🎃👻🧙🏻It is time for Dollywood's Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights! Let's Dig Into Some Details!🧙🏻👻🎃

Hi everyone,

Dollywood is just hours away - as of this posting - from their awesome fall Harvest Festival. 

There are so many impressive components to the park this time of year.  All the cool decor around the park, the seasonal food options, and then the seasonal merchandise available in the stores around the park, night rides on your favorite roller coaster, the crispness in the air - so many things to love.

In this post I'll cover The Tasting Pass, Fall themed Glass art from the Blown Glass shop in Rivertown Junction, a couple cool items from last year from the Blacksmith, and then I'll show you what Dollywood looked like during last season's LumiNights Festival, and tell you what's new in 2022! 

Let's jump in to it!

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This is from the Dollywood Blog, link here.  I always say, follow my blog and follow the official Dollywood blog to help you stay informed.

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Harvest Festival Tasting Pass - By Jennifer Webb

I’m going to be honest, my brain isn’t sure what season it is. We just wrapped the filming of “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas” at Dollywood, and now our teams are taking down the park’s Christmas decorations and putting out the pumpkins—all while the summer weather is still very much here. However, fall will be here before we know it, and I for one am very much looking forward to it. One of my favorite parts about autumn—the food. I am a candy corn junkie and I am not afraid of who knows it.

Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana starts Friday, Sept. 23 and with it comes the return of the Harvest Festival Tasting Pass. Similar to the popular tasting pass for the Flower & Food Festival and our Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, the Harvest Festival Tasting Pass allows you to sample five different food items crafted specially for the fall season. The tasting pass will run you $34.99. If you have a Gold or Diamond Season Pass, you can purchase the tasting pass at the discounted price of $31.99.

So what can you expect to enjoy with your Harvest Festival Tasting Pass? Here are a few items that I cannot wait to try!

• BUSH’S Three Bean Pumpkin Chili & Pumpkin Cornbread

• (Thanks to our friends at BUSH’s, this three-bean pumpkin chili is a taste sensation you have to try. The chili features ground bison, Monterey Jack cheese and an avocado crema. It is served with a slice of pumpkin corn bread.)

• Smoked Sausage Mac & Cheese

• (Take crisp fall weather and add the warm savory flavors of smoked andouille sausage and white cheddar for the ultimate mac ‘n’ cheese taste experience.)

• Pulled Pork Sandwich with Pumpkin BBQ Sauce

• (Take the delicious taste of pulled pork smoked onsite at Dollywood and top it with pumpkin-infused Memphis-style BBQ sauce and some cole slaw. Put it all in a brioche-style bun for the perfect fall meal.)

• Pumpkin Sausage Pizza

• (Tempt your taste buds with this fall-influenced twist on your favorite pizza! It’s an appetizing combination of crumbled Italian sausage, toasted pumpkin, whole milk ricotta cheese and parmesan.)

• Sweet Corn Hushpuppies with Srirachia Aioli

• (These hushpuppies are fried until they are golden brown then served with our own special aioli for dipping. The spicy aioli features roasted garlic, pumpkin puree and sriracha.)

• Maple, Bacon & Walnut Funnel Cake

• (Each season brings a delicious new topping offering for Dollywood’s funnel cakes. This fall, the salty and sweet flavors of walnuts in maple syrup and candied bacon are accented with powdered sugar and whipped cream – it’s sure to become a Harvest Festival favorite.)

• Apple Dumpling with Ice Cream

• (Don’t miss this perfect autumn dessert of baked apples and spice filling a delicious dumpling made of crispy pastry dough served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and warm caramel sauce.)

• Apple Pie Milkshake (Ever wanted to have a slice of apple pie, but you wanted to keep moving to the next coaster? Here is the answer. The apple pie milkshake features vanilla bean ice cream and apple pie filling topped with streusel, whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a cherry!)

• Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee (Craving the ultimate taste of fall’s favorite flavor in a beverage? This iced coffee is made with Starbucks Cold Brew, cold foam and the sweet flavor of pumpkin spice.)

