Are you a pumpkin/Jack-O-Lantern lover? If so, Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights is well worth a visit when the park puts on its Harvest Festival. It’s a pumpkin lovers paradise!
But it’s not just enjoyable at night. Or on sunny days. We visited on October 30, the last day of the event this year, which also happened to be a rainy one. Or I guess drizzly would be a better way to put it. Nothing our ponchos and raincoats couldn’t handle, as well as umbrellas for those who had them. (We’d left ours in the car because we weren’t sure they’d be allowed in the park so our other raingear had to suffice.)
It was fun to see the pumpkins in the daytime, then later all lit up at night. There were I don’t know how many pumpkin displays of all varieties all over the park. Besides the main event luminarias, which also came in all forms, shapes and sizes, there were also giant pumpkins and cute pumpkin figures.
But since photos are worth 1,000 words, rather than trying to describe all the pumpkins, how about I show you?
1. Giant Pumpkin Patch
One of the first impressive pumpkin displays in the park was the giant pumpkin patch. And I don’t mean it was an enormous patch full of pumpkins, but a tiny area full of humongous pumpkins.
2. Pumpkin People
These pumpkin people mostly occupied the Village area and were so happy and joyful I just had to join in!
3. Pumpkin Trees
The 40-foot tall giant pumpkin tree is among the showstoppers of Great Pumpkin LumiNights, but it’s not the only pumpkin tree to see.
4. Pumpkins with Wood Carvings
Artisans are among those Dollywood celebrates. Some of their work was represented in these displays.
5. Creatures and Critters
Not only were shapes carved into the pumpkins, but it was fun to see the way they incorporated pumpkin creatures and critters all over the park.
6. The Mystery Mine and the Graveyard
Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights is a family-friendly not-so-scary kind of event. However, there were a couple of fun creepy-ish elements too.
7. Other Great Pumpkin LumiNight Displays
A few more examples of the fun pumpkins on display.
8. Representative of Dolly
There are two symbols in particular that also made showstopping pumpkin displays but that are also very representative of the woman who made Dollywood possible.
For More Info
Great Pumpkin LumiNights at Dollywood happens from late September through the end of October during their Harvest Festival each fall.
Visit dollywood.com for exact dates and ticket info.
Check-In
Can you believe how creative some people can get with pumpkins?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
People’s pumpkin creativity is AMAZING! I thought I’d pick a favorite from the photos, but they’re ALL so good!
How rad is this? And how is this the first time I’m hearing about this awesome event! So cool!
I was going to ask pick a favorite but I decided that wasn’t fair because I was hard-pressed to pick a favorite! lol
Oooo! I’m so glad I shared something you found informative! WHOOP! Thanks for letting me know!