Dolly Parton's Stampede

The show is built around horse riding and stunts, a trick rider, a Roman rider standing astride a pair of horses over a ring of fire, and a set of wild horses, mixed with comedy and a good deal of audience participation. It ends on a patriotic finale. For 2026 the arena added a new animal, Buttercup, a Highland cow, which is the kind of detail kids tend to remember long after the stunts blur together.

You pick a side and cheer for your riders, so bring your voice. The tone is family-friendly and loud, and the cast keeps the pace moving.

Dinner is included in your ticket and comes as a four-course feast. Everyone gets the same meal, and there is no separate kids' menu, so picky eaters should know that going in. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals are available if you choose them when you book or contact Guest Services. The official Pigeon Forge page explains the options.

There are two seating levels. Value seats are angled seats near the ends of the performance area, close to where cast members enter and exit, and they are the more economical choice. Regular seats are in the same sections but give you a closer, more central view. If the budget allows, the central view is the one that makes the stunts feel big.

You can arrive up to an hour and 15 minutes before showtime for ticket pickup and pre-show entertainment. Use that window. Parking, picking up tickets and finding your seat all go more easily when you are not racing the clock, and the pre-show is part of the fun.

The holiday show keeps the horse stunts and the feast and adds new segments, including Elegance on Ice, the Magic of Toys and a live Nativity scene. If you are visiting during Winterfest season, this is the version you will most likely see, so check the show schedule for dates before you plan around it.

Prices are not listed on the main page, so use the booking site linked from the official page to see current ticket prices for your date. Military rates are not sold online. Call 865-453-4400 to ask about them.

Stampede pairs naturally with a daytime plan on the Parkway, since the show needs no setup beyond showing up hungry. If you are stringing together several dinner shows on one trip, space them out. They are rich evenings, and a night off between them keeps everyone fresh. The Comedy Barn and several other Pigeon Forge theaters offer combo deals that pair a variety show with a dinner show, so ask when you book if you want to stack two evenings.

For questions about a specific date, seating or special meals, the main Stampede site has the Pigeon Forge details.