PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025)— Dollywood has always been a place where memories are measured in smiles—now those memories also can be measured in miles thanks to the inaugural Dollywood Parks & Resorts Run Dollywood race weekend set for April 25-26, 2026.
Participants can enjoy Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival, as well as the beauty of spring in the Smokies, as they race through the fun-filled course that winds its way through the park and the surrounding area. A full calendar of races is planned for the inaugural event weekend, including the marquee half-marathon slated for Sunday morning. Companion races—a 1-mile kids fun run(ages 4-12), a 5k, a 10k —are scheduled for Saturday morning.
“I love to run myself,” explained Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton, “so the opportunity to host our very first Run Dollywood race weekend is exciting for me personally! I can’t wait to welcome the runners here to experience one of the most beautiful—and fun—courses they will find anywhere. We’re going to have entertainment and a few surprises along the way that only Dollywood can provide.”
Runners can win exclusive inaugural race medals while enjoying live music and on-course entertainment as they make their way through the award-winning park. All participants receive an inaugural event-specific T-shirt, race bib, and commemorative medal. Following the event, participants can spend the rest of the day enjoying the world-class attractions, entertainment, and fun of the park named the #1 theme park in the United States by Tripadvisor users.
Registration opens soon and will take place on the Run Dollywood page: Dollywood.com/RunDollywood. Starting times for each race will be announced later. Race bib pickup takes place on Friday, April 24, at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.
For more information about the inaugural Run Dollywood race weekend, visit Dollywood.com/RunDollywood.
-Dollywood2025-
About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts—which celebrates its 40th anniversary season in 2025—consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and two award-winning resort properties: Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 64 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. In 2022, 2024 and 2025, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to mid-September. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Media Contacts:
Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or [email protected]
Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or [email protected]
Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or [email protected]
Jennifer Webb: Sr. Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room