PIGEON FORGE, TN – The Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade, a rite of spring in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has a new date—May 8, 2009 (Friday). This is the event’s 24th year. The parade, sponsored and organized by the City of Pigeon Forge, shifted from late March to early May to take advantage of longer days and warmer weather. Each year, thousands of Dolly Parton fans line a two-mile stretch of the Pigeon Forge Parkway to wave at and to be acknowledged by the entertainment superstar and hometown favorite. This year’s Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade has special meaning because Parton is the official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park, whose 9 million visitors make it the most visited of all national parks, is Pigeon Forge’s next-door neighbor, and the parade is one of six Pigeon Forge special events and festivals on the anniversary’s official events calendar. The parade starts at 6 p.m. Parton, of course, is the grand marshal. She is tied to the local tourism economy because of Dollywood, the theme park that is Tennessee’s most popular ticketed attraction. Details of Parton’s float are a tightly held secret, a tradition throughout the parade’s history. The parade will feature a variety of floats representing Pigeon Forge theaters, car clubs, equestrian clubs, cheerleading teams, twirlers and high school marching bands. A mainstay participant is the band from Sevier County High School, Parton’s alma mater.

Dolly Parton will be the grand marshal of the Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade on May 8, 2009 in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Copyright 2008 Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. All rights reserved. From http://www.mypigeonforge.com.
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