PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee – (June 15, 2026) – As summer heats up in the Smokies, Dollywood’s Splash Country wants to remind its guests the best tips and tricks for safe summer fun.
For the 16th season, Dollywood’s Splash Country is hosting Water Safety Day presented by Blue Lizard Sunscreen. This year’s event occurs on Thursday, June 25, and brings people from across the Smoky Mountain area together to celebrate fun around water and to spread awareness on water responsibility.
Because Dollywood’s Splash Country is committed to promoting water safety awareness, the park is offering free admission to those participating in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 25 at 10 a.m. Last season, Dollywood’s Splash Country had the second-highest participant total of any water park in the world. Officials hope even more guests come out this season to learn the importance of water safety.
“Everything we do here at Splash Country depends on a foundation of safety,” explains Lauren Lowery, Dollywood’s Splash Country Senior Operations Manager. “We pride ourselves on our Platinum-Award Winning lifeguards and our efforts to ensure we uphold our reputation as the Smokies’ most trusted water park. We do the behind-the-scenes work so every guest can jump in with confidence, knowing their day in the water is safe, and a memory worth repeating.”
Dollywood’s Splash Country kicks off the fun early on June 25 with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson at 10 a.m. at the Mountain Waves wave pool; registration and check-in begin at 9 a.m. Ticket must be redeemed prior to 10 a.m. to be allowed entry to the event. This one-day event unites children and families at pools and water parks around the world for a common goal of water safety.
Guests wishing to participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson will receive FREE admission to Dollywood’s Splash Country on June 25. Complimentary tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering online at Dollywood.com/WaterSafetyDay. Season passholders can attend the swim lesson without an event ticket. All swim lesson participants will receive a thank you gift at check-in.
For more information about Dollywood’s Splash Country and Water Safety Day, please visit www.dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
–Dollywood2026-
About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts 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 opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on May 3, 1986, and earned the theme park industry’s highest accolade, the Applause Award, in 2010. Dollywood has earned 67 Golden Ticket Awards and 28 Brass Ring Awards for live entertainment. In 2022, 2024 and 2025, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 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, attractions, shows and crafters inspired by and 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]
Sophia Nieves: Publicist, (865) 428-9456, (256) 631-5413 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room