Disclosure: I received complimentary passes for this review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Yes, you read that correctly. Ostrich races. I should stop there and just let you wonder.

Ah, but I won’t. You deserve to know about this. While we were in Pigeon Forge for the  #PFTitanicFAM trip, we had the chance to attend a Dixie Stampede show. I’ve heard of this place for ages but have never visited. It was a great way to spend the evening and my son hasn’t stopped asking when we can go back. Do you like music? Dancing? Stunts? Food? Crazy stuff? If you answered yes to any of those, then you’ve got to make plans to attend Dixie Stampede.

We arrived in time for the preshow music which is played starting about 45 minutes before the actual dinner. I hadn’t done any research so I didn’t know what to expect about this show. The music was entertaining, especially when they launched toilet paper all over the main singer. The songs were fun and varied, from “YMCA” to “I’ll Fly Away.” When it was time for the show, we were all herded into the main arena. The next time we go, we will probably just arrive in time for the show instead of going to the preshow. That extra 45 minutes was a bit much for my 4 year old son. Since our tickets told us where to sit, there wasn’t a need to get there very early. On future trips, we’ll proceed to the top level so that we can get into the arena more easily.  If you do arrive early, take the time to snap some pictures outside the venue.  It’s so pretty!

Once we were seated, we gave our drink orders and took a few minutes to check out our surroundings. All the guests sat side by side, facing the center of the stage. The first course was served in no time. It was a delicious-looking creamy vegetable soup. The problem was, I couldn’t find the silverware. I was seated next to this cute little 20-something couple who must have been there before. I whispered to the girl that they didn’t give me a spoon. She smiled at me and informed me that there would be no silverware. Everything is eaten with hands. What?! With wide eyes I related that information to my sister. We watched as the other guests picked up their bowls and drank the soup. We shrugged and told the kids to do it, too. The next few courses were served in succession. Imagine eating a rotisserie chicken with your hands….it’s quite messy, somewhat barbaric, and incredibly delicious. At this point I must tell you that the no-silverware-thing is probably the only way we would have gotten my niece to eat. She’s very selective about what she allows in her mouth. She absolutely loved the food at Dixie Stampede! Some people might wish for a kids’ menu, but I have to say that it was nice to have the simplicity of the standard meal. If this concerns you, you might want to tuck a snack (or a spork) in your purse for your kids. The food was really good, much better than I expected from a dinner show. My favorite was the buttered corn and the apple pie. Yum!

The show was really spectacular, too.  Unfortunately cameras weren’t allowed so I couldn’t take pictures during the show.  I’m not sure I would have wanted to stop watching long enough to take a picture anyway!  The main theme was really the history of the United States. The story kind of jumped around, from the Native Americans to the Civil War, but the message was really good. My sister mentioned that she didn’t really like the stereotypical way the Native Americans were depicted. They were chasing real buffalo across the prairie. On the other hand, that was my favorite part. The reason I mention that is to demonstrate how the variety in the show can really appeal to people of all interests. There were some really humorous moments in the show, too. There was a comic relief character, Skeeter, who made my kids laugh until their sides ached. We loved watching the horse stunts (a girl jumped through a fiery hoop while standing on TWO horses!) and the competition between the North and the South. And yes, there was an ostric race. I have never before seen people actually ride ostriches and it was a sight I won’t forget. At the end of the show, Dolly Parton was shown via a projector while she sang a patriotic song. This part was a bit strange because her image was distorted by being shown on the front of a Civil War era house facade. It would have been less distracting if she had been on a flat, white screen. The song was beautiful and helped to tie the message together. It was a good reminder that we really are the United States and we must work together to make peace.

The entire show lasted about two hours, which was a bit long for my son but perfect for the rest of us. At the end of the meal, we left a tip to thank our server for an excellent experience. I’m extremely grateful that we were able to visit Dixie Stampede. I hope to visit again soon.