• Pumpkin Spiced Churros with Pumpkin Fluff (Pumpkin spice makes everything nice! A crisp churro is made especially decadent with cinnamon, sugar, and… that’s right, pumpkin spice! It is served with pumpkin-infused fluff for the ultimate treat.)

Again, this is not a full list, but are you hungry yet?

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Glass Shop Fall Items

In my visit to the Blown Glass shop back in April, they already had a lot of their fall themed items out for sale.  Never too early!  Let's check that out below...

Pretty cool stuff, huh?  Again, this is all at the Mountain Blown Glass Shop near the bottom of Craftsman's Valley, but technically in Rivertown Junction.  It's #104 on the official Dollywood Park Map.  Check it out.

The video to my April trip to the Glass Shop is right here - if you would like to watch.

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Here's a couple cool items from the Blacksmith shop back in 2021.

Blacksmith in the Craftsman's Valley Area, next door to the Chapel.

2021 Items for sale at the Blacksmith

2021 Items for sale at the Blacksmith

Perhaps you'll want to make a knife to carve your own jack-o-lantern?  These prices are from 2021, so you may want to double check before you jump in.

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Let's take a look back at Dollywood's 2021 Great Pumpkin LumiNights and Harvest Festival and I'll tell you about what Dollywood has said will be included in this year's GPL&HF!

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New for 2022

Dollywood has some new stuff planned for GPL&HF.  Here's what they've said about it...

NEW Hoot Owl Hollow

image courtesy of Dollywood

Experience a Smoky Mountain fall during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival (Sept. 23 - Oct. 29, 2022), voted America’s #1 Fall Family Event by USA Today Readers. Soak in mountain majesty as the hills come alive with vivid color, the smells of apple and pumpkin treats waft through the streets and the sounds of our award-winning rides fill the air with adventure. As the sun sets, you'll be wrapped in a whimsical warming glow as the park transforms into an enchanting display of illuminated carved pumpkins and shimmering pumpkin icons. Don't miss a minute of Smoky Mountain splendor—visit today before it glows away! (source)

Award-winning Great Pumpkin LumiNights returns to light up the night with thousands of creatively carved pumpkins and larger-than-life pumpkin icons. This year, discover the NEW Hoot Owl Hollow, an enchanting hideaway for a gigantic, glowing owl and her dozens of friendly siblings roosting in the trees, atop buildings and across the hillside. Explore a world of not-so-spooky nighttime fun when you stroll through a forest of shimmering sunflowers, see a family of glowing frogs, and be enchanted by our towering Pumpkin Tree.

Dollywood released an image of Hoot Owl Hollow

 

Dollywood also mentions that they will have new performances during this festival as well. I noticed during the Flower Festival in the spring that there were noticeably more roaming musicians in the park, which I loved randomly running into and taking time to listen to them play - and watching others doing the same. It was pretty cool, so I am eager to see how Dollywood pulls that together for this years festival.

Last year they did have an Owl themed area in between Thunderhead and the Main Gate area, so it sounds as though a big expansion of the Owl theme is in the works. I'm wondering if it will be in the same general area or move somewhere else?

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Are you planning to go to this years Great Pumpkin LumiNights & Harvest Festival at Dollywood?  What are you looking forward to the most?  Let me know in the comments.   Be Sure To Vote For Dollywood - Often!!  Maybe I will see you at the park!  Until next time - Jeff

🚨New Video 🚨 Dollywood's Big Bear Mountain Construction Update, from August 31, 2022 👷‍♂️👷🏻‍♀️🏗️

 Hi Everyone!

I have a new video for you today of a recent look at the Big Bear Mountain construction site.  This is my first video since the official announcement back on August 5th, 2022.   You'll see in the video that construction has ramped up in scope, but they are still completing a lot of site preparation work and beginning to form footers for the ride.

Watch the video to see what's up at the construction site!

