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Summer vacation is here, and it’s time we start thinking about where we are traveling this year. If you live in the south like I do, then I am sure you are considering a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And you can’t visit Pigeon Forge without visiting Dollywood theme park!
And the summer is a great time to visit Dollywood. That is because of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Celebration! This is an event that runs from now through August 11th, 2024.
We’ll tell you about all the fun things happening during the festival. And then we’ll tell you how to book your tickets and hotel!
Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights 3D Drone & Fireworks Show
The highlight of a day at Dollywood this summer might actually come at the end of the night. Because that is when you get to see a shimmering spectacular in the sky! Hundreds of drones will dance across the night sky. They’ll tell a unique Dollywood story through 3D animations along with a wonderful display of light.
Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights Dance Party
Before the drone and fireworks show, you can enjoy a fun dance party! It’s a thirty minute dance party at Wildwood Grove that ends when the first drone launches into the air!
Gazillion Bubble Show Aurora
The Gazillion Bubble Show Aurora Show is a returning favorite show. Watch in awe as billions of bubbles take over the theater in a one-of-a-kind experience.
Hydro Jive Junction
Let’s face it, it’s very hot this summer. But you can cool off by a fire hydrant that turns into a sprinkler. You can also sing and dance along to songs like “Singing in the Rain” and “Splish Splash”.
Liquid Beats
Watch musical landscapers take ordinary trashcans and turn them into musical instruments!
Festival Food & Drinks
If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know I love festivals with food and drink options. And luckily Dollywood has an abundance of these during the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration!
I’ll tell you about what food & drinks you can find at each location.
Food
- Antipasto Salad Shaker
- Spiral pasta, pepperoni, olives, mozzarella, pepperoncini, artichoke, tomatoes
- Tossed in red wine vinaigrette
- Found at:
- Iron Horse Pizza
- Lumber Jack’s Pizza
- Apple Cider BBQ Pork Sandwich
- Smoked pork butt sandwitch with apple cider BBQ sauce
- Comes with chow chow & BBQ kettle chips
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza
- Bacon, mozzarella, parsley, mac & cheese pizza
- Found at:
- Iron Horse Pizza
- Lumber Jack’s Pizza
- Granny Ogle’s Pinto Bean Nachos
- Corn tortilla chips topped with fajita-seasoned chicken, cheesy pinto bean dip, pico de gallo, cilantro & tajin
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Italian Sausage and Peppers
- Hoagie roll with mild Italian sausage links, red & green peppers, yellow onions & Italian seasonings.
- Found at:
- Market Square BIG SKILLET
- Loaded Potato Tornado
- Potato topped with chopped bacon, cheese sauce & scallions
- Found at:
- Potato Tornado
- Summer Vegetable & Okra Skillet
- Skillet filled with zucchini, squash, corn, red pepper, tomatoes, pearl onions, lima beans & okra.
- Found at:
- Market Square BIG SKILLET
- Superfood Quinoa Salad Bowl
- Quinoa, baby spinach, grape tomato, garbanzo bean, carrot, pickled red onion & cucumber salad
- Topped with cilantro lime dressing.
- Found at:
- Market Square BIG SKILLET
Desserts
- Cherry Lime Cupcake
- Lime cupcake maraschino with cherry buttercream icing
- Topped with colorful sprinkles & a cherry on top
- Found at:
- Spotlight Bakery
- Cookies N’ Cream Paleta
- Cookies and cream paleta
- Topped with crushed chocolate cookies, dark chocolate sauce & whipped cream
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Decorated Sugar Cookies
- Iced sugar cookie
- Found at:
- Spotlight Bakery
- Fresh Cut Pineapple Skewers
- Pineapple skewers with Tajin seasoning and chamoy fruit sauce
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Fresh Cut Watermelon Cups
- Fresh-cut watermelon & red seedless grapes in a cup
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Fruit Crunch Funnel Cake
- Funnel cake with bananas, strawberries & raspberry sauce
- Topped with whipped cream & fruit crunch cereal
- Found at:
- Crossroads Funnel Cakes
- Mango Paleta
- Mango paleta with fresh strawberries, raspberry syrup, and whipped cream.
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Mt. Laurel Blue Spritzer Float
- Lemon-lime soda & pineapple juice with blue curacao & vanilla ice cream
- Found at:
- Showstreet Ice Cream
- S’mores Brownie
- Ghirardelli chocolate brownie with mini chocolate chips
- Topped with marshmallows
- Found at:
- Spotlight Bakery
- Summer Showers Cupcake
- Vanilla blue cupcake
- Iced with a “cloud” of cream cheese, summery sprinkles & a sugar flower.
- Found at:
- Spotlight Bakery
- Triple Threat Chocolate Caramel Cupcake
- Chocolate cupcake with a caramel drizzle, chocolate icing & mini chocolate chips.
- Found at:
- Spotlight Bakery
Drinks
- Blackberry Iced Tea
- Black leaf tea & blackberry syrup
- Accented with blackberries, hibiscus syrup, lemon & a touch of mint.
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Iced Boba Coffee
- Iced coffee sweetened with sweet cream & brown sugar boba.
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Homemade Southern Sweet Tea
- Sweet tea,
- Served with a lemon wedge.
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Honey Raspberry Sweet Tea
- Green tea, raspberries, cranberry juice & honey jasmine syrup
- Topped with lemon & fresh mint
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
- Passion Fruit Punch
- Orange, lemonade & pineapple juices with passion fruit syrup, sliced oranges &maraschino cherries
- Found at:
- Potato Tornado
- Peach Boba Tea
- Green tea with peach syrup & peach boba
- Topped with fresh mint.
- Found at:
- Seasonal Culinary Booth
Shows & Rides
And of course, no trip to Dollywood is complete without your favorite shows and rides! There are lots of great shows and rides for you and your family to enjoy during your visit to Dollywood.
Tickets & Hotel Information
The Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration is included in the cost of your admission to Dollywood. You can buy a ticket to Dollywood here.
Are you thinking about staying onsite during your stay? Click here to book Dollywood’s much-beloved DreamMore Resort, a 4-star resort and spa, at the best available price.
My family loves staying at the Music Road Resort when we visit Pigeon Forge. You can read our review here.