Woman Wins Lottery, Plans Trip to Pigeon Forge Amusement Park

What would you do if you won $5 million in the lottery? Would you pay off your house? Would you buy a new car? Would you wave goodbye to any debt you and your loved ones may have? Though all of these options sound terrific, one lucky lady from New Zealand has all of these ideas beat!

On January 14, a newspaper from Nelson New Zealand reported that a local woman recently won the Powerball worth $5 million, and her first reaction was to plan a trip to the Pigeon Forge amusement park, Dollywood, half a world away from her home! Now, we all know that country music superstar, Dolly Parton, has a strong international following, but this news takes the cake for how far fans will go to share their love for the Smoky Mountain sweetheart.

As of today, the woman and her husband request to remain anonymous, and we do not know when they are planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge amusement park. However, we do know what whatever time of year her and her husband do decide to take the trip across the ocean.

If you won the lottery, which Pigeon Forge amusement park or attraction would you visit first? Let us know in the comments below!

Upcoming 2015 Events at Dollywood

Because we do not know when the lucky lotto winner and her husband want to visit our favorite Pigeon Forge amusement park, we have decided to give a brief breakdown of all the exciting upcoming 2015 events at Dollywood, all of which are part of the park’s 30th anniversary season.

Festival of Nations (March 21-April 20)

Perfect for guests from all around the world, Dollywood’s Festival of Nations is one of the most popular events at the Pigeon Forge amusement park. Here, families are invited to sample different foods and cultures from all across the globe.

Some of the demonstrations included with this year’s Festival of Nations are:

• Rhythm of the Dance, the story of Irish Celts as told through music and dancing
• Timber, a demonstration of strength and agility of North American loggers and farmers
• Alash Ensemble, a special showcase of harmonious Tuvan throat singing
• Zebra Stelzentheater of Germany, German stilt dancers who perform spirited routines in costumes

Barbeque & Bluegrass (May 23-June 7)

The perfect combination of delicious food and great music, Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass is not something that families and guests will want to miss. Not only do you get your fill of fall-of-the-bone barbeque, but guests also get to experience some of the musical performers that the Smoky Mountains have to offer.

Great American Summer (June 13-August 2)

At Visit My Smokies, we cannot not imagine a family enjoying a summer without taking a trip to the Great American Summer at Dollywood. Not only is this festival a great way to celebrate a break between school years, but it is also the perfect excuse to unwind and have fun in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

In addition to being able to catch all of the popular shows and concerts that the Pigeon Forge amusement park is known for, our  favorite part of this festival the fact that the park closes each evening with a stunning fireworks display.

Rock The Smokies (September 5-7)

Brand new this year, the upcoming Rock The Smokies show at Dollywood is a weekend-long event dedicated to showcasing the musical talents of contemporary Christian music artists from across the country. The singers scheduled are known for both their upbeat and inspirational melodies, and we can think of no better way for families and guests to spend their Labor Day weekend than exploring the concert stages set up throughout the park.

Click here for more information on this upcoming 2015 event at Dollywood, and to learn more about all the other additions scheduled for the Pigeon Forge amusement park this year.

National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration (October 2-31)

Following an amazing weekend with Rock the Smokies, guests to Dollywood in October will enjoy experiencing the return of the popular festival, National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration. Presented by Humana, this festival is a six-week celebration of fall in the Smoky Mountains, and it features free Christian and gospel concerts every day.

Smoky Mountain Christmas (November 7-January 2)

What better way to jump into the Christmas spirit than with the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival at Dollywood? Here, not only will gets get to meet and mingle with holiday legends like Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but they will also learn more about what the season is really about with Dollywood’s own version of A Christmas Carol. Other shows included with this festival are:

• Carol of the Trees
• Christmas in the Smokies
• Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs
• Dolly’s Christmas Chapel
• O’ Holy Night
• My People!
• Parade of Lights
• Appalachian Christmas
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Need a relaxing place to stay during your next visit to the Pigeon Forge amusement park? Be sure to check out the Smoky Mountain lodging section of our website. There, you and your family will find a ton of information on all the relaxing cabins, condos, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds our area has to offer.