Here's some images of what you'll see in the video....

the waterfall and tunnel near the Giant Tree Swing

the waterfall and tunnel near the Giant Tree Swing

the flyover after 2nd launch, behind Black Bear Trail ride

the side-by-side launch area

Here's the station area from March to August.

Looking back at the station area from March 11, 2022

Looking back at the station area from April 22, 2022

Looking back at the station area from June 21, 2022

The station area on August 31, 2022

What are you most looking forward to on Big Bear Mountain?  Let me know in the comments.

Until next time!

Fall Colors - When will the leaves change in the Smoky Mountain areas?

Hi Everyone,

Fall is one of, if not the best season in the Smoky Mountains!  I know I am not alone in thinking so, because it is full of visitors wishing to take in the majestic color transformations of the leaves,  and the weather is so nice and crisp. It is such a pleasant break from the heat of summer.

Naturally, everyone wants to time their Smoky Mountain vacation with peak leaf changes.  Obviously, that is no easy task to accomplish.  With that said, there are some experts in Environmental Science out there that study this very subject and they've got thoughts about when the peak time is.

This interactive map with the slider below it can help you decide about the timing of your trip.

Check out the interactive map here --> Smoky Mountain Foliage Map

Above is an image of what the map suggests will happen on September 26th.  Click the map at the link to move the slider left and right to see the timing for different dates.  Around September 26th you'll see some minor changes in the colors of the leaves making their way through this area.

Let's jump ahead by a month and see the changes, below.

Clearly, a big difference in one month's timeframe.  You will definitely be seeing the colors during this time - if the timing plays out as suggested by this map, but I can attest from living here long enough to know mid-to-late October is a great time to see color in the Smokies.

If you want to watch a video I produced in the Fall of 2021 of the Foothills Parkway, you can do that here.  Notice that the early parts of the video are at the lowest altitude of the trip, and around the Look Rock observation area-part of the video, you'll see the leaves are different than at the beginning.  From Look Rock, the elevation continues to climb and with that, you'll see more noticeable changes.  So, you may want to add a trip down the Foothills Parkway to your agenda.  I would describe the Foothills parkway as a road that runs on the adjacent ridgetop to the Smokies, so you are looking at the Smokies from the outside of the park.  Read my more comprehensive description on the YouTube page for probably too much info, lol.

You can watch that here, if you like:

Of course, Dollywood looks great in Fall Colors too.  And that is not limited to the timeframe of their Fall Festival.  I noticed in the video I produced of the Smoky Mountain Christmas that the leaves were still putting on a show well into November.  So, keep that in mind if your preferred dates don't work out for your trip.  

As I mentioned, November's foliage can still be impressive.  Check out the trees from the tram ride going into the park and even around the park further in the video.  Still pretty.

If you would like more information about this, then check this info out.  

• https://fox59.com/news/national-world/2022-leaf-peeping-guide-when-is-peak-fall-foliage/
  
• https://www.wate.com/news/smoky-mountains/fall-colors-forecast-smoky-mountains/
  
• Interactive Map Link - 2022 Fall Foliage Map & Nationwide Peak Leaf Forecast (smokymountains.com)
• Excellent Live View Webcam from the Chair Lift in Gatlinburg.  This is one of my favorite webcams from the Gatlinburg area.  Gatlinburg Skylift Webcam
• I have a blog post about Hotels in the Pigeon Forge area, all close to Dollywood.  Check that out here --> https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2022/08/hotels-with-high-ratings-in-pigeon-forge.html
• Are you flying into the area to go to Dollywood?  Check out my blog post here about alternate airports to Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport.  Check that out here -->> https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2022/07/getting-to-dollywood-by-plane.html
• Check out my YouTube channel for my show "What's Up At Dollywood".  I have tons of videos giving you a look at what you can experience at Dollywood all year long.   Check that playlist out here --> https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLumR0CRQrqoD20oYntBUmvHXy7MkvNcwM

I hope that helps you plan your Fall trip to the Smokies and Dollywood!  What is your favorite thing about Fall in the Smokies?  Please let me know in the comments below.

Until next time!

