PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—Dollywood’s third annual Barbeque & Bluegrass festival (Sept. 5-28) kicks off Sept. 5, featuring three weeks and more than 500 free concerts by a lineup of award winners that includes Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (Sept. 5 & 6), The Del McCoury Band (Sept. 7 & 8), Cherryholmes (Sept. 9 & 10), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Sept. Sept. & 14), Rhonda Vincent & the Rage (Sept. 27 & 28) & many more.
“It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of bluegrass music, and I love great barbeque, too,” Dolly Parton said. “I love to sing one and cook the other, so it’s only natural that I would treat folks to my Barbeque & Bluegrass festival at Dollywood each year. Whether it’s your ears or your appetite, you’ll find something you’ll love!”
Skaggs headlines the festival’s opening weekend with a 2 and 4 p.m. show on Sept. 5 and 6 in DP’s Celebrity Theatre. One of the genre’s most popular and influential musicians, Skaggs has 12 No. 1 hits and dozens of career accolades, including 13 Grammy® Awards and eight Country Music Association Awards. Skaggs’ last four albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard bluegrass chart.
Dollywood features free concerts on seven stages throughout the 21-day festival, along with roving bands. All concerts feature general admission seating and are included with Dollywood admission. For a complete concert lineup, please visit Dollywood.com.
Bluegrass music shares the stage with barbeque, with the park serving barbequed ribs by the slab, pulled pork and barbequed chicken, complete with potato salad and baked beans. Kid’s meals are offered as well. Special desserts served during the festival include three-pound slices of apple pie, each carved from a 25-pound pie. Restaurants throughout the park feature new recipes to celebrate Barbeque & Bluegrass, including cream of smoked vegetable soup and chipotle Tabasco® shrimp, both of which are served at Aunt Granny’s, a location that takes its name from the nickname given Parton by her many nieces and nephews.
Other highlights include demonstrations and Q & A sessions by professional chefs. Guests also can visit the Sauce Tastin’ Station which features some of the hottest barbeque sauces offered for purchase as well as a line of “made in Tennessee products.” The Music in the Valley Shop will release a new bluegrass CD collection produced exclusively for Dollywood.
Dollywood is a 130-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
-dollywood2008-