Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Attractions ↠ Dolly Parton's Christmas Celebration Show!

We were invited to attend Dolly Parton’s Christmas Celebration Show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee a few weeks ago on opening weekend and we were so blown away by the entire production. I have to admit, I was a little unsure about enjoying a Christmas show before Halloween, because I loooove Halloween and am not someone who likes to skip the holiday. But, once we were inside, I was so immersed in the Christmas lights and decor that I completely forgot about any hesitation. I did want to wait until today to post though, for those like me. Now we can get into the Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit!

My first tip for anyone who takes a family trip to see the Christmas Celebration show in Pigeon Forge is to get there early. There are lots of games and delicious drinks to enjoy before the show, and you’ll want to be in your seat for the pre-show. They have an award winning fiddle player and entertainment as soon as you sit down (great for squirmy kiddos).

As soon as we sat down for pre-show our waitress took our drink orders and then the food started rolling out as soon as the main show began. You won’t go hungry, I can promise you that! The macaroni and sweet potatoes were SO good! I could have eaten an entire meal with just those two sides.

Related: Dollywood Tips for Toddlers

The show was very fast paced and included favorites like The Nutcracker. As you can see from the photo above, it kept Iris enthralled. There was only one short point she started to get squirmy, but she’s also good about things like this, so if you’re worried about it you might wait until you feel like your kids are ready.

Another tip I have is you don’t have to purchase a ticket for children under 4, but if you want them to have their own seat and food you will want to get one. It was nice to have a chair just for Iris, since she’s miss independent these days, she liked getting to sit in her own chair at times. She was all about the chicken that night and we were able what she didn’t eat to go, which was nice since she’s a toddler and doesn’t eat big meals at once.

Throughout the show, there is a jester character that entertains in the in-between moments when they are switching sets, that way the kids don’t lose interest. That was really nice and Iris loved him!

My top two favorite parts of the show were the light show and a giant angel at the end of the nativity scene. You don’t want to miss the incredible costume and the angel’s grand entrance. Iris’ eyes were as big as saucers.

The use of animals was also great for bringing a toddler, there were sheep, donkeys, a wolf, and talking pig that Iris is STILL bringing up! She couldn’t believe her eyes.

I’m so glad we got to experience the show with her at this age, even though I know she won’t remember, watching her take it all in was so precious and priceless. I know I’ll remember it forever.

Have you been to a Celebration Dinner Show? Let me know in the comments what you saw and how old your kids were when you went!

Pigeon Forge Travel Guide

♡ MALLORIE

Our tickets were courtesy of Celebration Christmas Show, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tips on Enjoying Dollywood with a Toddler | Pigeon Forge Attractions | Things to Do in Gatlinburg, TN

We took a family trip to Dollywood in April on what turned out to be the first really warm day here in Tennessee and we had so much fun watching our (then) 18 month old enjoy her first amusement park rides! We knew our fearless girl would love riding anything they’d let her on, but Dollywood has rides for everyone!

Here are my tips for enjoying Dollywood with a toddler, and a few extra tips too…

Bring an umbrella, fan, and spray bottle in the summer months!

There aren't a lot of shaded areas and there can be lines, so we have thought about bringing an umbrella on our next trip during warmer months to help shield Iris (and ourselves) and not worry about her getting burnt while having fun. We will definitely be bringing a little fan and spray bottle along with the usual sunscreen.

Work your way up.

I’m sure you already have an idea of your child’s preference for “scary” things like rides and what they can and can’t handle, but even so, if this is your first time doing amusement park rides that is a whole other ballgame for your toddler. Iris loves anything as wild and crazy as possible and being scared, but we started with the train, then went for the carousel (she was a bit unsure for a minute), and then rode rides like the flying elephants and the tea cups.

Map Out Your Day.

This goes hand in hand with the last tip, but rather than wander aimlessly (since your toddler will need a nap at some point and, if you’re there in the summer, it’s too hot to wander), make sure to scout out the rides ahead of time and make a loose plan for the day. Most of the toddler rides are in Country Fair, so you can plan to spend a lot of your day there. If you need a break from the heat grab a Dippin Dots like we did or catch a show in the ac!

Try the barbeque!

If you’re there during a meal time, we recommend the BBQ at Hickory House BBQ. We had the pork sandwiches and they were amazing, Iris was all about the corn. Amusement Business Magazine named Hickory House BBQ the best pork barbeque of any theme park in the country, so obviously they’re doing something right!

Go during the holidays.

We’ve been during Christmas and are SO excited to be going during Halloween this year! Dollywood is extra magical when it’s all decorated for the holidays. I know most people go during the summer, but if you’re able to make a fall or winter trip I highly recommend it. Especially during the fall, Tennessee is insanely gorgeous when the leaves change and the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg area are so beautiful and the weather is perfect for being out all day at the park.

Here’s a video of our first family trip to Dollywood:

Make sure to follow along in real time on Instagram and my other social media accounts linked below during our trip to Dollywood and the Christmas Celebration Dinner Show on Friday!

We were given complimentary tickets for this trip to Dollywood, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

♡ MALLORIE