The Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., just south of Knoxville, began its 16th season on with a parade of international proportions.

The "Festival of Nations" parade marked the opening of the theme park on Saturday, April 7. The parade featured performers from 15 countries bringing their music, dances, costumes and culture to Dollywood.

Each day, there will be a parade of nations through the park with the entertainers wearing their costumes.

Among the countries represented are Russia, Brazil, Ireland, Germany, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain.

The country music and film superstar herself will preside at the grand opening weekend parade along Pigeon Forge's main street at 6 p.m. Friday, April 6.

Beginning that weekend, the park is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends.

The Tennessee Tornado roller coaster is the world's first spiral-loop roller coaster. Experience a 128-foot drop through a mountain at 65 mph with 3.7 g's through three loops. Photo courtesy of Dollywood

General admission for ages 12 and older is $32 plus tax; for ages 4-11, $23 plus tax; for persons 60 and older, $28 plus tax, and for 3 and younger, free. Parking per vehicle is $4.

Call (865) 428-9488 for details or visit the Web site www.dollywood.com.

Dollywood ranks as one of the top 50 parks in the world in terms of annual attendance.

The park, under Parton's close supervision, always has stressed family entertainment in a clean and safe environment.

There are traditional, fair-type rides as well as many stages offering entertainment through the day. There also is a huge emphasis on areas that demonstrate the country crafts of the Great Smoky Mountains people.

Besides the usual entertainment, the Dollywood park offers many celebrity concerts throughout the season, usually priced at $19.

Experience a twisting, white-water river adventure aboard the Smoky Mountain Rampage. Photo courtesy of Dollywood

Scheduled concerts this year are: Sawyer Brown, May 26; Brad Paisley, June 2; Ricky Skaggs, June 9; Brenda Lee, June 16; Diamond Rio, June 23; Neal McCoy, June 30; Chely Wright, July 7; Tanya Tucker, July 14; Lorrie Morgan, July 21; Montgomery Gentry, July 28; Sammy Kershaw, Aug. 4; Toby Keith, Aug. 11; Aaron Tippin, Aug. 18, and John Berry, Suzy Bogguss and Billy Dean, all on Aug. 25.

In an effort to better serve its guests with disabilities, the park exceeds the amount of disability spaces required by law. Parking spaces for guests with disabilities are located next to Dollywood's front-gate area.

More about features for guests with disabilities also can be found through the Dollywood Web site link.

Also new this year is the separate "Dolly's Splash Country," a water park with a grand opening in mid-May.

It offers waterfalls, winding streams and white-water adventures for the whole family from a turbo twister speed slide to a lazy river float trip.

"Folks will have all kinds of fun splashing around in the water rides and attractions at the new park, and it's set in the beautiful countryside of the Smoky Mountains, so I think it's a perfect name," says Parton.

Dolly's Splash Country admission will be: Regular (12 and older), $23 plus tax; children 4-11, $18 plus tax; children 3 and younger, free; seniors 60 and older, $18 plus tax; groups of 15 or more (12 and older), $20 each plus tax, and groups of 15 or more (4-11), $13 each plus tax.