PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee— (Sept. 8, 2025)— As crisp autumn air begins to make its way into the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood comes to life with the sights, sounds and flavors of fall during the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 12 – Oct. 27). The park is dressed and ready for the season with brilliant fall décor inspired by the Smokies’ beauty.
New to the fun this year, Country Fair transforms into the fanciful Candy Corn Country to celebrate this colorful fall treat! In this playful area, fun and sweetness grow together to create lifelong family memories in shades of yellow, white and orange.
From day to night, Dollywood transforms into a glowing wonderland with the return of Great Pumpkin LumiNights, a family favorite event that has previously been named as the theme park industry’s best fall event. Great Pumpkin LumiNights features a whimsical collection of pumpkin icons and intricately carved displays, plus ride-themed creations that pay tribute to favorites like Big Bear Mountain, Wild Eagle and Lightning Rod.
Throughout the festival, the air is filled with music from award-winning Southern gospel, bluegrass, country, and Americana artists performing across the park. Returning favorites join fresh acts, creating a dynamic entertainment lineup over the festival’s six weeks. More than 700 live performances take place during the run of the festival.
A number of headline artists take up residence during the Harvest Festival including Triumphant Quartet (Sept. 15-19), Keith Anderson (Sept. 20-21), The Grascals (Sept. 22-24), Lee Roy Parnell (Sept. 28), Sidewalk Prophets (Sept. 29- Oct. 3), Rhonda Vincent & The Rage (Oct. 5-7; Oct. 13-14), Emily Ann Roberts (Oct. 8-12) and Dailey & Vincent (Oct. 15-19). The complete entertainment lineup can be found here. All concerts are included with park admission.
The artistry doesn’t stop with the music — Dollywood’s skilled craftspeople offer treasures, from autumn-scented candles to hand-blown glass ornaments, while visiting artisans showcase a number of handmade items perfect for that special gift to commemorate a harvesttime day at Dollywood.
The park’s Harvest Sky above Showstreet bursts with color, while more than 12,000 pumpkins fill every corner of the park. Guests also can enjoy including gargantuan gourds of nearly 1,000 pounds at the Colossal Pumpkin Patch presented by Food City. Many kid-favorite characters also will be in the park, including Harvey and the Pumpkin Master, for unforgettable photo moments.
Fall flavors take center stage with pumpkin-spiced and harvest-inspired dishes available at both seasonal locations and park restaurants. Guests can enjoy hearty options like smoked pork flatbread, creamy butternut squash ravioli, corn strips and stuffed acorn squash. Sweet tooths will be satisfied with tasty treats such as salted caramel apple elephant ear, candy corn punch and pumpkin whoopie pie. The popular tasting pass returns, allowing guests to sample multiple festival specialties for one price.
The celebration continues at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, where guests can enjoy fall-themed crafts at Camp DW, seasonal culinary creations, and intimate live music performances. Special ticket packages provide a variety of exclusive resort benefits like complimentary TimeSaver passes and trolley service alongside Dollywood tickets and tasting passes. Resort offers can be found here.
From the glow of Great Pumpkin LumiNights to the rich flavors and unforgettable music, the Harvest Festival is a must-see celebration of fall in the Smoky Mountains. For more information, visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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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