When is Dolly Parton at Dollywood? Here are your best chances to see the Queen of Country

A day riding the rides, enjoying the shows and eating the delicious food at Dollywood is truly a fun time. But seeing the Queen of Country in person turns an adventure-filled theme park visit into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

“You never know where Dolly might appear when she is here and that is what makes it more exciting when you experience a ‘Dolly sighting,’” Public Relations Director Wes Ramey told Knox News.

Dolly delights guests at Dollywood multiple times every year, but there’s never a set schedule, so timing is everything. Here’s a guide to when you might catch Dolly at Dollywood.

The first day of the Dollywood season

Dollywood is not yet a year-round park. It typically opens in March each year to start an exciting new season. And there to help kick things off is the park's Dreamer-in-Chief. Dolly usually leads the opening ceremonies for the season during a special day for season passholders.

"I just can't believe that this is our 39th season ... I looked out at the parking lot when I came in and I thought, oh my Lord, look at all those cars, all those people. But I'm so proud for every bit of it," Parton said during the 2024 season opening.

Opening of new attractions

Dollywood continues to evolve with updated and new attractions. When a major new project is unveiled or opened, it’s likely Dolly will be the first to welcome guests. She just won’t be the first to ride a new roller coaster.

“If I get on that thing, you’ll find one of my wigs in the top of a tree or the top of Clingmans Dome or something, ” she joked about riding the park's newest coaster, Big Bear Mountain.

In recent years, Dolly made appearances at the park for the openings of the Dolly Parton Experience museum about her life and career (May 2024) and Big Bear Mountain (May 2023). So, it’s worth planning a trip to Dollywood right when any new attractions debut.

Filming a project

The queen of entertainment has a perfect filming location whenever she’s ready to star in a new movie or show. What’s even better is that you could not only spot Dolly at Dollywood, but a few other celebrities, too. It wasn’t too long ago that Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson were spotted in Dollywood with Dolly for a movie.

Movies that have filmed at Dollywood include “Christmas at Dollywood,” “Mountain Magic Christmas,” and “A Country Christmas Story.”

Stays at a Dollywood resort

If you book a stay at the Dollywood resorts DreamMore Resort or HeartSong Lodge, you just might run into Dolly. She’s sometimes at the resorts for business and, of course, she has to check in on the special Dolly Parton suites available at the resorts.

The DeWitt Parade

You might have a chance to get within a few feet of the queen or even shake her hand during the DeWitt Parade Tour. When she’s at Dollywood, Dolly will ride in a parade through the park before the end of the day. Everyone gathers around full of excitement with big smiles as she passes by. You might even see a few tears.

Keep in mind, the parade is dependent on the weather. It can sometimes be canceled with late notice, even if Dolly is at the park and ready to ride.

A Dolly surprise!

The exciting thing about Dollywood is that you never know when Dolly will pop up. Sometimes she celebrates the opening of the seasonal and themed festivals at the park, especially if it’s a new or revamped festival.

And music and entertainment are always happening at Dollywood, so sometimes she’s there to cheer on other performers and will greet the crowd.

Though it might be hard to keep up because she’s the hardest working woman in Dollywood (and Hollywood), you should stay up to date with what’s new with Dolly. She just might be at Dollywood to announce or promote new projects.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208. 

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