Dollywood is more than just a theme park–it’s a celebration of Appalachian culture, music, and of course the lovely Dolly Parton herself. Full of thrilling rides, tasty grub, unique live entertainment, and Southern hospitality, Dollywood offers an unforgettable experience. Understanding Dollywood’s operating calendar is crucial for planning your Smoky Mountain visit. Whether you are seeking spring flowers or pumpkins galore, keeping up with the 2024 Dollywood Operating Calendar will ensure you make the most of your adventure.
2024 Dollywood Operating Calendar
March
March is the beginning of Dollywood for the year. It reopens on March 8th for all annual pass holders and immediately kicks off with the I Will Always Love You Festival on the 9th. You can visit the park from 10 AM – 8 PM through the 30th. Since the weather is still quite crisp out around this time of the month, Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park is closed.
April
April carries on with the I Will Always Love You Festival and then jumps right into the Flower and Food Festival on April 19, continuing through the end of the month. The park will be open from 10 AM – 8 PM with park closures on April 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30. April is a great month to visit Dollywood if you love sunny weather that’s not too hot. The Splash Country Water Park is still closed through the whole month of April.
May
Ok, May is when things start to ramp up a bit. Dollywood is only closed one day this month, on the 2nd. The Flower and Food Festival is still up and going through the whole month of May as well. Now finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, Splash Country Water Park officially opens its doors on May 11th from 10 AM – 6 PM. However, the water park does close again from the 13th through the 17th but is open again for the rest of the month.
June
The month of June welcomes Summer and tons of fun in the sun. The Flower and Food Festival hits its peak in June when the gardens are at their finest and then finishes up on the 9th. Then, Dollywood’s theme park hours change from 10 AM – 8 PM to 10 AM – 10 PM starting on the 15th. What else starts on the 15th of June, you ask? The Smoky Mountains Summer Celebration. Expect scheduled fireworks every night during this celebration. Splash Country also extends its hours of operation from 10 AM – 6 PM to 10 AM – 7 PM starting on the 8th and through the rest of June. If you are mainly interested in visiting the water park, June is considered one of the best times to visit and avoid the summer rush.
July
The Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration keeps up all of July and surely doesn’t disappoint. The parks’ hours remain the same as in June, opening at 10 AM and closing its doors at 10 PM. Splash Country also remains the same open from 10 AM – 7 PM. Not one day is Dollywood or Splash Country Water Park closed through all of July.
August
August slows down just a bit. The Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration comes to an end on the 11th and there are no more events or celebrations for the rest of the month. Dollywood does close down on August 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, and 29. The hours of operation also change during the middle of the month to 10 AM – 7 PM and Splash County Water Park retires from its prime summer hours back to 10 AM – 6 PM.
September
Hello Fall! As September rolls in, so do the fall festivities. However, there are a few things to note in Septemeber. September 1st is the last day of the year that Dollywood is open until 10 PM. Then the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, the park is open until 7 PM, with park closures on the 3rd and 5th. The beloved Harvest Festival commences on September 9th and the whole park boasts fall vibes, including about 12,000 or so pumpkins scattered around the park. September is also another great month to visit Dollywood if you fancy sunny yet cool weather. Splash Country Water Park officially closes for the rest of the year after the 15th.
October
Did someone say boo? Dollywood is the perfect place to experience the fall with a touch of spooky. The weather is great and fall foliage is in its prime! The Harvest Festival persists through the 28th of October as well as the Great Pumpkin LumiNights. The park is open from 10 AM – 9 PM the whole month with closures from the 29th through the 31st. Happy Halloween!
November
Jump straight into Smoky Mountain Christmas starting November 1st. Dollywood’s hours of operation change slightly, not open from 11 AM – 9 PM. The park is open and blasting holiday cheer all month except for November 28th, of course. Happy Thanksgiving!
December
And just like that, the year starts to come to an end. December at Dollywood is full of lights, Christmas cheer, parades, fireworks, musical galore and so much more. Don’t miss out on the Smoky Mountain Christmas Drone Show which was newly introduced in 2023. Enjoy Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas all month and through January 5th, 2025. Dollywood will be closed on December 24th and 25th. Merry Christmas!
We hope that each and every one of these 2024 Dollywood operating calendars has helped you plan and finalize your trip to the Smokies and Dollywood. We know that putting a vacation together can at times be overwhelming, but knowing as much information as possible beforehand really helps make the most of it. If you are coming to Dollywood this year, make sure to check out its brand-new attraction, the Dolly Parton Experience. A whole new land, set to open in May of 2024.
