Headlined by Grammy® Award winners Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys and the Del McCoury Band and featuring a variety of country’s tastiest barbeque, Bluegrass & BBQ (Sept. 15-27) is the newest event to join Dollywood’s season-long celebration featuring five of the South’s largest festivals.
“I have a truly special place in my heart for bluegrass music, and Bluegrass & BBQ is my way of sharing some of that wonderful high lonesome sound with our guests,” Dolly Parton said. “And you can bet I’ll eat my share of barbeque, too!”
Dollywood’s Bluegrass & BBQ offers 12 days of free concerts by Grammy, International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) and Country Music Association (CMA) Award winner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Sept. 15-16), the Peasall Sisters (Sept . 15-20), Melonie Cannon (Sept. 16-17), Grammy Award winners Riders In The Sky (Sept. 17-18), reigning IBMA Entertainer of the Year Cherryholmes (Sept. 19-20), Grammy and IBMA award winners Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys (Sept. 24-25), The Del McCoury Band (Sept. 26-27), CMA Award winner Marty Raybon (Sept. 22-23) and The Chapmans (Sept. 23-24). Also performing are Dollywood’s resident bluegrass band Naomi & the Wood Brothers and the Smoky Mountain String Band.
More than music is in the air at Dollywood’s Bluegrass & BBQ festival as the country’s tastiest barbecue is featured throughout the park. Special food booths and various park restaurants will feature everything from the Carolina’s carefully roasted pork to tangy Texas Southwestern brisket. Plus, special cooks and visiting grill masters will be on hand to share tips and pointers. Displays featuring a wide variety of sauces—including some of the world’s hottest recipes—for sampling also will be available to complement the succulent barbeque offerings.
All concerts are included with park admission. Barbeque meals and samplers are offered for an additional fee.
Dollywood’s 2006 season gets under way April 1; operating days and hours vary. Additional 2006 festivals include Dollywood’s Festival of Nations (April 1-May 7); KidsFest (June 16-Aug. 6); National Gospel & Harvest Celebration (Sept. 29-Oct. 28) and Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 4-Dec. 30). For more information, visit
www.dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.