Credit: DollywoodDollywood has confirmed a big change for spooky season in 2026.
Dolly Parton’s eponymous theme park – jointly owned by Herschend – has spent decades luring in millions of guests, with the park entering the top 20 most-visited parks in North America for the first time in 2024. Beyond the standard roller coasters such as Lightning Rod, Mystery Mine, and America’s first winged coaster, Wild Eagle, its allure is strengthened by a stellar food lineup and heaps of Southern charm (plus an abundance of cinnamon bread).
Historically, festivals have also played a large role in Dollywood’s calendar. Spring is marked by the I Will Always Love You Music Festival, while the Flower & Food Festival typically runs from April through June. Then comes the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, shortly followed by the Harvest Festival and Smoky Mountain Christmas.
From next year, another event is also joining the lineup – but this one requires a bonus ticket.
Dollywood Introduces New Upcharge For 2026
In 2026, Dollywood is set to introduce Harvey’s Boo Bash.
Similar to the likes of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort and Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort, this requires a separate ticket and won’t be included with the cost of admission. That means that the best of the Halloween season is, essentially, going behind a paywall at Dollywood from next year.
Dollywood has yet to announce prices. However, it has confirmed that it will be held on three nights – October 16, 23, and 30, 2026 – and will run from 9 p.m. through midnight.
Harvey’s Boo Bash – hosted by Dollywood’s pumpkin character, Harvey – will feature candy stations, similar to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Guests can also ride select attractions during the event, plus enjoy other exclusive activities and entertainment.
For those who don’t shell out for Harvey’s Boo Bash, Dollywood’s regular Harvest Festival will return from September 14 through October 31 and be included with the cost of standard park admission. On the bright side, this will reportedly add an expanded Great Pumpkin LumiNights to its lineup, as well as introduce a new dance party.
Next year is a big one for Dollywood. In addition to Harvey’s Boo Bash, it will debut its newest attraction, NightFlight Expedition. Located within the Wildwood Grove area and costing over $50 million, this is reportedly the largest attraction investment in the park’s history.
Dollywood previously described the attraction as a cross between a roller coaster and a water ride in a press release.
“As the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition takes Dollywood guests on an unforgettable journey through the Smoky Mountains to search for bioluminescence in the nation’s most-visited national park. During the 5 1/2-minute experience, guests soar on a nighttime flight over the scenic Smokies, enjoy a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water, traverse a mountain ridge on a roller coaster, and navigate a mysterious shimmering lake by boat.”
Dollywood’s first-ever Run Dollywood race weekend will also take place from April 25 to April 26, 2026.
These changes kick in as Dollywood increases its standing against traditionally more popular theme parks. For years, Dolly Parton’s Pigeon Forge destination has racked up glowing reviews. It has even managed to beat both Disney and Universal to snag the title of the country’s No. 1 theme park in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
Do you plan on visiting Dollywood in 2026?