Dollywood wins multiple Golden Ticket Awards!

Hi Everyone, 

Dollywood, the award-winning theme park!  I don't think this comes as a big surprise to anyone who visits Dollywood.  It's a fantastic park and I feel fortunate to call it my home park, and blog/vlog about it is more fun than I could have imagined.  Congrats to Dollywood for your accolades!

$34 Million Dollar Expansion for Anakeesta

Hi Everyone,

Anakeesta - one of the newest and larger theme parks in the area, has announced massive new expansion plans.  In fact, they are planning to double in size!

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Here is WATE’s report on this expansion:

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) – Gatlinburg theme park Anakeesta on Thursday announced a $34-million expansion that will double the size of the guest experience over the next three years.

The park will add a new mountain coaster, a night walk with lighting and guided audio, a bird-house themed play area, and a European-themed village.

The new “Astra Lumina Enchanted Night Walk” will feature immersive lighting, projection and guided sound in partnership with Moment Factory, an award-winning multimedia entertainment studio. This will be Moment Factory’s first Lumina Night Walk experience in the United States and 15th in the world. It is set to open in November.

courtesy Anakeesta 

courtesy Anakeesta

In Spring of 2023, a “European-Themed Village” will open and offer two new attractions. The park will add a second mountain coaster called, “Hellbender.” One of the new attractions will be a double-railed mountain coaster in addition to the existing single-railed coaster, “Rail Runner.”

The second will be a birdhouse-inspired play zone as part of a new “European-Themed Village” where kids can enjoy three larger-than-life birdhouses, dozen adventure zones and seven slides winding more than 50 feet down the mountain.

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  European Village - courtesy Anakeesta↑

  
  

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  Bird House play area - courtesy Anakeesta↑

The first phase will also add a waterfall and cave system to their walking trails and gardens, allowing guests to walk behind falls and explore caves.

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Wow - I feel like I have been saying that over and over lately.  This is great for Anakeesta of course.  I have yet to visit this attraction, mainly because I wasn’t sure there was enough to do at the top of the mountain to justify it, and I’ll be honest, if you don’t go first thing in the morning, you will be faced with a very long waiting line at the bottom and the transportation to the top, specifically the chair lift/3 gondolas, or Chondola, as they call it, moves at a snail's pace and stops a lot.  So, my first impression of Anakeesta from the street level has not been impressive.  However, in reading about guests' experiences there, those have been overly positive for the most part.  I don't see many negative experiences.  So, I guess people don’t mind that the chondola is slow, they like what Anakeesta is serving, and they're about to give you lots more of it!

These attractions have staggered opening dates over the next three years, so  in some cases we’ll be waiting a bit to experience some of these attractions.

Let’s dig into the details a bit…

• New Mountain Coaster - Named “Hellbender”, named after the Smoky Mountain Salamander. The only other detail offered is that it’s a double-rail coaster.  Anakeesta’s other coaster is a single-rail - and that happens to be the only one of that type in the United States.  I’ve lost count, but there are at least a half-dozen other double-rail coasters in this area, and all but two are manufactured by Weigand (link https://wiegandsportsusa.com/).  Weigand makes a lot of cool stuff!  Another manufacturer, ADG Mountain Coasters (link ADG Mountainsides® | Mountain Coasters, Mountain Slides Design/Build (aquaticgroup.com)) is behind Ober Gatlinburg’s ‘Ski Mountain Coaster’.  A company called Brandauer made Anakeesta’s single-rail coaster “Rail Runner”.  Brandauer was acquired by SunKid, and that's how it is currently known - you can check their website out here (Sunkid: leisure experiences for the whole family (sunkidworld.com) .  So, it remains to be seen which company Anakeesta has chosen to make their second coaster, but often times, parks will buy two (or more) roller coasters from the same manufacturer in order to help with supply chain issues, spare and replacement parts, familiarity with the parties involved, and other advantages you would find by working with familar vendors.  That’s a lot of nerdy details!  Bottom line, we will not know more until Anakeesta tells us, or until it opens and someone - like me - goes and checks it out.

