Celebrate the Season with Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival

By Jim Watson

Residents of the Smokies and visitors alike are flocking to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for Dollywood's annual Christmas festival, Smoky Mountain Christmas. With over four million lights, wonderful exhibitions, and fantastic shows that are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults, Dollywood is the perfect place to celebrate the joy of Christmas.

All these attractions have earned the festival Amusement Today's Best Christmas Event Award twice in recent years. Smoky Mountain Christmas runs from November 7th-January 2nd, more than enough time to see everything on display. Here are just a few of the events featured at Dollywood's Christmas festival.

Christmas in the Smokies

The heart of the festival, Christmas in the Smokies presents a twelve member cast backed up by a seven piece band, playing all of your holiday favorites. The show is staged in the Showstreet Palace, lasts a bit less than an hour, and covers all of the classics you've come to know and love. Make this wonderful Christmas tradition a part of your family's holiday this year.

Babes in Toyland

Featured in DP's Celebrity Theatre, Babes in Toyland is the most extravagant performance in the history of Dollywood. With 20 talented performers and a full orchestra to back them up, guests are escorted through a magical landscape complete with fantastic puppets, high-flying acrobatics, and other-worldly scenery. This show is sure to thrill the whole family.

Brunch with Santa

Everyone's favorite Christmas character hosts brunch each Saturday in November and December. Adults will love the scrumptious holiday brunch served at Aunt Granny's while the kids hang with Santa. The buffet is $15.99 for adults and $7.99 for children ages 4-11; gifts promised by Santa are not included. There's no need for reservations, as seating is first-come, first-served. Brunch with Santa is a great way to start the holiday season. Just bring an appetite, a camera, and your timeless sense of wonder to Rivertown Junction from 10:30AM-11:30AM.

Santa's Workshop

A step into Santa's Workshop is a step through a secret tunnel to the North Pole. Held indoors (and perfect for the colder days at the Dollywood Christmas Festival), this enormous toy store is filled with tons of activities for the entire family, with fanciful larger-than-life-toys behind every corner.

The Polar Express 4-D Experience

Join a little boy on an incredible journey with the Polar Express 4-D Experience. More than just a holiday movie, this is truly an adventure that will thrill your kids. To enjoy all this film has to offer, head to Adventures in Imagination once you're inside the park. Keep in mind that the minimum height requirement for this ride is 42 inches.

Attending the Smoky Mountain Christmas is a fabulous way to spend quality time with your loved ones during this special time of year. With enchanting scenes featuring all of your favorite Christmas characters along with some fresh new faces to spice things up, a trip to see all of the attractions above is sure to become a charming annual family tradition.