Celebrating A Birthday At Dollywood?

10 GREAT BIRTHDAY IDEAS

Going to be at Dollywood for someone's birthday? Celebrate throughout the day with these fun ways to keep the birthday fun going!

These ideas are sponsored by the Great Dollywood Adventure Challenge - Watch the video below for details!

At one point, buy a helium balloon at Dollywood. Each person there uses a Sharpie marker (that you brought with you) to write down something positive they'd like to wish for the birthday boy/girl for that coming year (or later in life.) Once everyone has had a chance to write them all down on the balloon, allow either each person to share what they wrote or allow the birthday boy/girl to read them all. Finally, let the birthday boy/girl RELEASE the helium balloon in the air and watch their dreams sail up and up - where the birthday boy/girl will 'catch up with them later'!

Plan a fun scavenger hunt throughout the day at Dollywood. There are all different types of scavenger hunts to go on, each with a different format. Although for some parties having different teams compete with each other can be a lot of fun, for someone's birthday when there is one person to honor, it's typically best to have everyone on the same team - everyone gets to help the birthday boy/girl be successful…when one person wins, they all win! These can be a lot of fun to create, but can take some extra work to make creative (sometimes you'll need more than just a list to excite some teens, for example.) Consider our GREAT ADVENTURE CHALLENGE AT Dollywood - a package for them to open once there filled with all kinds of puzzles and things to do! CLICK HERE to learn more!

This activity is typically best with family (or friends they've known for a very, very long time) and although it might take some coordinating, it can have a great impact on the birthday boy/girl. Divide up the years among everyone going to Dollywood with the birthday boy/girl. For example, if he/she is turning 14, then divide up the years 1-14 among everyone. The goal is to have a unique story to share about each year in his/her life that can be shared with everyone throughout the day. For those that are older, it's ok to skip every few years for the sake of capturing their whole life span. Make sure the stories are told in order. This also works especially well when you focus on their achievements throughout his/her life!

Make up shirts for all those going to Dollywood with the birthday boy/girl that say something fun like "It's Tim's Birthday today!" or "Point and smile at Tim - he's 18 today!"

Sing Happy Birthday in EVERY line that you wait in. You'll be surprised how often other folks don't mind joining in the song…especially in those longer lines when there's not a lot else for folks to do.

Have the birthday boy/girl wear a funny hat/shirt/outfit so that as they walk around Dollywood everyone will know it's their birthday. In this way, other visitors at Dollywood will be able to with them a happy birthday!

Wrap a single gift many times, preferably with different colors/types of wrapping paper and containers (though not necessary.) Give the birthday boy/girl the gift at the beginning of the day and tell them that they can unwrap ONE layer in each line that they wait in. Don't tell them how many layers there are - let them wonder if each layer will be their last! If you don't plan on going on many rides/attractions, you can also have them unwrap one layer every hour.

Bring a bunch of small cake candles with you to Dollywood and stick them in EVERY bit of food that the birthday boy/girl eats for the day - to blow out the candles each time. It will get to be a lot of fun as they blow out the candles on their birthday hot dog, birthday churro and birthday soda!

If you'd like to give them a gift for them to open AT Dollywood, consider putting it in a locker first and then wrapping up the key to the locker in a little gift bag. This way you won't have to carry around the gift all day and it's always fun and mysterious to get a 'secret key' as a gift! This also works especially well if you're planning a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt inside Dollywood.

Although this can get a little pricey, it can be a lot of fun. Set out at the beginning of the day to collect a certain number of items at Dollywood. For example, if the birthday boy/girl is turning 14, then have them collect 14 buttons throughout the park. They could also collect different pressed pennies, pieces of candy (the wrappers), signatures from workers, etc.