PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fall comes alive during Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration presented by Humana (Sept. 22-Nov. 1) thanks to the soulful sounds of beautiful Southern gospel music drifting on the crisp, autumn air.
Dollywood hosts daily concerts featuring the biggest names in Southern gospel music beginning with Guy Penrod Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The McKameys (Oct. 3-5), Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 6 & 8), The Isaacs (Oct. 10-11), Gold City (Oct. 24-26), The Booth Brothers (Oct. 27-29) and many more take to the stage throughout the festival. Additional concerts take place on the Praise 96.3 FM and Singing News stages. More than 350 concerts, all free with park admission, take place during the festival. A complete concert schedule is available at Dollywood.com/gospel.
“I’m glad we’re able to have all of these talented artists visit my Dollywood during the National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration to share the beautiful sounds of Southern gospel music,” Dolly Parton said. “Some of my greatest memories of growing up are of singing in church. This beautiful festival really takes me back to a truly special time in my life.”
Members of the Southern gospel family eagerly anticipate the chance to sing at Dollywood during this majestic time of year. During their downtime, they make sure to enjoy the benefits of performing in the award-winning theme park.
“Dollywood is a very special place for us to sing,” said Peg McKamey Bean of The McKameys. “The facilities are wonderful, the people are great to work with and there are so many great things to do while you are there! We can’t wait to be there in early October, and we are excited to see the great Southern gospel fans there!”
“Performing at Dollywood is a major highlight in our tour schedule,” said Jeremy Peace of The Old Paths Quartet. “Not only do we get to perform and celebrate with thousands of gospel music fans from all over the world, but our own families get to come and join us for a mini-vacation in the park—music, shows, rides, food, fun—for us, it doesn’t get any better than Dollywood!”
In addition to nature’s beauty, the change in season also creates a bountiful crop of delicious food items which Dollywood chefs use to inspire a completely new festival menu. Backstage Restaurant features a full selection of mouth-watering barbeque items including pulled pork, smoked chicken breast, Texas-style beef brisket and slabs of ribs. At the Apple Market, guests enjoy apple butter stack funnel cake, homemade fried apple pies, apple fritters and more.
Fall in Dollywood also means the much-anticipated arrival of some of the country’s finest artisans. In addition to Dollywood’s own skilled craftsman, many talented artists set up shop to demonstrate a number of traditional crafts. This year’s booths feature sea salt scrubs, paintings, dulcimers, handmade historic games, textile art, woodworking, natural stone jewelry and flutes, dolls and textiles, pottery, glass jewelry, gold wire jewelry, cigar box instruments, chainsaw carvings, stained glass, and hand-painted china.
Guest also enjoy the up-close craft demonstrations, and this year’s lineup spotlights a variety of items made on the spot, including banjo making, paper marbling, loom weaving, felt hats, sorghum making, scherenschnitte (the art of German paper cutting), bentwood boxes, woodworking, storytelling, Windsor chair making, basket weaving, rug hooking, treenware (handmade wooden items) and fiddle making. Visiting crafters are located in booths throughout the park.
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About The Dollywood Company: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 150-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood Cabins; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, scheduled to open in 2015. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; the reigning six-time Golden Ticket Award winner; and recipient of 21 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). Open nine months a year (late March through early January), Dollywood offers rides and attractions, shows, and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the country’s most beautiful waterparks and named 2009’s Must-See Waterpark by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Dollywood Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. Opening in 2015, the 307-room Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort will provide guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park 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.
