Laughing Lindsay

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Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN

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Did you know that several attractions in the Smoky Mountains get a holiday makeover? For instance, there are several special Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Here’s a look at the various options and my reviews of the experiences.

Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge

Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge

All of these places have year round offerings, but they change the performance for the holidays. So, if you are already a fan of the attraction or are just looking for a new way to get in the jolly spirit when visiting, here’s a list of Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN!

  • Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede – If you click that link, you can actually read my full review of this dinner experience. I’ve actually never gone to the original Dolly Parton Stampede show but I found the holiday North vs South Pole twist to be fun and jovial.
  • Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud – I reviewed the regular Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show previously and was lucky enough to attend the holiday version this past weekend! It was fun to see all of the characters add a little bit of red and green to their outfits (minus that one… Haha!). I also enjoyed hearing the festive tunes. You can see pictures from this visit in my Instagram post below.
  • Comedy Barn Christmas – It’s just never worked out for me to visit the Comedy Barn. However, I’ve heard good things about it. There’s no dinner served here, but it’s a variety act. Their holiday version just began on the 19th, so if you visit soon you will get to experience this one.
  • Country Tonite Christmas – I visited this attraction last year. Last year, they performed a good chunk of their regular Country Tonite show, had an intermission, and then switched it up to holiday music. If you are looking for something with lots of religion and patriotism in it, then this is for you. Also, it helps if you are a fan of country music.
  • Dollywood – Lastly, I would include Dollywood as a place to visit with Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge! There are several to choose from and a ticket for the day isn’t much more than a dinner show ticket! You can read my post for tips on visiting Dollywood at Christmas!

So, that’s the list of Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Have you been to any of them? Which one is your favorite?

Christmas at Dollywood: What to Expect

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It’s hard to believe it, but it’s already Christmas at Dollywood! So, here’s a look at all of the things you can expect to see, do, and eat at the yearly festival!

Christmas at Dollywood

Christmas at Dollywood

From now until the end of the 2022 season (January 1, 2023), you can experience Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood! This festival includes seasonal foods, millions of lights, a weekend fireworks show and festive shows! It’s easy to make a full day at the park during this time of the year!

The Decorations

You can’t talk about Christmas at Dollywood without talking about the lights, so I will start there. Similar to my recommendations for experiencing fall at Dollywood, I suggest walking around the park at least once during the day and then again at night. This way, you can really experience the gorgeous decor! It’s nice to see all of the trees during the day and then again with the lights on! The same can be said for the other decor as well.

Another neat thing to know about the holiday decorations, is that each part of the park has a different color/theme! Santa’s Village is red and green. Glacier Ridge is blues and white. Craftman’s Valley has clear lights.

Additionally, new this year is the Dollywood Express Light Experience! You will be able to ride the train (something I recommend doing anytime of the year) and see new lights flickering by as seasonal music plays! This sounds like a fun experience for sure! Although, it tends to be cold on the train in the winter. So, make sure you bundle up and grab some hot chocolate!

The Food

Once again, the park is bringing back the tasting pass for the festival. In my opinion, this can be a great way to try several seasonal foods on a budget. However, you have to make sure you choose items that are worth over $6 to get your money’s worth. Otherwise, I recommend just buying items out of pocket. I can’t recommend a stop by the Spotlight Bakery enough. Everything I’ve ever had there is delicious!

Beyond the Gingerbread People Cookies, it appears that most of this year’s Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood menu is new. However, I am looking forward to trying the Chicken Pot Pie Bread Cone and Hot Chocolate Cupcake when I visit later this month! Keep an eye on my Instagram to see what I end up trying.

The Entertainment

One of the things Dollywood is known for is their entertainment. I just love being able to walk around the park and catch a performance. There are always loads of musicians around the park. However, Christmas at Dollywood brings special holiday plays too! I’m hoping to finally catch “Christmas in the Smokies” and “Appalachian Christmas”.

Lastly, if you are attending on a Friday or Saturday night, then you can catch the Merry & Bright, Holiday Light! Fireworks Show! I’m very disappointed that it has returned to just weekend nights as that blocks out the bring a friend passes from viewing them. We missed seeing them last year because it was too cold and we thought we could see them this year. However, since my mom goes with me on a bring a friend pass, that’s not possible this year. So, that’s a huge bummer. That being said, I’m sure they are great fireworks and the perfect way to end the day.

So, there you have it! An overview of everything you can expect to see, hear, and taste at Christmas at Dollywood! Have you ever been? What was your favorite part?

If you are planning a trip to the park during a different season, here are my posts on those seasonal events:

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show Review

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I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee several times over the past couple of years. In that time, I’ve been able to enjoy all three of the dinner shows. I’ve previously reviewed the Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show and the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show. Today, I’m highlighting the third and final one, Dolly Parton Stampede!

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas

Dolly Parton Stampede

The Dolly Parton Stampede dinner show typically features a rivalry between the north and south. Personally, harkening back to the Civil War doesn’t exactly make me hungry. However, beginning in early November, the show gets a Christmas makeover! It then becomes a battle between the North and South Poles! My mom and I enjoyed a showing of the Christmas version last year and thought it was great!

The Dolly Parton Stampede show itself is very good. We were entertained by the fast horse riding and tricks! The injection of Christmas songs and costumes really put us in the Christmas spirit! We also enjoyed some of the friendly competitions between the North and South Poles. Similar to other dinner shows I’ve reviewed, I don’t think it truly matters which side you sit on in the end.

