Dolly Parton never does anything halfway. From her Imagination Library (over 200 million books given to children since 1999) to her beloved Pigeon Forge theme park, Dollywood, the Queen of Tennessee invites everyone into her colorful world of music and imagination.
For Southerners looking for family friendly entertainment, Dolly has long endeared tourists with her iconic dinner theatre shows, which have operated since 1988, featuring special effects, musical productions, and a full Southern feast.
A crowd favorite is the swashbuckling Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, which has grown to be wildly successful in both Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And if your 2025 summer plans involve a trip down to Panama City Beach, Florida, you’re in luck.
“How exciting that we’re breaking ground for my Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Panama City Beach!” Dolly’s announcement proclaimed on the show’s website. “When we open this spring, there will be pirates, mermaids, exciting acrobatics, pyrotechnics, and even a few songs that I wrote—it’s a show everyone in the family is going to love. Everyone knows I dream big, so we are definitely going ‘overboard’ with the details as we get started!”
The new Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show on the Emerald Coast is coming in late May, and, as Dolly alluded, features an original song from the leading lady of country. But that’s not all. The show will happen in a 60,000 square foot arena with Crimson and Sapphire pirates battling on deck, in the water, and in the sky above full-sized pirate ships. That’s right: The stage has two 28-foot pirate galleons and one 30-foot sunken wreck, bringing the magic right to the audience.
The indoor water stage holds 600,000 gallons, and includes a 15-foot-deep lagoon. With over two dozen aerialists, divers, dancers, and singers, this engaging dinner show is an immersive event fit for all ages. And then there’s a four-course pirate feast to look forward to, which includes special themed dishes: Buccaneer Biscuit, Voyager Creamy Vegetable Soup, Half O’ Roasted Chicken, Me Hearties Pulled Pork, Matey’s Mashed Potatoes, Cob O’Buttery Corn, and an Apple O’Me Eye Apple Turnover.
If you show up early, you can experience the Pirates Voyage Animal Encounter—an exclusive 30-minute educational meet-and-greet with the animal ambassadors featured in the show. Or, bring the whole family as recruits for Blackbeard, with makeover transformations into pirates or mermaids. Of course, there is also grog (specialty drinks) and treasure (tasty pirate-themed treats) to be found!
Panama City Beach seems like a natural fit for the next iteration of Dolly’s show, as there are real shipwrecks off the coast (though maybe not quite so many aerial-trained pirates), earning the city the title of “wreck diving capital of the South.” Plan your visit and learn more about the show at the Pirates Voyage website.
Mateys, ‘tis time to plan a trip to the Sunshine State!
