PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dollywood makes summertime family time with its new Great American Summer, June 22-Aug. 4, complete with 10 a.m.-10 p.m. extended daily operating hours, a nightly fireworks celebration, special shows and ride time in the dark on coasters.
“With everyone’s busy schedules and so many distractions pulling us in all sorts of different directions, it’s hard for families to spend good, old-fashioned quality time together,” Dolly Parton said. “During my Great American Summer, we’re extending Dollywood’s hours to give families more fun time, more summertime, more nighttime, and more time to make lifelong memories together.”
In a first for Dollywood, the theme park marks the end of each Great American Summer day with a colorful fireworks spectacular. Synchronized to music throughout the park, Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors lights up the sky each evening and features an inspiring new song, Paint Your Dreams Across the Sky, written by Parton specifically for the event. Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors begins each night at 9:30 p.m.
Three incredible shows highlight Great American Summer’s entertainment lineup.
- My People celebrates the family who inspired Parton to achieve her dreams during her incredible journey from Locust Ridge, Tenn., to stages around the world. My People features several of Parton’s family members who share songs of the family’s strong faith, their deep love for the Smoky Mountains and their steadfast belief in their sister.
- Dollywood and GAC TV collaborate for The Great American Country Show, a fast-paced, cutting-edge musical journey through today’s world of country music. Towering video screens, six performers and a live six-piece band create a high-energy spectacle every fan will enjoy. GAC’s most popular on-air personalities appear on screen, while special guest artists make surprise appearances throughout the season.
- Gazillion Bubbles: New Dimension proves that bubbles aren’t just for the bathtub anymore in this interactive bubble world filled with lasers, spectacular lighting effects, and jaw-dropping masterpieces of bubble artistry.
- The popular children’s books The Little Engine That Could, One Cool Friend and Ladybug Girl & Bingo come to life at The Little Engine Playhouse in 20-minute sing-along musicals. Each show features songs written by Parton who appears via a video-taped appearance.
Guests also get a rare summertime opportunity to ride in the dark on award-winning coasters, including Wild Eagle. The steel wing coaster has won multiple awards for Best New Attraction of 2012.
An amazing assortment of summertime snacks, drinks and refreshments also are available only during Great American Summer. Backstage Restaurant’s pizza and pasta buffet gives kids an incredible selection of pizza, while the dessert buffet includes several kid-tested favorites. Dollywood’s Great American Summer also includes more than 300 unique lemonade, iced tea and soda flavors at Liberty Refreshments. Homemade ice cream, chocolate and vanilla, is offered at the Village Creamery daily.
A 150-acre family adventure park located in the Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade. Open nine months a year (March 23-Jan. 4, 2014), Dollywood offers rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. The neighboring 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country, which operates Memorial Day to Labor Day, features RiverRush, Tennessee’s first and only water coaster. Dollywood Vacations offers all-inclusive vacation planning that features lodging and tickets for Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room.aspx.