September 17, 2024
5 Reasons Why You’ll Want to Visit Dollywood’s Harvest Festival
Dollywood is a popular attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN, that everyone loves to visit no matter the time of year. In the fall, this theme park transforms into a beautiful fall destination filled with colorful decor, harvest flavors, and fun activities. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival is a seasonal festival that has so much to offer, with both daytime and nighttime experiences that you won’t want to miss. It’s no surprise that it has been voted America’s Best Fall Event! Keep reading to find out some of the many reasons why you’ll want to visit Dollywood’s Harvest Festival during your fall vacation in the Smoky Mountains.
1. Great Pumpkin LumiNights
One of the biggest reasons to visit Dollywood’s Harvest Festival is to experience Great Pumpkin LumiNights! This award-winning event brings the theme park to life with the glow of more than 12,000 real and faux pumpkins. You’ll see creative pumpkin carvings, larger-than-life pumpkin sculptures, and enchanting themed areas. Make sure you look high and low, as glowing pumpkins can be found along the ground, floating on water, and even hanging in trees! This is a not-so-spooky nighttime event that can be enjoyed by all ages. Take a family photo in front of the impressive 40-foot pumpkin tree or Dolly’s giant, glowing guitar. Other unique pumpkin creations include a butterfly, spider, owls, bats, frogs, sunflowers, and more!
2. Handmade Crafts By World-Class Artisans
During Dollywood’s Harvest Festival, you’ll have the chance to see world-class artisans at work as they demonstrate their craft. Watch impressive pumpkin carving, leather working, glass blowing, wood carving, blacksmithing, candle making, and other amazing skills by talented craftsmen. You can shop for fall decorations and other handmade creations to bring home as souvenirs to remind you of your time in the Smoky Mountains. This is also the perfect place to find unique, handcrafted items that will make the perfect gifts for the upcoming holiday season! You can even try your hand at a craft by signing up for a Make-Your-Own Craft Experience! These experiences include Dip-Your-Own Candle, Make-Your-Own Blown Glass Ornament, Customize-Your-Own Leather Piece, and Forge-Your-Own Knife.
3. Thrilling Roller Coasters and Rides
One of the most popular things to do at Dollywood no matter the time of year is to experience the thrill of roller coasters and other fun rides! During Dollywood’s Harvest Festival, you’ll have the opportunity to soar through the crisp fall air at high speeds on roller coasters like Lightning Rod, Wild Eagle, Mystery Mine, and Big Bear Mountain. Tall rides such as Barnstormer and Drop Line give you the perfect bird’s-eye view to see the theme park below decorated in fall splendor and the Smoky Mountain fall foliage all around! Because Dollywood stays open later during this festival, you can experience the thrill of zooming through the night on these fun rides after dark!
If you’re a music fan, you’ll love all the live music performances that take place during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival! You’ll be serenaded by the sounds of fall in the Smoky Mountains with country, bluegrass, and Southern gospel tunes all around! Dozens of talented musicians perform across the stages and streets of Dollywood each day, creating an enchanting experience that pairs perfectly with the beauty of fall in the mountains. You can enjoy performances by artists such as Mike Snodgrass, Sunday Drive, Rockland Road, Gloryway, The Young Fables, LeFevre Quartet, Fair Haven, and many more!
5. Delicious Fall Flavors
If you love pumpkin spice, caramel apple, sweet potato, and other fall flavors, you’ll definitely want to visit Dollywood’s Harvest Festival this season! There are hearty harvest meals and mountain-fresh flavors found throughout the theme park. If you’re looking for a savory plate, try the Harvest Succotash, Maple Pork Belly Sweet Potato Skillet, Pumpkin-Spiced Smoked Ribs, or BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato. Make sure you save room for dessert so you can enjoy a sweet fall treat such as the Caramel Apple Funnel Cake, Pumpkin Whoopie Pie, Wassail Cupcake, or 25-Pound Apple Pie! There’s also refreshing beverages with apple and pumpkin flavors that perfectly capture the tastes of fall!
More Fall Festivals to Love in the Smoky Mountains This Season
These are just a few of the many reasons why you need to spend a day at Dollywood’s Harvest Festival during your fall vacation. Are you looking for more ways to celebrate the season? Make sure you check out this guide to fall festivals in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to discover more Smoky Mountain fall events that you won’t want to miss!
