Visiting Dollywood at Christmas With Kids: A Family Game Plan

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas runs November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with 6 million lights, holiday shows included with admission and Santa visiting through December 23. Visiting with young kids can take a little more planning than a typical trip, so here's a family game plan covering Santa, winter rides, strollers, food, lodging and what it costs.

Dollywood at Christmas With Kids, at a Glance

• Dates: November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027, Dollywood's 36th Smoky Mountain Christmas
• Closed: November 26 (Thanksgiving) and December 24-25
• Santa: In the Imagination Playhouse (The Village area near the Train Depot) through December 23, 2026; no reservations, so consider going early in the day  
• One-Day Pick-A-Day ticket: $94.99 adult / $84.99 child or senior (Nov. 6-25); $99.99 / $89.99 (Nov. 27-Jan. 3); children 3 and under free (these prices are all before tax is added)
• 2027 Season Pass: on sale starting November 2; buying one during your visit includes this year's Christmas festival
• Pre-K Imagination Season Pass: free admission all season for any child born in 2022 or 2023

What's the Best One-Day Plan for Visiting Dollywood at Christmas With Kids?

Here is a one-day plan for Dollywood for families with young children, starting with a holiday treat and Santa and ending with the lights after dark.

1. Grab a holiday treat or some festive food, then visit Santa.
2. Ride the Dollywood Express train and visit Peppermint Valley, in either order.
3. Catch a kid-friendly show: “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” and “O' Holy Night” are the suggested picks, so check the day's show schedule to fit them in.
4. Spend time in Wildwood Grove, including NightFlight Expedition for kids at least 39 inches tall.
5. Have some more holiday food.
6. Stay for the lights once it gets dark, including Snow in the Grove in Wildwood Grove, where snow falls each evening as the Wildwood Tree glows to life.

Additional tips for visiting Dollywood at Christmas with kids:

• Pick-A-Day tickets cost less from Nov. 6-25 ($94.99 adult) than from Nov. 27-Jan. 3 ($99.99 adult), so an earlier date offers savings.
• Plan around November 26 and December 24-25, since Dollywood is closed those days.

When Can Kids See Santa at Dollywood?

Santa is in the Imagination Playhouse in The Village area, near the Train Depot, for “Santa's List... Naughty or Nice?,” where kids can see him hard at work on this year's list and meet his elves, who help them perfect their Christmas wish lists before presenting them to Santa himself. Reservations aren't taken and there is a line, so it is suggested that families go early in the day. Santa's List photos are included with both One-Day and Multi-Day Memory Passes and can be printed at the Photo Booth near the Emporium at Dollywood's Front Gate. Santa’s last day for 2026 is December 23, so an early or mid-December visit is the best way to see Santa.

For a more relaxed visit, Santa also hosts breakfast at Aunt Granny's Restaurant early on December 12, 13, 19 and 20, with a hearty holiday meal for $24.99 for adults and $12.99 for children. Dining times are 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., and advance reservations are highly recommended.

Are There Character Meet-and-Greets for Kids at Christmas?

The one not to miss is meeting Santa's elves at Santa's workshop, where they help kids perfect their Christmas wish lists. Dollywood's Christmas characters Roly and Poly, Flit and Flutter, and Benjamin Bear also join the fun in Wildwood Grove each evening as the snow begins to fall, and roaming holiday characters appear around the park.

Which Rides Can Kids Enjoy During Winter at Dollywood?

No rides close for the winter except the park's two water rides, Smoky Mountain River Rampage and Daredevil Falls, which are closed for the Christmas season. If the temperature drops below 40 degrees, some rides aren't able to operate, so check at the ride entrance on colder days. Kid-friendly highlights include the Dollywood Express train and everything in Wildwood Grove, including Hidden Hollow and NightFlight Expedition.

Is NightFlight Expedition a Good Fit for Young Kids?

NightFlight Expedition, Dollywood's newest attraction in Wildwood Grove, is set by height rather than age: kids need to be at least 39 inches tall to ride. It's a 5½-minute, climate-controlled indoor experience, so cold or wet weather won't get in the way.

What Should Families Know About Strollers and Staying Warm?

Strollers are available to rent once you’re in the park, on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving earlier in the day is recommended. Rentals aren’t eligible for a rain check or refund, and Gold Season Passholders get a discount on the rental.

When little ones need to warm up, Hidden Hollow in Wildwood Grove is a completely enclosed playhouse and a great place to take a break, and NightFlight Expedition also is indoors. The three big indoor theaters are good spots to sit down, and “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” at The Pines theater is a show kids really enjoy. Indoor restaurants and the park's shops are other warm places to rest, and the shops are a good place to look for gifts.

What Holiday Food Will Kids Love at Dollywood?

Dollywood recommends these holiday picks for kids 10 and younger, many of them easy to share: parmesan rosemary bread knots (easy to carry) and loaded potato soup, each at two locations, plus the stuffing stacker (kids can eat the parts of the turkey dinner they like) and loaded beef nachos. For sweets to share or take home, look for holiday cupcakes and cookies, including iced sugar cookies and gingerbread people cookies, flavored hot chocolates and red velvet funnel cakes. Regular kids' menu choices like pizza and PB&J are available throughout the park. To sample a bit of everything, the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival Tasting Pass bundles multiple festival food offerings at different festival locations for $45.99 before tax, or $42.99 for Gold Season Passholders, and can be purchased online or at culinary locations throughout the park. 

How Much Do Tickets and a Season Pass Cost for a Christmas Visit?

A one-day Pick-A-Day ticket runs $94.99 for adults and $84.99 for children and seniors from November 6 through November 25, rising to $99.99 and $89.99 from November 27 through January 3. Children 3 and under get in free. A Dollywood Season Pass starts at $134.99 for the Summer Fun tier, with Silver at $169.99 and Gold at $244.99, and includes admission to Smoky Mountain Christmas and every other Dollywood festival throughout the year.  Note that all these prices are before tax is added. 

What Should Families Know About 2027 Season Passes?

2027 Season Passes are on sale starting Monday, November 2. Buy one during your Smoky Mountain Christmas visit and this year's festival admission is included, along with Dollywood's entire 2027 season. If you've already bought a ticket, you can upgrade your regular admission on the day of your visit and receive credit for the value of a regular one-day ticket toward a 2027 Season Pass. A 2027 Season Pass also makes a popular Christmas gift, and for families with little ones, the Pre-K Imagination Season Pass offers free admission all season long to any child born in 2022 or 2023.
 

Where Should Families Stay for a Dollywood Christmas Trip?

Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort are both adjacent to the park and bring the holiday spirit to families with roaming entertainment, marshmallow roasting and hot seasonal beverages, while Camp DW offers holiday crafts and activities for the youngest guests at each resort. At Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa, a two-story Christmas tree brightens the lobby, the Christmas Tree Show lights up the pool deck and Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery serves holiday meals on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort is decked out in Christmas décor inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains, with a lobby fire in front of lantern-inspired four-story windows and holiday dinners at Ember & Elm: Tastes Rooted in the Smokies on Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

Plan Your Dollywood Christmas Trip With Kids

A little planning goes a long way when you're bringing little ones to Dollywood at Christmas. Visit the Dollywood Christmas planning page and the Smoky Mountain Christmas event page for the latest details, grab your Dollywood tickets or a Season Pass and check the Dollywood App for wait times and showtimes once you're in the park. For more on planning a holiday trip to the area, see My Pigeon Forge.