Christmas at Dollywood

The film begins in New York City, where Rachel Davis is a lead planner for Gail Lane Events. After a high-profile party is canceled, Rachel's friend Max, who works for Dollywood, recruits her to return to her hometown of Pigeon Forge to plan the park's 30th-anniversary celebration. Rachel brings her young daughter, Ava, hoping to give her a traditional Tennessee Christmas. Upon arriving at the park, Rachel is caught 'surveying' the VIP area by Luke Hakman, the Director of Park Operations. Luke initially suspects she is a corporate spy before realizing she is his new co-planner. The two are forced into a partnership by the board, though they have conflicting styles: Rachel is 'detail-oriented' and creative, while Luke is corporate and focused on execution. Luke is also secretly interviewing for the General Manager position, feeling pressure to succeed as the first in his family to reach the executive level. As they work together, Rachel pushes for a 'production' rather than a simple party, suggesting a variety show on Show Street and a parade leading to a grand finale at Glacier Ridge. Luke initially resists her 'outside the box' ideas but begins to soften as he spends time with Rachel's family, participating in traditions like baking yule logs and visiting 'Peppermint Lane.' Luke encourages Rachel to return to her true passion—writing children's books—which she had abandoned after her husband's death. Meanwhile, a technical glitch threatens the centerpiece of the event: a massive LED Christmas tree. The tension peaks when Luke sees an outside candidate, Vince, interviewing for the GM role, leading him to believe he has been passed over. Simultaneously, Rachel's boss in NYC offers her a partnership, forcing her to choose between her career in the city and her growing connection to her home. On the night of the event, Dolly Parton arrives to host the celebration. Despite a last-minute scare where the LED tree fails to light, the team fixes the software glitch just in time for a spectacular finale. In the aftermath, Dolly acts as a mentor to both leads. She reveals to Rachel that Luke actually won the GM job (Vince was hired as his assistant) and informs Luke that Rachel is the one he should be with. In a final romantic confrontation at Glacier Ridge, Luke reveals he turned down a rival job offer in Atlanta to stay at Dollywood, and Rachel announces she is moving back to Tennessee to start her own business. The film concludes with a 'Dolly-ex-machina' moment: Dolly's Imagination Library selects Rachel's book for global distribution, fulfilling her lifelong dream.