Dolly Parton Parade Gets Bigger with Addition of Duggar Family

The Annual Dolly Parton Parade, scheduled for May 8 2009, just got a bit bigger. The Duggar Family, stars of TLC’s “18 Kids & Counting,” has been invited to Pigeon Forge for a week of family fun and participate in the Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade.

The Dolly Parton Parade, which has been going strong for the past 24 years, will be held on a 2-mile stretch of the Pigeon Forge Parkway where fans can see the superstar in all her glory as the Grand Marshal of the parade. This year’s parade has special meaning, as Parton is the official ambassador of the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains Park, and the parade is supposed to reflect that theme. The float Dolly Parton will parade on is always a tightly kept secret, but it never disappoints!

The Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade starts at 6 p.m. on May 8 near Traffic Light #6 and travels north nearly two miles to Traffic Light #3 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive in Pigeon Forge early in order to acclimate to the city and find Parkway space from which to view the parade.

For Pigeon Forge lodging during the Parade weekend, view our selection of guaranteed lowest rate lodging options.