• Light Show - “Astra Lumina Enchanted Night Walk”.  This looks and sounds like it will be an immersive visual and audio experience.  I looked at Moment Factory’s website, and it boasts many very impressive projects that are unique and eye-catching.  Just check out their website to dig deeper because the pictures and video are impressive.  The article states that this will open this November, so we will find out soon enough.

• European Village - looks to me like more food and merchandise opportunities centered around a waterfall structure.  It does remind me of The Village in downtown Gatlinburg - like a block or two away from Anakeesta’s ‘storefront’ on the parkway.

• Birdhouse Playhouse with Slides - This is an extension of the European village and it looks pretty elaborate to me with play areas to run around and then the various slides, which are all unique.  Hopefully, adults will be able to enjoy the seven slides as well.  I look forward to checking this out when it’s completed.

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That about covers this analysis.  I think it's pretty impressive in the past couple of months that there have been four big announcements for the area. Dollywood's Big Bear Mountain Roller Coaster - and more, an all new construction amusement park Dig'n Zone, a $40 million dollar indoor water park expansion of Wilderness at the Smokies, and now Anakeesta's $34 million dollar expansion. We've seen an announcement this year that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will partner with one of the most immersive amusement park operators - Puy Du Fou for a storytelling experience at the Exit 407 project in Kodak, off of Interstate 40, along with a Buc-ees giant fueling center/food court/idk how else to describe it. Great things are in the works for the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville areas of East Tennessee.

Have you been to Anakeesta and if so, what were your impressions of it?  Are you looking forward to one or more of these announced additions, if so which ones?  Let me know in the comments.

Until next time!

🚨New Video🚨 GOOD VIBES Show 2022 at Dollywood's Back Porch Theater

Good Vibes at Dollywood's Back Porch Theater, August 31, 2022

 Hi Everyone,

I was so happy I watched this performance by Good Vibes.  This ensemble sometimes goes by other names too.  I saw them in the spring when they were Brighter Day, so I guess they change names with the seasons 🤷 No idea, but it doesn't matter - they're all very talented vocalists and musicians!  I really like how much they make it seem that they enjoy performing this show - sometimes five times a day, six days a week, in all types of weather, primarily heat - they make it look like they're having fun and I think that's dedication and hard work to pull that off.

At Dollywood, the Back Porch Theater in Rivertown Junction.  It's marked #101 on the map, and it's hard to see it when you are there in person, but it is literally the back porch of Dolly's replica of her Tennessee Mountain Home.  I used to see Dolly's uncle Bill Owens perform there regularly.  It's a nice place to see a show and take a break from running all over the park.  I recommend sitting in the front to get an unobstructed view.

The vocalists introduced the band in this video, but did not introduce themselves.  The only vocalists name I know is Dalton.  In addition to performing with Good Vibes, He also was one of several DJ's that emceed the Drone and Fireworks show at the Summer Celebration - he has a distinctive voice.  If anyone out there reading this knows their names - please let me know and I will update this post and the video description to give them the credit they deserve!  You can let me know in the comments below.

This was recorded on Wednesday August 31, 2022 - Enjoy the performance!

📖Setlist/Chapters🎶 Show Open 00:00 Good Vibes 00:23 Boondocks 03:00 Jump 06:15 Born to Be Wild 06:46 You Can Go Your Own Way 07:34 Hit Me With Your Best Shot 08:26 All About That Bass 09:03 Rolling In The Deep 09:22 I Want You Back 10:22 Adore You 11:01 These Dreams 12:12 Dream On 13:35 We Will Rock You 14:54 Freedom Was A Highway 15:25 Livin' On A Prayer 16:25 True Colors 17:00 Sweet Caroline 18:04 I'm A Believer 18:47 Walkin On Sunshine 19:32 Days Go By 20:22 Musician's Intros - 23:20 Good Vibes 23:25

I hope you enjoyed this performance!  Did you have a favorite song or moment?  Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time!