Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas

What the Park Looks Like After Dark

Dollywood strings up more than six million lights for Christmas, and each section of the park gets its own color scheme. Santa’s Village keeps to traditional red and green, Glacier Ridge goes cold blue and white, and Craftsman’s Valley glows a soft candlelight gold.

Country Fair becomes Peppermint Valley for the season, wrapped in red and white candy-cane lights. It is also where most of the smaller kids’ rides are, so families with young children tend to end up there anyway.

The festival began in 1990, and 2026 marks its 36th season.

Snow in the Grove and Weekend Fireworks

Wildwood Grove puts on Snow in the Grove each night, when the Wildwood Tree and the glowing Roly Poly characters come alive with light, music and falling snow. Showtimes are in the Dollywood app.

The fireworks show, Merry & Bright, Holiday Light!, is set to Christmas songs and runs on weekends only. Check which nights before you pick a date.

The Christmas Shows

Christmas in the Smokies has been the headline show since 1990. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is the other indoor favorite. Outdoors, Appalachian Christmas and O Holy Night play against the lights and the cold mountain air. On a chilly night the indoor theaters are the warmest seats in the park, so expect them to fill.

Food and the Tasting Pass

The festival menu leans hearty and sweet. The Christmas Tasting Pass covers up to five festival foods for one price, a good way to sample without committing to a full meal. Details for the 2026 pass have not been released yet.

Tickets and What They Cost

There is no separate ticket for the lights. The lights, shows and fireworks are all included with regular park admission.

• Pick-A-Day 1-Day: from $94.99 adults, must visit on the date chosen, price varies by date
• Good-Any-Day 1-Day: from $99.99 adults
• 2-Day tickets: from $124.99 adults (Pick-A-Day) or $129.99 (Good-Any-Day)
• Children and seniors: discounted, prices shown at checkout

Prices are from the official Dollywood ticket store, do not include tax, and can change by date.

The Smoky Mountain Christmas Guided Tour is a paid add-on with reserved seating on the Dollywood Express, a collectible lanyard, character visits and a holiday treat with a hot drink. The 2026 tour dates are not on sale yet.

Hours, Parking and Getting There

Hours shift through the season, and the lights are best after dark, which comes before 6:00 PM in December. Arrive in the afternoon and stay into the evening. The park has traditionally closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the week after Christmas is one of the busiest of the year.

General parking is $25 per vehicle, with trams running from the outer lots to the front gate. Preferred parking, closer in with its own ticket window, is $55.