Tennessee

By Mindy Bianca MBPR

Let’s face it: 2021 has been a year. And it came on the heels of 2020, which was also a year. It’s been non-stop drama for so long now, but we think we may have a cure for what ails us: We need a little Christmas. Dollywood has come to our rescue, delivering a heavy dose of Christmas just when we need it most.

PLACES TO GO

All we want for Christmas is you … to visit one of the best Christmas locations in America. In the spirit of our favorite songstress, we’re going to tell our story in carols. Dolly Parton’s theme park and its neighboring resort and attractions have created a Christmas destination unto themselves, warranting a multi-day visit to

Get Ready for the Holidays with “Dolly-days” THINGS TO DO • Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas is a cherished tradition for visitors to the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The event has been encouraging visitors to have yourself a merry little Christmas for more than 30 years. • In answer to the question, “Do they know it’s Christmas?” we’ve got a resounding YES! There’s no mistaking which season you’re in when you’re here. • You can have every imaginable wonderful Christmastime experience here, from walking through lighted displays to enjoying holiday meals and from humming along to your favorite Christmas songs to getting a peek at Santa. • Check this calendar link for the full schedule of dates and times that the park is open, but in Destination Dollywood, Christmastime is here every day in November and December. • Several nights also offer a dazzling fireworks show called “Merry & Bright!,” a colorful and energetic display that features contemporary holiday songs and brings joy to the world. •“Glacier Ridge” is a brilliant, walk-through light display. A highlight of the journey is guests’ arrival at a 50-foot-tall, animated O, Christmas tree that comes to life via a synchronized light show throughout the evening. •Do you hear what I hear? The park’s many theaters and other venues host more than 40 different Christmas performances throughout the season. Please turn to next page...

take it all in. In fact, you might need all twelve days of Christmas to do it justice.

Dollywood is completely transformed into a winter wonderland, coming aglow as more than 5 million gleaming lights sparkle throughout the park.

• Oh, yeah … this is a theme park, so there are plenty of rides to enjoy, too! This is a magical time to experience roller coasters and other rides, racing through the night sky while millions of twinkling lights sparkle below. It must be what Santa feels like when he takes his famous sleigh ride on Christmas Eve.

PEOPLE TO SEE:

SANTA CLAUSE • Is it any surprise that Santa and Dolly are pals? He maintains a proper Smoky Mountain cabin because he, too, knows that this area is a great place to escape everyday pressures. His cabin is right here inside Dollywood, so we really mean it when we say, “Santa Claus is comin’ to town.” • Kids can peek inside the cabin and watch jolly old St. Nicholas as he reviews his list and determines who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. It’s a memorable yet socially distanced way for kids to interact with Santa this season. • Young guests can write letters to Santa with the help of his elves. They can drop those letters in a special red mailbox at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and its contents are delivered to Santa’s Smoky Mountain cabin at Dollywood.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU? • There’s no hard candy Christmas here (even though that’s a classic holiday song from Dolly herself). Dollywood takes the concept of “theme park food” to entirely new levels, offering proper holiday meals with all the trimmings. • Christmas is all about the cookies and other sweets, right? After all, it’s a marshmallow world. There’s no shortage of sweet treats here! (Including some of the best cocoa you’ll ever enjoy.) • Dolly also owns a dinner theater, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, which transforms into a Christmas show for November and December. Because around here, we’re all about making it a Holly DOLLY Christmas.

There’s so much to see and do – and eat – here that one day is never enough. You need an “Extended Weekend Getaway! Dollywood has its own hotel, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which loves to deck the halls and is always ready to welcome overnight guests. In case you’re looking for a place to call your home for Christmas, the resort has you covered. • Whether or not you’re staying at the resort, you can make reservations to enjoy Christmas Eve dinner (on the night before Christmas) or Christmas Day brunch at the resort’s restaurant, Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery. Get ready for honey-glazed pit ham with pineapple cherry chutney, apple and cranberry cornbread stuffing, bacon-wrapped meatloaf with tomato jam, and caramel bread pudding with bourbon glaze.

For more information or reservations, be sure to visit https:// www.dollywood.com/