Pigeon Forge, Nov 6 to Jan 3
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026 Every day of the run, scored
Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026 runs November 6, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at Dollywood. The park opens 56 of 59 days, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most days run 10 AM to 9 PM. November 27 and 28 and December 26 to January 3 run 9 AM to 10 PM. The calmest days are early November weekdays.
By Michael Burns · Updated
Which Dollywood Christmas day should you pick?
Every day of the run with its hours and a 1 to 10 crowd score. Gift-wrapped days are the three days the park is closed. Tickets cost $94.99 until November 25 and $99.99 from November 27.
- 1 to 3 quiet
- 4 to 6 moderate
- 7 to 8 busy
- 9 to 10 packed
- 9 AM to 10 PM day
Tap any day
- Hours
- Adult ticket
- Typical high and low
Pick a day below for its hours, ticket price, typical weather and what to expect.
November 2026
Tickets rise $5 from Nov 27
December 2026
January 2027
Hours and closed days from Dollywood's 2026 park calendar. Hours can change, so check Dollywood hours today before you go. Crowd scores match our Dollywood crowd calendar.
Is early November or late December better at Dollywood?
The festival splits in two on the day after Thanksgiving. Before it, tickets cost less and the park is calmer. After it, the hours stretch on the holiday weekends and the crowds build toward New Year's.
Nov 6 to Nov 25
- 10 AM to 9 PM every day
- $94.99 dated adult ticket
- Typical high 61 and low 35 degrees
Nov 27 to Jan 3
- 9 AM to 10 PM on Nov 27 and 28 and Dec 26 to Jan 3, 10 AM to 9 PM between
- $99.99 dated adult ticket
- Typical December high 52 and low 30 degrees
What are the least crowded days for Dollywood at Christmas?
Weekdays in the first three weeks are the calm stretch. The week after Christmas is the crush, when most schools are out and the park runs its longest hours.
Go on these days
- 3Mon, Nov 910 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
- 3Tue, Nov 1010 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
- 3Wed, Nov 1110 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
- 3Thu, Nov 1210 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
- 3Mon, Nov 1610 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
- 3Tue, Nov 1710 AM to 9 PM · $94.99
Brace for these days
- 8Sat, Nov 289 AM to 10 PM · $99.99
- 8Sat, Dec 510 AM to 9 PM · $99.99
- 8Sat, Dec 1210 AM to 9 PM · $99.99
- 10Sat, Dec 269 AM to 10 PM · $99.99
- 9Sun, Dec 279 AM to 10 PM · $99.99
- 9Sat, Jan 29 AM to 10 PM · $99.99
Want a whole season view? See the best days to visit Dollywood.
What shows are at Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026?
Seven holiday shows are on the 2026 schedule, plus Snow in the Grove every night. Showtimes for the opening weekend are posted on Dollywood's calendar, and later days post closer to the date. TimeSaver passes include show reservations at the Celebrity, Pines and Showstreet Palace theaters.
Christmas in the Smokies
The headline show, a revue of Christmas favorites with a live band, singers and dancers. It has run since 1990.
O Holy Night
The Nativity told through a child's eyes.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Baxter family and their giant mouse friends, a family show built on the poem.
Appalachian Christmas
Acoustic bluegrass carols on the porch.
Snow in the Grove
Snow, light and music at the Wildwood Tree with the glowing Roly Poly characters, every night after dark.
Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs
Dollywood's longtime Southern gospel quartet sings Christmas.
Heidi Parton's A Christmas to Remember
A Christmas set led by Dolly's niece, Heidi Parton.
Candlelight Carolers
Carols by candlelight at the chapel.
More on every Dollywood show in our Dollywood shows guide.
Where are the best Christmas lights at Dollywood?
More than six million lights cover the park, and each area has its own colors. The lights come on as it gets dark, around 5:30 PM, so a 10 AM to 9 PM day still gives you about three and a half hours of them.
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Santa's Village
Red and green
-
Peppermint Valley
In Country Fair
-
Glacier Ridge
Icy blues and whites
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Craftsman's Valley
Warm candlelight glow
After dark, Snow in the Grove fills Wildwood Grove with snow, light and music. It is listed with the holiday shows above.
How cold is Dollywood at Christmas, and which rides close?
