Dollywood is busy preparing for its 2018 season--- and this year should be especially fun for music lovers with the park's lineup of shows they've got planned!
Here's what to expect:
Festival of Nations
The season begins with Dollywood’s Festival of Nations (March 17- April 9), a fascinating festival that offers a captivating glimpse at a number of cultures from across the globe. Three internationally-known groups—all new to Dollywood in 2018—headline this season’s festival. The National Dance Company of Siberia, The Flamenco Kings starring Los Vivancos, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo—who worked with Dolly on her 1996 album Treasures—bring three unique, high-energy shows to Dollywood.
Also new to Festival of Nations in 2018 is JigJam, a quartet from the heart of Ireland that blends traditional Irish music with bluegrass to create a new genre known as “Celtgrass.” Perennial Festival of Nations favorites including the Caribbean’s Invaders Steel Drum Orchestra and Ecuador’s Atahualpa return to provide guests a fun, educational escape around the world without leaving the heart of the Smokies.
Dollywood's Spring Mix
Dollywood’s Spring Mix (April 11- 29) features three weeks of stellar performances across multiple genres. The impressive roster of Spring Mix artists have combined to earn 42 gold albums, 18 platinum albums, 25 Grammys, 12 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Country Music Awards, four American Music Association Awards and 56 Dove Awards.
The first week includes classic country artists like Crystal Gayle, Shenandoah, Pam Tillis and Dollywood entertainment alumnus, Suzy Bogguss. The second week plays host to inspirational artists including Amy Grant, The Blind Boys of Alabama and comedienne Chonda Pierce – also known as “The Queen of Clean.” Classic artists like The Marshall Tucker Band, The Drifters, and The Atlanta Rhythm Section entertain park guests during the final week of the event.
Week One (Country)
Wednesday, April 11- Crystal Gayle and Suzy Bogguss
Thursday, April 12- Shenandoah and Restless Heart
Friday, April 13- Janie Fricke and The Malpass Brothers
Saturday, April 14- Connie Smith and Mandy Barnett
Sunday, April 15- T.G. Sheppard and Sylvia
Monday, April 16- Pam Tillis and Exile
Week Two (Inspirational)
Wednesday, April 18- Amy Grant and The Martins
Thursday, April 19- Chonda Pierce and Triumphant Quartet
Friday, April 20- David Phelps and Wayne Watson
Saturday, April 21- Blind Boys of Alabama and Dallas Holm
Sunday, April 22- The McKameys and Carman
Monday, April 23- Selah and Larnelle Harris
Week Three (Classic)
Wednesday, April 25- The Marshall Tucker Band and The Drifters
Thursday, April 26- Orleans and Al Stewart
Friday, April 27- Atlanta Rhythm Section and Maureen McGovern
Saturday, April 28- Firefall and In My Life: A Beatles Tribute
Sunday, April 29- Debby Boone and The Tams
Barbeque & Bluegrass
Dollywood’s popular Barbeque & Bluegrass (May 25-June 10) adds an extra week in 2018 and includes performances by Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, and many more.
Summer Celebration
Dollywood’s Summer Celebration (June 16-Aug. 5) is just that—a time to celebrate making memories with family at a place everyone enjoys! This summertime event features extended park hours, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (park hours are extended to midnight on June 30 and July 7). America’s Got Talent finalists iLuminate bring their electrified glow-in-the-dark costumes to perform dynamic dance routines and illusions which will mesmerize guests, while DRUMLine Live! creates a synchronized musical masterpiece based on the hit 2002 movie Drumline—but it’s not the typical halftime performance! To complete the day, the park’s festive nightly fireworks show is a colorful extravaganza set to uplifting music which celebrates the fun of Dollywood after dark!
Harvest Festival & Great Pumpkin LumiNights
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 28- Nov. 3) provides more fall family fun with the expansion of the new guest-favorite Great Pumpkin LumiNights and the largest Southern gospel event in America. Dollywood is open until 9 p.m. every night during the festival.
Smoky Mountain Christmas
Celebrating a decade of being honored as the Best Christmas Event at any theme park worldwide, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 10- Jan. 5, 2019) provides the perfect holiday atmosphere to put families in the Christmas spirit. For the first time, the park is open every day during the festival, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For guests who wander through the park’s more than four million holiday lights, enjoy the spectacular holiday performances and warm Christmas atmosphere, or taste the holiday-themed food, it is easy to understand why it has become a family tradition for so many.
For questions about Dollywood’s Season of Showstoppers, please visit www.dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.