Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026: 6 Million Lights, Shows & Must-Do's

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana returns for its 36th year, running November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027, with 6 million lights throughout the park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Here is what to expect, when to go and what not to miss on a family Christmas trip to the Smokies.

Smoky Mountain Christmas 2026 at a Glance

• Event: Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, now in its 36th year, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• Dates: November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027
• Lights: 6 million lights across the park
• Santa: in the Imagination Playhouse in The Village area for "Santa's List... Naughty or Nice?"; his last day is December 23, 2026
• Dollywood is closed November 26 (Thanksgiving) and December 24 and 25, 2026
• Christmas shows are included with regular park admission, no separate ticket needed.

When Is Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas in 2026?

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana runs November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027, for two months of holiday cheer in its 36th year. The park is closed November 26 for Thanksgiving, and again on December 24 and 25, so plan around those three dates.

• November 6-25: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• November 26: closed for Thanksgiving
• November 27-28: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• November 29-December 23: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• December 24-25: closed
• December 26-January 3: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

How Many Lights Are at Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas?

Dollywood features 6 million lights across the park for Smoky Mountain Christmas. In Wildwood Grove, Snow in the Grove lets snow fall on Wildwood Creek each evening as the Wildwood Tree glows to life and Christmas characters Roly and Poly, Flit and Flutter, and Benjamin Bear join in. Glacier Ridge returns with an arctic display across Timber Canyon, Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass and Upper Craftsman’s Valley. Christmas Reflections lights five decorated trees over the Rivertown pond, and Country Fair’s Peppermint Valley glows with red and white candy cane lights.

What Is Smoky Mountain Christmas’ Award History?

Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards named Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas the Best Christmas Event for 15 consecutive years. In 2024, Amusement Today retired the category outright and named Smoky Mountain Christmas its all-time legend.

Is Christmas Entertainment Included With Regular Admission?

Yes. Smoky Mountain Christmas shows are included with regular Dollywood admission, so there’s no separate ticket to buy for the entertainment.

What Shows Can You See at Smoky Mountain Christmas?

Smoky Mountain Christmas fills both indoor and outdoor stages with family-favorite shows, and every show is included with regular park admission, no separate ticket required. The festival's headline show, “Christmas in the Smokies,” returns to Celebrity Theater, while “Heidi Parton's A Christmas To Remember” features Dolly's niece, Heidi, sharing songs and stories from her family's Christmas traditions. Other returning favorites include “'Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs,” “O' Holy Night,” “Appalachian Christmas with the Smoky Mountain String Band” and “Candlelight Carolers,” along with roaming holiday characters. 

When Can You See Santa at Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas?

Santa spends the season in the Imagination Playhouse in The Village area, near the Train Depot, where families can see him hard at work finalizing this year’s naughty and nice list and work with Santa’s elves to perfect Christmas wish lists. He 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 at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., and a separate reserved ticket is required. His last day for 2026 is December 23, before he heads back to the North Pole in time for his Christmas Eve flight.

What Should Families Eat at Smoky Mountain Christmas?

This year's holiday menu leans into comfort food and Christmas sweets. Standouts to look for include Parmesan Rosemary Garlic Knots, a Mint Chocolate Chip Brownie Sundae, Jambalaya, an Apple Dumpling, a Stuffing Stacker and a Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Baked Potato. Families with a sweet tooth can also find a Vanilla Eggnog Cupcake, a Hot Cocoa Cupcake and a Candy Cane Cupcake, along with a Pork Belly Skillet, Crispy Fried Corn Strips and Loaded Potato Soup for something heartier. The Christmas Festival Tasting Pass bundles multiple festival food offerings at different festival locations for one price: $45.99 before tax, or $42.99 for Gold Season Passholders. It can be purchased online along with admission tickets or at culinary locations throughout the park. 

How Much Does It Cost to Visit During Smoky Mountain Christmas?

A one-day Pick-A-Day ticket for Smoky Mountain Christmas is $94.99 for adults and $84.99 for children and seniors (ages 4 to 9 and 62-plus) for visits from November 6 through November 25, before tax. Prices for the Thanksgiving-through-New Year's stretch, are $99.99 for adults and $89.99 for children and seniors from November 27 through January 3. Children 3 and under get in free. Booking an earlier date in the run is the more budget-friendly choice if your schedule allows it.

If your plans aren't locked in yet, a Good-Any-Day one-day ticket costs $99.99 for adults and $89.99 for children and seniors before tax, the same flat rate no matter which date during the season you end up visiting. It costs more than an early-window Pick-A-Day ticket, but it's the better choice if your travel dates could still shift.

Definitely consider purchasing a 2027 Season Pass during your Smoky Mountain Christmas visit, because the 2027 pass allows the added value of attending this year’s holiday festival for free with the 2027 Season Pass. 

Are Rides Open During Smoky Mountain Christmas?

Most of Dollywood's rides and attractions operate during the Christmas season, so families can pair the lights and shows with the park's coasters and family rides in the same visit. However, the park's two water rides, Smoky Mountain River Rampage and Daredevil Falls, are closed for the Christmas season. NightFlight Expedition, Dollywood's newest attraction, is a 5½-minute indoor experience, so weather won't get in the way of riding it.
 

How Do Dollywood’s Resorts Celebrate Christmas?

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort both join in the holiday fun with roaming entertainment, marshmallow roasting and hot seasonal beverages, and Camp DW offers holiday crafts and activities for the youngest guests at each resort. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa features a two-story Christmas tree in the lobby, a Christmas Tree Show on the pool deck and holiday meals at Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort adds Christmas décor inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains, 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.

Why Visit Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas?

“Christmas is the season of wonder and family, a time when we all remember special memories and create new ones that become traditions that everyone cherishes,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “Dollywood is a place where you can wrap yourself and those you love most up in the amazing holiday season. Everyone at Dollywood hopes that families and friends who visit us during our Smoky Mountain Christmas festival experience the true heart of the holidays and that the moments they spend here become treasured moments they'll remember into the New Year and beyond.”

Must-Do's for a Smoky Mountain Christmas Visit

• See the 6 million lights after dark, when the park is at its most photogenic
• Watch Snow in the Grove in Wildwood Grove each evening, when snow falls on Wildwood Creek and the Wildwood Tree glows to life
• Catch “Christmas in the Smokies” at Celebrity Theater and “Heidi Parton's A Christmas To Remember” in Dreamsong Theater
• Visit Santa in the Imagination Playhouse by December 23, when he leaves Dollywood to deliver toys around the world!
• Try the holiday menu, especially the Mint Chocolate Chip Brownie Sundae and the Stuffing Stacker
• Plan around November 26 (Thanksgiving) and December 24 and 25, since Dollywood is closed on those three days

Plan Your Smoky Mountain Christmas Trip to Pigeon Forge

With 6 million lights and nearly two months on the calendar, Smoky Mountain Christmas gives families plenty of ways to build a holiday trip around it. Visit the official Smoky Mountain Christmas event page for the latest details, grab your Dollywood tickets or a Season Pass and check the Dollywood App for showtimes once you're in the park. A 2027 Season Pass also makes a popular Christmas gift: passes are on sale starting November 2. And purchasing a 2027 Season Pass during a visit to the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival allows the added value of attending this year’s 2026 holiday festival for free with the 2027 Season Pass.

For more on planning a holiday trip to the Smokies, see My Pigeon Forge.