Nights fall to freezing more often than not by December. Each ride has its own cold limit, so a clear 33 degree night can still close the big coasters while the gentle rides keep going.
Bars run from the typical low to the typical high. The dashed line is 32°, freezing.
When each ride stops for the cold
- 39°FireChaser Express
- 36°Big Bear Mountain, Dragonflier, Shooting Star, Sky Rider, Whistle Punk Chaser
- 35°Thunderhead
- 34°Lightning Rod, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado, Wild Eagle
- 32°Amazing Flying Elephants, Barnstormer, Frogs and Fireflies, Great Tree Swing, Lemon Twist, LumberJack Lifts, Tree Top Tower
- 23°Black Bear Trail, Waltzing Swinger
- 5°Drop Line
FireChaser Express, Lemon Twist, Mystery Mine and Whistle Punk Chaser do not open until it reaches 40°, even if they close at a lower temperature.
November
61° high · 35° low
About 12 nights at or below freezing in a typical November.
A fleece for the afternoon and a warm coat, hat and gloves for after dark.
December
52° high · 30° low
About 19 nights at or below freezing in a typical December.
A winter coat, hat, gloves and a scarf. Layer under it so you can shed it inside the indoor theaters.
January
49° high · 27° low
About 21 nights at or below freezing in a typical January.
Your warmest coat, thermal layers and waterproof shoes. January brings the most snow of the run.
Closed for the season
Daredevil Falls and Smoky Mountain River Rampage are closed for the rest of 2026.
The warm ride
NightFlight Expedition opened in August 2026 and is indoors and climate controlled, so this is its first Christmas and the one big ride that runs no matter the cold.
Typical highs and lows are 1991 to 2020 NOAA normals for Sevierville, next door to Pigeon Forge. Pack lists for the whole year are in what to wear to Dollywood, and every ride is in our Dollywood rides guide.
How much does Dollywood cost at Christmas 2026?
Dated tickets go up $5 on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Prices are before tax.
Kids and seniors. Child (4 to 9) and senior (62 and up) tickets are $10 less than adult tickets, for example $84.99 on November 10 and $89.99 on December 5. Ages 3 and under are free.
Parking. General parking is $25 per car and preferred is $55. Spaces are first come, first served, so on the long December days arrive close to opening.
Ticket types and TimeSaver levels are explained in our Dollywood tickets guide.
The first Smoky Mountain Christmas without Dolly
Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026. This is the first Smoky Mountain Christmas at her park since.
Dollywood has placed a memorial in the welcome plaza. More tributes are planned, including a waterfall and new stained glass at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel. Christmas in the Smokies, the show Dolly's park has staged since 1990, carries on in her Celebrity Theater.
Questions people ask about Dollywood at Christmas
When is Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026?
Smoky Mountain Christmas runs from Friday, November 6, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027. January 3 is the last day of the 2026 season, and the park reopens in March 2027.
Is Dollywood open on Christmas Day 2026?
No. Dollywood is closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25, 2026. It reopens on Saturday, December 26 at 9 AM.
Is Dollywood open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Dollywood is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026. It opens at 9 AM on Friday, November 27 and stays open until 10 PM.
What are Dollywood's hours at Christmas?
Most days run 10 AM to 9 PM. Friday, November 27, Saturday, November 28 and every day from December 26 to January 3 run 9 AM to 10 PM.
Is Dollywood open on New Year's Eve 2026?
Yes. Dollywood is open 9 AM to 10 PM on Thursday, December 31, 2026, and on New Year's Day. The park closes at 10 PM, so there is no midnight countdown inside the park.
Is there a Christmas parade at Dollywood?
No Christmas parade is on Dollywood's 2026 festival lineup. The nightly moments are the lights, Snow in the Grove in Wildwood Grove and the holiday shows.
How much are Dollywood tickets for Christmas 2026?
A dated one day adult ticket is $94.99 from November 6 to 25 and $99.99 from November 27 to January 3, before tax. A ticket good on any day is $99.99. Parking is $25.
Do Dollywood rides close when it is cold?
Yes. Each ride has its own cold limit. Big Bear Mountain closes at 36 degrees, Thunderhead at 35 and Lightning Rod at 34. FireChaser Express, Lemon Twist, Mystery Mine and Whistle Punk Chaser do not open until it reaches 40 degrees.