Dolly Parton's Stampede building in Pigeon Forge glowing with Christmas lights and lit trees at night

Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede 2026: Living Nativity, Santa and Holiday Feast

October 25, 2026November 4, 2026 by onthegoinmco No Comments

The holiday season in the Smoky Mountains includes one of Pigeon Forge’s best-known dinner shows. Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede runs October 28, 2026, through January 3, 2027, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, pairing a holiday show with a four-course feast.

The show moves from a living Nativity and an ice-skating wonderland to horse stunts, reindeer games, a Nutcracker-inspired aerial act and an arrival by Santa Claus. Here’s what happens in the arena, what’s on the holiday dinner menu and how to reserve seats.

What to Expect at the Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Show

Angel with outstretched wings and white doves above the Three Wise Men in the living Nativity at Dolly Parton's Stampede

The evening opens with a living Nativity telling the story of the birth of Jesus, with Mary, Joseph and the Three Wise Men alongside camels, donkeys and sheep. A frozen wonderland then descends from above, and ice skaters glide across the holiday ice.

The Stampede’s 32 horses perform stunts and race in competitions while the audience cheers for their side, and elves from the North and South Poles face off in festive reindeer games. As snow begins to fall, Santa arrives in his sleigh to close the night.

The “Magic of Toys” Nutcracker Aerial Show

Giant dolls, a nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Magic of Toys segment at Dolly Parton's Stampede

Aerial performers on ribbons above horses in the arena during the Magic of Toys show at Dolly Parton's Stampede

Set to music from The Nutcracker, the “Magic of Toys” segment is an aerial production in which the Sugar Plum Fairy brings favorite toys to life. A large LED wall surrounding the 35,000-square-foot arena carries the holiday scenery from the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to the skies above Bethlehem.