2023 DATES: September 20 – October 30, 2023
Closed Tuesdays
This post documents my experience on October 14, 2022.
Dollywood is a magical place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee…
…that’s known for its rides…
…live shows (Gold City)…
…Dolly Parton childhood home replica…
…and freshly baked cinnamon bread with icing…
…which is really something special.
This was my first visit to the park and it was during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival…
…allowing me to close to giant pumpkins…
…a giant pumpkin tree…
…pumpkin spiders, pumpkin people…
…a pumpkin owl…
…and a music-playing pumpkin guitar…
…thanks to all the wonderful decorations the Harvest Festival offered.
Game booth prizes were Halloween themed…
…and there were autumnal souvenirs in the gift shops.
But I was most excited about the decadent special fall menus at food stations spread around the park…
…and I took advantage of it, indulging in sweet potato poutine, sparkling apple cider…
…pulled pork sandwich, gumbo with grits…
…and some good ole Harvest beans with pork belly.
I burned what calories I could by shopping among Harvest Fest vendors who sold Christmas bulbs…
…old fashioned wooden games and toys, hand carved bowls…
…wooden spoons and more…
…and I also did a lot of toe tapping whenever I came across a a musical act.
The day definitely sped by too quickly, thanks to many great rides…
…and chats with friendly characters…
…eventually leading to the setting of the sun…
…as all the pumpkin-lit decor began to glow brighter and brighter.