Thousands of carved pumpkins, a glowing 40-foot pumpkin tree, and a hillside of luminous owls turn Dollywood into one of the country’s biggest family Halloween-season draws each fall. The Harvest Festival presented by Humana runs September 14 through October 31, 2026 at the Pigeon Forge, TN park, with the award-winning Great Pumpkin LumiNights lighting the nights and two additions new for 2026: Harvey’s Boo Bash, a limited-capacity nighttime celebration, and Candy Corn Country, a sweet takeover of the park’s Country Fair.
What Is New for 2026
- Harvey’s Boo Bash (NEW) — Dollywood’s new exclusive, limited-capacity nighttime celebration, running after dark during the festival with what the park describes as festive surprises around every corner and playful fun for the whole family. Details are at dollywood.com.
- Candy Corn Country (NEW) — the park’s Country Fair area transforms for the Harvest season, with sweet characters to meet and fall surprises throughout.
Great Pumpkin LumiNights
The festival’s signature nighttime experience returns with thousands of creatively carved pumpkins and larger-than-life pumpkin icons across the park. The towering 40-foot pumpkin tree anchors the glow, Dolly’s giant glowing guitar plays its melody, and family favorite Hoot Owl Hollow returns as the hideaway of a gigantic glowing owl and dozens of friends roosting in the trees, on rooftops, and across the hillside. Dollywood pitches LumiNights as not-so-spooky nighttime fun, and it stays family-first rather than scare-driven.
Guests who want a closer look can book the Behind the Glow guided tour of Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which goes deeper into how the displays come together.
Daytime: Music and Fall Food
By day, the festival fills the park with dozens of Southern gospel, country, and bluegrass performers, with rides like Big Bear Mountain running throughout. The food lineup leans into fall with hearty harvest plates, spiced drinks, and desserts, and a Harvest Festival Tasting Pass covers up to five festival foods for one price.
On Saturday, October 24, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort hosts a Harvest Festival Chef’s Dinner, a ticketed evening with seasonal tablescapes, live entertainment, and a curated fall menu.
Dates, Tickets, and Planning
- Dates: September 14 through October 31, 2026, during regular park operating days.
- Admission: The Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights are included with park admission and Season Passes. Harvey’s Boo Bash is a separate limited-capacity event.
- Hours: Vary by day; check the Dollywood calendar before visiting.
- Where: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dollywood’s Harvest Festival scary? No. Great Pumpkin LumiNights is deliberately not-so-spooky, built on carved pumpkins and glowing displays rather than scare actors. It sits in the same family lane as Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest daytime side and LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat, not the haunted-house circuit. For scare actors in the same town, Rocky Top Mountain Coaster runs Zombie Invasion, a nighttime haunted coaster ride, on 36 dates from September 11.
When does Great Pumpkin LumiNights start each night? The glow begins as the sun goes down during festival dates. Exact park hours vary by day on the Dollywood calendar.
Is the festival included with admission? Yes. The Harvest Festival and LumiNights are included with any park admission or Season Pass. Harvey’s Boo Bash is limited-capacity and separate, and the Chef’s Dinner and Behind the Glow tour are ticketed extras.
Great Pumpkin LumiNights is not affiliated with Peanuts Worldwide, LLC.
Last updated: August 16, 2026. This guide is updated as Dollywood announces additional Harvest Festival details.
