Summertime at Dollywood means fun for all ages, with new, exciting rides, carnival games and prizes, attractions for smaller kids, and more! The Drop Line, a 20-story free fall, is now open, as well as the FireChaser Express – the first dual-launch family coaster in the nation! Want more heart-pounding rides? Adventure seekers will love the Barnstormer, Blazing Fury, Lightning Rod, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado, Thunderhead, and Wild Eagle. Kids can check out the NEW Whistle Punk Chaser junior coaster, located in Timber Canyon. If you’re traveling with younger kids, be sure to stop by Country Fair. Rides like Amazing Flying Elephants, Busy Bees, Demolition Derby, Lemon Twist, Lucky Ducky, and Piggy Parade will please little ones!
Besides rides, Dollywood offers much more summer fun. Check out the Calico Falls Schoolhouse and the Chasing Rainbows Museum, ride the Dollywood Express coal-fired steam engine around the park, meet bald eagles in the 30,00-square-foot Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, test your strength on the Lumberjack Lifts, explore Dolly’s Smoky Mountain Home, and more!
Plus, Dollywood features shows by talented singers and dancers, from Heartsong, Kingdom Heirs, and the Smoky Mountain String Band to Country Crossroads, Dreamland Drive-In, The Little Engine Playhouse, and beyond. Getting hungry? Dollywood serves up everything from Southern staples at an all-you-care-to-eat buffet to Market Square Big Skillet® Steak Sandwiches between Showstreet and Rivertown Junction.
Summer Events at Dollywood
Dollywood always has fun things to do, from roller coasters to shows throughout the year. But special events during summer give this favorite theme park an edge. If you’re headed to the Smokies this summer – or already here – plan a day at Dollywood for one of these fun summer events!
Summer Lives Here | now – August 6
With extended park hours (10 a.m. – 10 p.m. each day), the summer-long celebration at Dollywood gives you more time to play! The summer celebration also features nightly fireworks – Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors – the Gazillion Bubble Show, and other Dollywood staples like performances at Dreamland Drive-In, 50s and 60s songs by the Gem Tones, and My People! – the story of Dolly’s life.
New Faces of Country | at the Back Porch Theater
Dollywood has teamed up with Knoxville country radio station WIVK to give park guests the chance to see up-and-coming artists in the country music scene. Concerts are FREE with Dollywood admission!
Chapel Services | March 19 – January 1
Held in Craftsman’s Valley, non-denominational services are held each Sunday (11:30 a.m.) for any guests wanting to take a little time to worship, meditate, and reconnect.
Dollywood’s Thrills in the Hills 2017 | July 28 – 30
The 9th annual Thrills in the Hills takes guests on a behind-the-scenes tour of Dollywood, plus exclusive ride times on the roller coasters, a catered lunch, a FREE event t-shirt, reserved seating for a Dollywood show, and an event patch and pin. Tickets for the event range from $49 to $89.
SAVE this Summer at Dollywood
If you’re heading to Dollywood by July 31, be sure to take advantage of their “Play like a kid, pay like a kid” deal going on. From now until July 31, everyone pays the kids’ ticket price – just $55 + tax. Plus, you’ll get a chance to check out the newest rides at Dollywood, Drop Line and Whistle Punk Chaser!
DOLLYWOOD’S SPLASH COUNTRY
Ready to cool off this summer in the Smokies? Head over to Dollywood’s Splash Country for rides, slides, and water features! Fly down TailSpin Racer, get soaked at Bear Mountain Fire Tower, relax on a Downbound Float Trip, zip down the park’s tallest and fastest slide – Fire Tower Falls – let the kids splash around at Little Creek Falls, fly around corkscrew turns on Mountain Scream, ride the whitewater at Raging River Rapids, have fun with the family in the 8,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool, and more!
Need a break from all the water fun? Dollywood’s Splash Country has you covered – literally. You can book a retreat or canopy (call ahead, they book fast) where you can rest in the shade. Retreats boast 200 square feet of shade and a 100-foot sun deck for up to 10 guests (extra guests $10 each) and feature satellite TV, a ceiling fan, a dining table and lounge chairs, secure storage, delivery of drinks and food purchased via the phone in the retreat! Don’t need the space of a retreat? Grab 65 square feet of shade in the canopies, each with 2 lounge chairs and a storage locker.
Summer Cabins after Dollywood Days
A busy day at Dollywood or Splash Country calls for a relaxing night in a cozy cabin. Luckily, we have hundreds to choose from, also boasting entertainment when you just haven’t had enough summer fun. Our cabins have everything from private indoor pools to rec rooms loaded with games, along with outdoor hot tubs, cozy king-size beds, and kitchens where you can whip up meals after a busy day!