Dollywood Celebrates “Star-Spangled Summer”

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 2, 2018)— Dollywood celebrates a Star-Spangled Summer as part of its ongoing Summer Celebration (now-Aug. 5) which features extended park hours—10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily—as well as a nightly fireworks extravaganza and a number of patriotic events to help guests enjoy family, fun and freedom during their time making memories at the park.

Thursdays in July, Dollywood and WIVK team up to present America’s New Faces of Country, a special concert series featuring several country music stars on the rise. These shows provide park guests a special opportunity to catch these artists as they begin working their way up the country charts.

At Dollywood’s shows during Star-Spangled Summer, the park plans to recognize service members in the audience for their dedication to protecting our country. Additionally, several of those same shows will include a number of patriotic songs for guests to enjoy.

Thanks to the American Eagle Foundation (AEF), park guests also have the opportunity to meet one of America’s greatest symbols of freedom, the bald eagle. On select days in July, staff members from the AEF host meet-and-greet sessions throughout the day with several of their featured bald eagles at the Plaza at Wilderness Pass.

During the day, guests can enjoy the talents of iLuminate, a thrilling show with dazzling lights and color by way of electrified glow-in-the-dark costumes which create a unique fusion of dynamic dance routines and illusions. By night, visitors can enjoy a light show of a different kind as each evening during Summer Celebration ends with Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors, a stirring fireworks extravaganza synchronized to music.

iLuminate, finalists on America’s Got Talent in 2011, performs July 7-21. In addition to their third place result on AGT, iLuminate has toured the world from Egypt to Malaysia and has appeared on shows likeDancing with the Stars, X-Factor, Good Morning America and Ellen. The group launched in 2009 and patented the mesmerizing technology used in their shows. They’ve performed alongside stars like Christina Aguilera, The Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta and more, and are excited to bring their talent to Dollywood.

While Dollywood guests have an amazing amount of entertainment options to enjoy during their visit, they also can experience the park’s award-winning rides in a completely different environment. Once the sun sets, Dollywood’s trademark attractions, like Wild Eagle, Lightning Rod and Thunderhead, provide a unique experience for those who climb aboard. These rides thrill guests who race through the summer night with no idea which way the track will turn next!

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About The Dollywood Company:   A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 150-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. 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 more than 30 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 26 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which celebrated record attendance in 2017. Dollywood was named a top three US theme park by USA Today in 2014 and 2017, and TripAdvisor recognized Dollywood as a top-20 worldwide theme park in 2015. Dollywood is open nine months a year (late 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 and named 2009’s Must-See Waterpark by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. The 300-room Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which received the 2017 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, provides guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

 

Media Contacts:

Pete Owens: Director of Communications, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or [email protected]

Wes Ramey: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or [email protected]

Amber Davis: Publicist, (865) 428-9601, (865) 591-1002 or [email protected]

Ellen Liston, Publicist, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or [email protected]