This was actually our first dinner show and we weren’t sure what to expect. While we enjoyed the food, we didn’t like that the meal was served during the show. Attempting to eat while trying to watch the show made me feel like I missed parts of the show. This is a big reason why we prefer the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show as they serve food before the show. I guess this way does add to its repeatability though. Plus, I’m sure different seats provide different views of the show as there is so much to see!

The Food

One of the neat things about eating at Dolly Parton Stampede is that every person is given their own small chicken! It’s probably a Cornish hen, but it’s very tasty nonetheless! I like that you start the meal just like at the other dinner shows with the creamy vegetable soup and a biscuit. The corn on the cob was pretty good too. Admittedly, my potato was really dry, as it was at the Pirates show. The pork was just ok. I enjoyed dessert – a flaky apple turnover! Overall, it was a pretty good meal. I would say it’s second place in terms of food at dinner shows in Pigeon Forge. You can’t beat Hatfield and McCoy’s food!

Overall, a meal at Dolly Parton Stampede is an experience you won’t forget. It’s a great show, especially at Christmas time! However, it is pricey and I recommend looking for a coupon (code) before purchasing tickets to save some money.

Fall at Dollywood

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From September 20th until October 30, 2023, you can experience fall at Dollywood with their Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights! I have visited during this time of the year twice before and currently have plans to attend later this season! Here’s a look at what you can expect when you visit.

Fall at Dollywood

Fall at Dollywood

I recently told you all about my favorite things to do at Dollywood, no matter the time of the year. However, today, it’s all about fall! Fall at Dollywood is one of my favorite times to visit the park. You have the Harvest Festival to enjoy the during the day and Great Pumpkin LumiNights to view at night! I will go into more detail as to what that means below. Suffice it to say, Dollywood serves as the perfect backdrop for your autumn visit to the Great Smoky Mountains during the day and lights up at night for more fun!

Harvest Festival

Now technically a lot of the fake pumpkin decor is set up for the Great Pumpkin LumiNights. However, you can still view these amazing sights during the day. Plus, it ‘s fun to see things both during the day and then light up at night. Additionally, in recent years Dollywood has started to bring in huge real pumpkins to display. They lovingly refer to them as Colossal Pumpkins and make for great pictures since they really are as big as humans!

No festival is complete without food and entertainment. You can once again buy a tasting pass and experience several items from this year’s festival. Last year, I enjoyed their sweet corn hushpuppies with aioli and apple dumpling with ice cream. Both of those items have returned for 2022, so you can try them too. I also highly recommend checking out some live entertainment during your visit as they tend to rotate out groups from season to season.

Great Pumpkin LumiNights

Once the sun goes down, it’s fun to wander around the park again and see everything come to life! This is NOT a scary event, rather it’s a fun light-hearted event complete with lights. They have added a new section this year called Hoot Owl Hollow, which I am looking forward to seeing. It’s supposed to be a big owl surrounded by smaller ones, all made out of (fake) pumpkins! It really is amazing how many things they can make out of pumpkins! Don’t miss their pumpkin frogs!

Fall at Dollywood is filled with fun, day and night! I typically do a lap or two around the park during the day to enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Harvest Festival. Then, I usually take a mid-day break and return around sundown to do a final lap to experience Great Pumpkin LumiNights. So, what’s your favorite thing about fall at Dollywood?

If you are planning a trip to the park during a different season, here are my posts on those events:

What To Do in Fall in Gatlinburg, TN

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If you ever considered visiting the Great Smoky Mountains during the fall, here’s a great list of fun things to do in fall in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN! The Smokies are a great place to visit, particularly during the fall months as you can witness the seasons change in the mountains and lots of places fully embrace nature’s beauty with their own fall festivities!

Fall in Gatlinburg

Fall in Gatlinburg

Most of my list of favorite things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains during this time of the year are in Gatlinburg. However, I am including a bonus at the end, which is worth the drive to Pigeon Forge. Without further ado, here’s my list of things to experience when it’s fall in Gatlinburg, TN!

  1. Anakeesta – Like most of the places on this list, Anakeesta is a great place to visit no matter what time of the year it is. It has gorgeous views of the mountains all over the park. Plus, they have seasonal decor that changes on top of their neat mountain themes.
  1. Take a walk around downtown Gatlinburg – The town of Gatlinburg has different seasonal statues it puts out. During the fall months, you can see adorable pumpkin people all over town! It’s fun to just walk around and view them all. There are even several themed to the businesses they are located near.
  2. Ober Gatlinburg – Ober Gatlinburg has lots of different activities you can do, depending on the time of year that you visit. I highly recommend riding the chair lift up and taking in the view of Mt. Harrison! I also recommend experiencing OktOBERfest here with the live music and tasty German food!
  1. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park – Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit this place as of yet. However, I’m hoping to visit this fall to take in their view of the mountains, cross the SkyBridge, and walk the SkyTrail.
  2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the beautiful National Park here. It obviously has great views for experiencing fall in Gatlinburg and abundant hiking trails.

Bonus: Visit Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to experience their Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights! Fall at Dollywood is one of my favorite times to visit. In fact, I have a whole other post on it you can read by clicking that link.

So, what do you think of my list of things to do in fall in Gatlinburg? Did I miss anything?

If you are planning a trip to the area during a different time of the year, here are my other posts to help you plan: