It’s time to start planning all the fun things you’re going to do during your fall vacation in the Smoky Mountains! One of the best fall activities is visiting Dollywood during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. The festival starts on September 20, 2023, and goes through October 30, 2023. Here are a few things you can do during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival to enjoy the fall season:
1. Ride Exciting Rides
One of the best things to do at Dollywood no matter the season is ride their many rides. However, this is an especially great activity during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. As you twist and turn through the landscape on roller coasters and other rides, you’ll get great opportunities to take in the fall colors and sights. From the top of rides like Drop Line, you can see the festivities from above as well as views of autumn leaves all around. Because the theme park stays open late during this festival, you’ll also get the chance to experience rides after dark! There’s nothing more thrilling than zooming through the dark on a roller coaster!
2. Listen to Live Music Performances
If you’re a fan of music, you’ll love attending Dollywood’s Harvest Festival this fall! You can hear live performances of bluegrass, Southern gospel, country, and Americana music. Dozens of talented musicians will perform each day all across Dollywood, including in theaters, on stages, and even in the streets. Everywhere you turn you’ll get to hear the songs of the Smoky Mountains fill the fall air. You will have the opportunity to hear performances from talented artists like Mike Snodgrass, Gloryway, The Young Fables, Fair Haven, Triumphant Quartet, Run Katie Run, Monroeville, and many more. Make sure you pick up a show schedule when you enter the theme park so you won’t miss your favorite performances!
3. Taste Fall Flavors
You won’t want to miss the chance to taste all the flavors of fall during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival! One of the most popular fall flavors is pumpkin spice, which you’ll be able to find in various dishes and drinks around the theme park. Other delicious fall flavors like apple, cinnamon, sweet potato, and more can also be found at several culinary locations in the form of savory meals, freshly baked treats, and sweet drinks. If your favorite fall food is apple pie, you’re in luck! Spotlight Bakery has a 25-pound apple pie, and you can order just a slice to eat or a whole pie to bring home!
4. See World-Class Artisans at Work
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival gives you the unique opportunity to see dozens of master craftsmen at work. These skilled craftsmen share their beautiful handmade crafts with guests, and you’re sure to be amazed by how talented they are! You can see these talented artisans carve pumpkins, blow glass, make jewelry, carve wood, work leather, and much more! If you find something you like, you can take home a unique handcrafted keepsake to remember your time in the Smoky Mountains. You may even find a gift to give to someone special in the upcoming holiday season!
5. Explore Great Pumpkin LumiNights
One of the most popular aspects of Dollywood’s Harvest Festival is Great Pumpkin LumiNights. After dark, the theme park comes alive with the glow of thousands of illuminated pumpkins. You’ll get the chance to see intricately carved pumpkins and larger-than-life pumpkin structures set up in various scenes along the walkways. Explore Hoot Owl Hollow to see pumpkins carved in the shape of owls. In Craftsman’s Valley, you can find a giant pumpkin structure in the shape of a spider surrounded by smaller spider friends. In Timber Canyon, see if you can find the frog pumpkins hanging out on lily pads. One of the best photo opportunities, though, is the Pumpkin Tree, which is a mountain of glowing pumpkins that stands 40 feet tall!
Stay at a Cabin Near Dollywood
There’s so much to experience at Dollywood’s Harvest Festival! Because Dollywood is open late into the evening during the festival, you won’t want to have a long drive back to the place you’re staying. That’s why the best place to stay is at a cabin near Dollywood! Check out our Pigeon Forge cabins and start planning your trip today!
