By Bonnie and Bill Neely
One of our favorite autumn traditions is to journey to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in mid-October to enjoy Dollywood's Harvest Festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights, when the Timber Canyon and Wilderness Pass areas are filled with glowing pumpkins and thousands of special lights that create hauntingly beautiful nights in the Great Smoky Mountains. This year's event — promising to be twice the size of previous years — will begin Sept. 28 and end Nov. 3, a time when the mountains are at their most colorful and the park's later hours provide extra time for families to create spectacular memories.
In the Timber Canyon and Wilderness Pass areas artists show families how to carve amazing pumpkins with many different designs and themes. Master carvers work from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. creating the jack-o'-lanterns and scenes that will light up the night and showing visitors tricks to make their own pumpkins special. The views from the rides during this season are spectacular.
But pumpkins aren't all that light up the darkness. Children can have their faces painted during the day and watch them glow in the dark when night falls. To keep the memory alive long after the paint has washed off, Harvey the Pumpkin, Vine Vinny and other characters are on hand to pose with them for pictures.
We always look forward to the many different crafts demonstrated in Craftsman's Valley (my personal favorite street in Dollywood) by the park's renowned full-time craft creators from this mountain region. During the Harvest Festival guests artisans specially selected from all over the country demonstrate how they make textile art, pottery jewelry, marbled paper, bentwood boxes, hooked rugs, fiddles, dulcimers and much more. Visitors are invited to try their hands at some of these skills.
The food — always delicious at Dollywood — is even more special in the fall season. Not-to-miss treats at this time of year are pumpkin funnel cakes, caramel apple sundaes and candy corn cotton candy. More substantial fare is available at the Front Porch Cafe, the Grandstand Cafe, Frannie's Famous Fried Chicken Sandwich, Market Skillets and more.
Since Dolly Parton grew up singing gospel music with her family, this is also the time when she celebrates Southern Gospel Jubilee. The hills ring with the performances of several top gospel performers on stages throughout the park.
During the festival, park employees do everything they can to make the visit safe and enjoyable. For security reasons guests aren't allowed to wear costumes, and because of the high volume, routes through the park are sometimes redirected to be one-way. Weeknights are the best time to get close-up views of the displays. If you go then, we might see you there!
WHEN YOU GO
The best places to stay near the park are the DreamMore Resort and Spa or the Smoky Mountain Cabins. For park and accommodation information, visit www.dollywood.com.
Bonnie and Bill Neely are freelance writers. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Dollywood's Harvest Festival takes place at the most beautiful time of year in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains. Photo courtesy of Dollywood.
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