28-degree water where you can feel for yourself how cold the ocean was when the Titanic sank, you will learn what life was like for the ship’s passengers, about their hopes and dreams, and, in the end, whether or not the name you received at the beginning lived or died when the ship sank.
Another mainstay attraction is The Island at Pigeon Forge. This massive open-air entertainment venue became an instant classic since it opened, and the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel has become an iconic landmark along the parkway.
Free bluegrass music at Ole Smoky Moonshine, dazzling light and water displays at the Island Show Fountains and all the shopping, eating (stop in for delicious southern cooking at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen) and fun to be had, no visit to Pigeon Forge is complete without a few hours set aside to soak in the scene at the Island.
