Each year, Dollywood kicks off the fall season with the biggest event in the Smoky Mountains: the Dollywood Harvest Festival. The festival starts in September and runs until October or November. This event features fall decorations, live music, festive foods, and more. There is no better way to get in the fall spirit than by attending this annual festival. Here are the top 5 reasons you don’t want to miss the Dollywood Harvest Festival:
1. Great Pumpkin LumiNights
Great Pumpkin LumiNights is one of visitors’ favorite parts about the Harvest Festival. There will be pumpkin displays, unique treats, entertainment and so much more. Thousands of carved and illuminated jack-o-lanterns are scattered throughout the park, and there are plenty of fun interactive opportunities for guests to enjoy as well! You won’t want to miss out on seeing the towering pumpkin sculptures all throughout the theme park!
2. World-Class Artisans
The Dollywood Harvest Festival features world-class artisans from across the country that share their talents through a variety of handmade wares. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the artists demonstrate a number of traditional crafts! The booths at the festival feature inspirational jewelry, paintings, handmade historic games, pottery, chainsaw carvings, hand-painted ornaments, and so much more. The booths are set up all throughout the park.
3. Free Concerts
In addition to Great Pumpkin LumiNights and world-class artisans, the Harvest Festival holds concerts that are free to attend with admission to Dollywood! You’ll get to hear music from various groups and artists in the Southern gospel, bluegrass, and country genres. Seeing these concerts is a huge perk of spending a day at Dollywood during the Harvest Festival!
4. Tasting Autumnal Treats
With fall in the air, you will love being able to indulge in some of your favorite seasonal treats at the Harvest Festival at Dollywood! You’ll love the savory sweet potato poutine, roasted sweet potato and pumpkin corn chowder, and the balsamic honey mustard glaze pork chop! Warm up in the chilly air with hot apple cider, or try an apple pie milkshake for something sweet! Of course, you can’t end the day with a sweet treat, such as the maple pecan bacon funnel cake! You’ll love all the tasty treats during the festival!
5. See the Smoky Mountains in the Fall
One of the best parts about attending the Dollywood Harvest Festival is having the opportunity to experience the Smoky Mountains in the fall. Starting as early as the end of September, the leaves start to turn from various shades of green to yellows, oranges and reds. The gorgeous fall foliage can easily be seen from higher elevations, like Clingmans Dome or the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at The Island in Pigeon Forge. Around mid-October, all of the Smoky Mountains will be covered in beautiful fall colors, which is truly a sight to see. Getting to be in the mountains during this wonderful season is just the cherry on top of the cake that is the Dollywood Harvest Festival.
Where to Stay
When you attend the Harvest Festival, there is no better place to stay than Timber Tops Cabin Rentals. We have Pigeon Forge cabins that range from 1 bedroom for couples to 15 bedrooms for large groups. Not only will you be just a short drive from Dollywood, but you can enjoy in-cabin amenities, like a hot tub, fireplace, outdoor fire pit, pool table, fully equipped kitchen and more, all while getting to admire the fall scenery from the deck of your cabin.
Don’t miss your chance to attend this year’s Dollywood Harvest Festival! Browse all our Pigeon Forge cabins and book the perfect one for your stay.
