Do you like Dollywood’s entertainment? I figured you’d say yes. Dollywood is home to the best theme park entertainment in the world—it’s true, we’ve won the Golden Ticket award for best shows nine consecutive times.

However, this year we’re really pulling out all the stops for our “Season of Showstoppers.” In fact, it’s the buzz around the park as we get ready to open. We’re spending more money than ever on entertainment, and you’ll be able to experience it all beginning as soon as we open the gates on March 16.

The season begins with Dollywood’s Festival of Nations (March 16- April 9), a fascinating festival that offers a captivating glimpse at a number of cultures from across the globe. Three internationally-known groups—all new to Dollywood in 2018—headline this year’s festival. The National Dance Company of Siberia, The Flamenco Kings starring Los Vivancos, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo—who worked with Dolly on her 1996 album Treasures—bring three unique, high-energy shows to Dollywood.

We follow that up with our first Spring Mix music series April 11- 29. We announced the scheduled performers in an earlier blog, but it is worth noting the impressive roster we have coming. They won a combined 42 gold albums, 18 platinum albums, 25 Grammys, 12 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Country Music Awards, four American Music Association Awards and 56 Dove Awards. With artists like Crystal Gayle, Pam Tillis, Shenandoah, Amy Grant, Marshall Tucker Band, Orleans and Debby Boone, you’ll want to get a season pass to make sure you can catch as many as possible!

Our always-popular Barbeque & Bluegrass (May 25-June 10) adds an extra week in 2018 and includes performances by Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, and many more. Is there a better way to start the summer than with awesome music and tasty barbeque?

Dollywood’s Summer Celebration (June 16-Aug. 5) is just that—a time for you to bring your family and celebrate make summer memories at a place everyone enjoys! America’s Got Talent finalists iLuminate bring their electrified glow-in-the-dark costumes to perform dynamic dance routines and illusions, while DRUMLine Live! creates a synchronized musical masterpiece based on the hit 2002 movie Drumline—but it’s not the typical halftime performance! To complete the day, Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors fireworks show is a colorful extravaganza to celebrate the fun of Dollywood after dark!

Our Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 28- Nov. 3) provides more fall family fun with the expansion of Great Pumpkin LumiNights. You loved it so much last year, that we’re making it even bigger and better. Plus with more than 600 individual performances, we have the largest Southern gospel event in America. Dollywood is open until 9 p.m. every night during the festival.

There is no better way than to end the park with what is considered one of our signature events. Celebrating a decade of being honored as the Best Christmas Event at any theme park worldwide, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 10- Jan. 5, 2019) provides the perfect holiday atmosphere to put families in the Christmas spirit. For guests who wander through the park’s more than four million holiday lights, enjoy the spectacular holiday performances and warm Christmas atmosphere, or taste the holiday-themed food, it is easy to understand why it has become a family tradition for so many.

As you can see, it certainly is going to be a “Season of Showstoppers.” Entertainment is in the spotlight this year at Dollywood. Come join us!