Get ready as Dollywood goes wild this summer during KidsFest (June 13-Aug. 3) as The Kratt Brothers star in the never-before-seen live stage show Creature Adventures starring the Kratt Brothers, created especially for the theme park.
“The Smoky Mountains are full of all God’s creatures, but The Kratt Brothers are going to entertain families with some of their special critter friends that I can’t wait to see at Dollywood, like a penguin!” Dolly Parton said. “They tell me there’ll be a snake on stage that’s as long as I am tall, even with my high heels on!”
Stars of the popular PBS Zoboomafoo children’s television series, Chris and Martin Kratt are the original “creature adventurers.” Their adventures bring a menagerie of amazing animals to the stage at DP’s Celebrity Theatre for this exciting new 40-minute show. Animal lovers of all ages will get to see a zebra, red kangaroo, coati, porcupine, beaver, rainbow boa, spurred tortoise and more. Learn more about these interesting creatures as The Kratt Brothers share interesting animal tales from their worldwide escapades that have found them face to face with animals of all walks of life. Creature Adventures is included with park admission; multiple performances are scheduled daily throughout the seven-week festival.
Dollywood is crawling with animal encounters all summer long. Kamp KidsFest featuring Kreatures, Kritters and Krafts, located in the Valley Exhibition Hall, is open every day and lets guests of all ages get up-close with a variety of small animals, remarkable reptiles and captivating bugs. A professional animal caregiver from the Knoxville Zoo is on hand to share fascinating facts about each creature while showcasing the animal to park guests.
For a rare, up-close view of birds of prey, guests also can visit the new raptor facility located next to the park’s Wings of America Theatre, featuring 10 viewing stalls filled with different birds, including those that perform in the show. Representatives from the Dollywood-headquartered not-for-profit American Eagle Foundation are on hand to answer questions and provide information about the fascinating birds which include the bald eagle, black vulture, African pied crow, great horned owl, Peregrine falcon and more.
Summer’s most remarkable sand sculptures aren’t just at the beach this summer. Sandscapes, 12-time winner of the World Sand Sculpture Championship, will create large-scale, three-dimensional sand sculptures throughout KidsFest. Situated in the Village area near the Train Depot, Sandscapes’ original KidsFest designs will feature trains and animals. The sand artists will use 75 tons of sand to create their designs—some of which stand as tall as eight feet—in a 24-foot by 24-foot sandbox. Guests can watch the Sandscapes artists’ ongoing work as they build new pieces.
Some familiar faces make a heralded return to KidsFest this summer. VeggieTales LIVE! finds Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber matching wits with The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything. At Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse, the Penguin Players are back with three sing-along stage shows featuring music written by Dolly.
About Dollywood
Dollywood is a 130-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
