No visit to Pigeon Forge is complete with dinner and a show. On Friday night we headed to the Dixie Stampede to take in a four course meal and a show filled with stunts and live animals. Traffic was so heavy I was afraid we wouldn’t make it, but we finally arrived and took a few minutes to visit the horses that perform in the show before entering the building. Once inside we settled down at a table in the Dixie Belle Saloon to enjoy the pre-dinner show featuring Mountain Rukus, a bluegrass band that can convert any type of museum into Bluegrass. You haven’t lived until you have heard the bluegrass version of “YMCA.” Popcorn and drinks are available to purchase during the show, but we knew we would soon be munching on a huge four course dinner.
The kids had gotten a little antsy by the time we were ready to enter the theater and they weren’t the only ones! There were 1100 people waiting to see the show. It was slow going to get to our seats. Immediately after we found our seats our server, Greg, appeared. He filled our drinks quickly and told us dinner would be served shortly. What a feast it is! The dinner began with creamy vegetable soup and a flaky biscuit, followed by an entire rotisserie chicken, a piece of smoked barbeque pork loin, an ear of corn, a herb basted potato and Dixie’s very own specialty dessert; an apple turnover. I had never been able to eat all of my food whenever we attended the Stampede and was pleased to see they offered doggie bags for leftovers now. I had a huge amount left over and took it back to the hotel where the kids ate it for breakfast the next morning. One hint: Children under three are free if they sit in a parent’s lap and eat from their plate. When my kids were younger I always did this because there was easily enough food for two.
Dixie Stampede is one of those shows that have kept my kids entertained since they were toddlers. Between the feats performed on horseback, which change periodically, to the song and dance numbers to the classic elements they have kept in each show, there is the perfect balance of comedy and entertainment. My kids tell me their favorite act—even after all these years—is the pig racing, but they also enjoy the appearance of the other live animals; buffalo, chickens and ostriches. Audience participation is encouraged to in a friendly “North vs. South” competition. During this visit we sat on the “North” side and cheered for our team and the audience members chosen to participate in some of the activities. The evening ended with Dolly Parton singing a song written especially for the show.
The Dixie Stampede performs regular shows during the months of January through August, but will be gearing up for their Christmas spectacular beginning in November.
It looks like such a fun time. I will have to add it to my wishlist.
My kids would love this dinner show. I’m glad you had a great time.
This is such a wonderful place to visit. Lots of family fun; we had one in Orlando and I wish they wouldn’t have closed it.. always was great… glad you guys had a good time….
Dixie Stampede is the coolest. Dinner and a show! I think it is awesome.
Oh I would have loved that! It sounds like such a fun time and I have actually never seen a pig race 🙂
The Dixie Stampede dinner show definitely looks like a great, family friendly thing to do! I will have to remember it if we get a chance to go to Pigeon Forge soon!
I love shows where you can eat a meal and watch the show at the same time. These are some great ideas for getting a night out with the family and spending some quality time together.
This sounds like a blast, too! You are making me travel list grow quite a bit! 😉
Looks like you all had a great time and the pig race sounds so entertaining..
How fun! This sounds like an awesome time. I love dinner shows and this one sounds particularly entertaining. I’d love to see the pig racing, that must be so cute!
It does look like this is a great place to visit for a family or for a date even.
My son would love all of the food and music. We need to check this out!
WOW 1100 people waiting to see the show, it must be GOOD. I’m sure the Bluegrass version of YMCA was a sight to see. 🙂
I would love to go to something like this it looks amazing,pig racing sound like a good laugh :-).
What a great way to bond with the family! Sounds fun!
What a fun time! This is a place I’d love to visit!
I’ve never been to one and would I’m sure the boys would enjoy it. Kids under 3 eat for free sounds great too. I’m always trying to save some money. 🙂
How fun that there are even buffalo included! I think I would like this show. 🙂
Saw this show last time I was in Pigeon Forge and it is so delightful! Really a great family outing, for sure!
Looks like a fantastic time! I wish they had something like that around here 🙂
Sounds like you guys had fun as family on that show. Kids always love checking out animals. That pig race sounds entertaining to watch.
I went to the one in Orlando and it was so much fun.
Aww, I worked at the Dixie Stampede in Branson for 4 years! I pretty much lived off of the soup and biscuits! (SO GOOD!)
While I never went myself, I know that when I lived in Myrtle Beach, people were always talking about going to the Dixie Stampeded there and raving about how fun it was. It was recently changed into some sort of pirate-themed park, so I wish I would have gone when I still had the chance. It looks like you had a wonderful time!
I would LOVE to go to something like this. We have all sorts of dinner theater things up here in Boston, but nothing like this.
Seems like a very enjoyable show. I have never been to that part of Tennessee yet. Looks like a lot of fun!
Sounds like a fantastic time. I would love to visit some day!
This sounds like a fun family activity! The upcoming Christmas spectacular sounds like fun too.
This seems like it was a fun family day out! I enjoy viewing animal shows and I know my family would have enjoyed also the Dixie Stampede.