Shades of the Past 2022

shades of the past pigeon forge

The 2022 Shades of the Past car show in Pigeon Forge, TN is one of the largest annual car shows in Pigeon Forge that takes place each year around Labor Day. To help you prepare for this incredible Pigeon Forge car show, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to provide details on the location, lodging, registration, spectating, parking, and more so you’ll know exactly what to expect before you arrive!

Shades of the Past 2022 Dates

The 2022 Shades of the Past car show will be held September 9-10, 2022 at Dollywood’s Splash Country, which has proven to be an excellent venue for this extremely popular Pigeon Forge car show!

Vehicles at Shades of the Past Pigeon Forge Car Show

The Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup consists of rods, classics, and customs up to 1972 so you can expect to see all sorts of Deuce Coupes, ’57 Chevys, roadsters, and more. Many of the vehicles are original, preserved, classics while others are modified into modern works of art. If you love classic vehicles of any make and model then this is definitely one of the best car shows in the country to attend as it has been taking place annually since 1983!

Location of the 2022 Shades of the Past Car Show


As mentioned above, the location of the actual car show is at Dollywood’s Splash Country. The water park closes for the season the day after Labor Day, which means the entire parking lot and water park plays host to Shades of the Past! With Splash Country being located off the parkway, this helps cut down on traffic concerns that many have voiced over the years after prior Shades of the Past events. It’s arguably the best location of any Pigeon Forge car show. To locate Splash Country via a GPS, please use 1198 McCarter Hollow Road, Pigeon Forge, TN 37862. Located to the right is Google’s map as well to give a general idea of the location.

Official Hotel of Shades of the Past Pigeon Forge

The official host hotel for the Shades of the Past rod run is Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. This beautiful hotel is located next to Splash Country. This hotel completely avoids the parkway in Pigeon Forge and is absolutely the least congested way to get to and from the car show site!

Special Dollywood Cabin Discount for Shades of the Past Participants

Dollywood has offered a discount to Shades of the Past car show participants in the past. Call 1-866-857-2123 and tell them you are a participant in the Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup to check availability and make reservations. This is one of the best discounts offered by Dollywood’s cabin rentals all year long and we definitely recommend taking them up on this offer!

Shades of the Past Registration Form

If you would like to register your vehicle to participate in the 2022 Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup in Pigeon Forge, TN you’ll need to wait until their official registration opens. You can check the Shades of the Past website at http://www.shadesofthepast.com/ or check back here and we’ll post the link to the registration form as soon as they make it available.

Shades of the Past Car Show Map

shades of the past car show mapClick on the map to the right to see the full layout of a previous year’s Shades of the Past Car Show in Pigeon Forge, TN. If the map changes at all for the 2022 car show, we’ll update it here. The map shows the locations for parking, vendors, main show site, portalets, judging area, registration, entertainment, and more at Dollywood’s Splash Country in Pigeon Forge. Also shown on the map are the additional parking areas that are located off of Dollywood’s property but still within Walking Distance.

Spectator Information

If you just plan to attend Shades of the Past Pigeon Forge Tennessee as a spectator, the cost is typically $15 per day per person while kids 12 and under are free. There are normally three options for parking to visit the Shades of the Past Car Show at Splash Country as shown below. If any of this info changes for 2022, we’ll be sure to update it here:

  1. On Teaster Lane, just down the road from the Inn at Christmas Place, is the City of Pigeon Forge Municipal Parking Lot with over 3,000 free parking places for spectators. City trolleys run to and from the show entrance for usually $1 per person/each way.
  2. On Veterans Blvd near the Dollywood entrance, a “limited amount” of spectator parking is available in the grassy field across from the DreamMore hotel with shuttle service to our spectator gate #1.
  3. The primary parking location for spectators will be at the Dollywood Theme Park, Lots E and F for a basic fee of $20 per car. Larger vehicles (like motor homes) will be charged extra. Dollywood Shuttle service will be provided from the Dollywood parking areas to and from our spectator gate #2.

Along with the official show site at Splash Country, you will see numerous hot rods and classic cars cruising and parked all up and down the Pigeon Forge parkway. Many people spend the majority of their time roaming the parkway throughout the week and weekend. Just about everywhere you look in Pigeon Forge, you’ll find some incredible rides throughout the Shades of the Past week.

Video of a previous Shades of the Past in Pigeon Forge

This video was created by a spectator during a previous Shades of the Past rod run to give you an idea of what types of cars and crowds can be seen.

Shades of the Past is Fun for the Whole Family

Shades of the Past is historically one of the best car shows for people of all ages. There are no alcoholic beverages allowed at the event and the music played is clean, good-ole, oldies. While classic cars bring back memories for many people, it provides the perfect place to share those memories with the younger generations!

Official Shades of the Past Car Show Info

We’ve included just about everything there is to know about Shades of the Past Pigeon Forge car show, but for the latest updates and official contact information, visit the official Shades of the Past website at: http://www.shadesofthepast.com/

Final Thoughts

As we mentioned, Shades of the Past is one of the major car shows in Pigeon Forge that takes place each year. To see a full list of other car shows in 2022, be sure to check out our complete schedule of Pigeon Forge car shows.