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Is “Dolly Parton Day” Coming Our Way on 9/25? Here’s What’s Happening This Year and (Hopefully!) Beyond

People never agree on anything these days, but they sure seem to agree on Dolly Parton, who died last week at the age of 80. And why wouldn’t they? She spent her life bringing music, joy and kindness to a world that doesn’t always give back in return.

Tributes are coming in from all over the world, from King Charles, who had the royal guard play “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace, to the University of Tennessee football team, who will celebrate Dolly on their helmets during the 2026 season. Plans are even underway to rename the Nashville airport in her honor.

And now, there’s news that we might be getting a Dolly Parton Day on Sept. 25. That day will mark the one-month anniversary of the icon’s death, and we can’t think of a more appropriate day to celebrate. If you’re scratching your head at the significance, keep reading as we explore why this might actually happen.

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How does a day become a designated holiday?

It depends on the holiday.

For something like Christmas or the 4th of July, it takes congressional action, and we have only 12 of these federal celebrations. (Juneteenth was the last one added to the calendar, in 2021.) There are also patriotic and national observances, like Flag Day and Arbor Day, which require Congressional approval as well. The country currently has 49 of these, which unfortunately do not come with a day off work.

Then there are the fun ones, like May the 4th (be with you), which honors Star Wars, and Dec. 23’s Festivus, a cheeky protest alternative to Christmas. These just kind of spread by word of mouth. Social media and the mainstream press get a lot of mileage out of these unofficial “holidays,” and they honor everything from pizza to pi (aka 3.14, which is also the date it’s observed).

For now, a day dedicated to Dolly mostly falls into the third category, though at least one state is jumping on the official train as we speak. California just officially declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day, and cities and towns across the country are celebrating in their own ways (more on these coming up). A federal holiday might be too much to ask for with this Congress, but cross your fingers, Dolly fans!

Why would 9/25 be the perfect day for this?

It’s truly an inspired choice, and all you have to do is say the date as numbers to know why: 9-2-5. Get it? Dolly’s anthem to working people everywhere, “9 to 5” gets our toes tapping just as much now as it did when it was released on Nov. 3, 1980, ahead of the movie of the same name starring Dolly, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

The song won two Grammys (Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. It lost to another movie-title song, Irene Cara’s “Fame,” which is also pretty great. But let’s be real—how many people are watching that flick on repeat these days?

What is happening this year on 9/25 in honor of Dolly?

Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood are spearheading this one. They just announced that they will donate the entire day’s proceeds from their Nashville bar, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk, to children’s literacy. As you probably know, Dolly’s Imagination Station sends millions of books to children around the world in honor of her father, who never had the chance to learn to read.

Here are other official Dolly Day declarations and tributes happening this Sept. 25, but rest assured, it’s not an exhaustive list. The idea to set aside a special day for Dolly seems to be gaining steam, so check back soon.

  • New Orleans: Mayor Helena Moreno declared 9/25 Dolly Day, and the city will host a parade in true NOLA fashion. The Krewe of Dolly, known for sporting Dolly wigs and fashion, will be the headliner. (Krewes are social clubs that build floats and otherwise participate in Mardi Gras.)
  • Lexington, Kentucky: The city will host a free event on 9/25, and donations will go to the Imagination Library. “Come dressed in your best Dolly-inspired sparkle and let’s celebrate her the way she lived—with love, laughter, music and a whole lot of heart,” the invite says.
  • Cocke County, Tennessee: In his last official act as mayor, Rob Mathis declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day in the county. State lawmakers are considering similar actions.
  • Manhattan, New York: Borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal declared Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Appreciation Day.

Bar crawls, library events and other less official celebrations are also planned, so check around in your hometown—or organize your own!

  • Chattanooga, Tennessee: Plant Bar Chattanooga will host a Dolly Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, where fans can color Dolly-inspired pages and purchase butterflies for $1 to place at an altar in her honor. All proceeds benefit the Imagination Library.
  • Loveland, Colorado: Fans from all over northern Colorado will gather in downtown Loveland for the Dolly Parton Bar Crawl on 9/25. It starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m., naturally.
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana: The public library will host an event on 9/25 featuring a screening of 9 to 5 as well as a costume contest and a chance to enroll in or support Dolly’s Imagination Library.

Has Dollywood announced any plans yet?

Not specifically for 9/25, though the theme park will be hosting a Harvest Festival and a 5K race that were already in the works. In keeping with Dolly’s business-minded approach to life, Dollywood also remained open after her death, saying “the show must go on.”

Dollywood president Eugene Naughton recently announced plans to honor the theme park’s “dreamer-in-chief” with updates around the park, including a sculpted guitar and waterfall, as well as a planned 11-stop walking tour, “In Dolly’s Footsteps,” around Sevierville, Tennessee.

While not a Dollywood event, Dolly Parton’s estate announced that Dollyfest, a worldwide celebration that was originally planned as an 80th birthday party for the artist, will take place simultaneously in Nashville and London sometime in 2027. Organizers say that Dolly wanted this to be a celebration of life, not a traditional memorial, so mark your calendars for a party.

What are some ways you can celebrate Dolly’s life and legacy?

Dolly’s family says the most important thing you can do to honor Dolly is to continue her mission of literacy. “It’s been quite a journey, but we have so much more left to do,” she says on her website. “Let’s share this dream that all children should grow up in a home full of books.”

Here are ways you can help with that goal and others near to her heart:

  • Literacy and education: Donate to the Imagination Library, the Dollywood Foundation (which gives scholarships to older students) or your local libraries and schools. Just one of her scholarship efforts reduced dropout rates in Sevier County, Tennessee, from 35% to 6%.
  • Medical research: Dolly famously donated $1 million to vaccine research during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she also proudly received her vaccine in public (singing “vaccine, vaccine” to the tune of “Jolene”) to spread the word on the importance of getting vaccinated.
  • Disaster relief: When her home state and county suffered devastating wildfires in 2016, Dolly gave $1,000 per month to affected families, which ended up pumping $12.7 million into the county’s economy.
  • Wildlife protection: Dollywood houses a 30,000-square-foot aviary that rehabilitates and houses bald eagles that can’t be released into the wild.

Sources:

  • Congress.gov: “Congressional Recognition of Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background and Current Practice”
  • NOLA.com: “New Orleans parade krewe moves Dolly Parton celebration of life to later this month”
  • Garth Brooks: “Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk Declares September 25 ‘Dolly Day’ to Support Imagination Library and Children’s Literacy”
  • New York Times: “Dolly Parton’s Other Legacy: A Fortune Given Away, Dollar by Dollar”
  • Fox 8 Live: “New Orleans to declare ‘Dolly Day’ with 9/25 celebration”
  • California Senate: “Senators Grove and Laird honor Dolly’s Literacy Legacy, Make 9/25 Dolly Parton Day in California”
  • Dolly Parton: “DOLLYFEST: The Celebration of A Lifetime Star-Studded Two-Day Festival Honoring Dolly Parton to Take Place in 2027”
  • Attractions Magazine: “Dollywood announces Dolly Parton tributes: New character, chapel area and exhibit”
  • Imagination Library: “Dollywood Foundation”

Dolly Parton Quotes to Make You Smile

See Dolly Parton's Last Instagram Post

This Is Dolly Parton’s Final Resting Place

The post Is “Dolly Parton Day” Coming Our Way on 9/25? Here’s What’s Happening This Year and (Hopefully!) Beyond appeared first on Reader's Digest.



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