09/21/2026
So… what exactly is Downtown Dolly Days?
I think the simplest answer is this:
For a couple of days, we’re all going to try to be a little more like Dolly.
Maybe that means giving yourself an excuse to wear the rhinestones, pink dress, boots or big hair on an otherwise perfectly ordinary day.
Maybe it means doing something good for your community.
Maybe it’s buying someone a coffee, leaving an extra-generous tip, donating a book, checking on a neighbor, or finding the courage to tell a stranger you love their outfit instead of just thinking it as you walk by.
There really isn’t a wrong way to do Dolly Days.
Because underneath all the hair, sparkle and wonderfully over-the-top outfits, the things people seem to love most about Dolly Parton are her kindness, generosity, humor, confidence, acceptance and the way she makes room for everybody.
And I think we could all use a couple of days where we surround ourselves with a little more of that.
Honestly, I already see so much of it in Burlington. We have a really great community.
But sometimes it’s easy to get stuck seeing the online version of our community, the one where grievances get aired, people complain, and everybody occasionally says things to each other that they probably wouldn’t say face-to-face.
For Dolly Days, I’d like to turn the volume up on the *other* Burlington.
The one where people help each other.
Where businesses cheer for other businesses.
Where somebody sees a need and quietly fills it.
Where we support local organizations.
Where we compliment strangers.
Where we do something kind simply because we can.
And yes, preferably while wearing entirely too much pink. 😂
🦋 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
We’ll kick things off with Random Acts of Dolly. Around downtown, you’ll find butterflies with little prompts encouraging you to do something good. Pick one that speaks to you and send a little kindness out into Burlington.
That evening, The Capitol Theater will be showing Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 which is, of course, the reason we chose 9/25 for this celebration.
And United Way of Southeast Iowa will be hosting an event at Corked 101 benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
💗 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
On Saturday, businesses around downtown are putting their own spin on Dolly Days:
🦋 Art Center of Burlington will host Paint It Forward for Logan & Biscuit, a pet painting fundraiser from 10 AM–12 PM. Pre-registration is required. They’ll also have a FREE butterfly make-and-take for all ages.
☕ The Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery will feature a Cup of Ambition Dolly drink, with proceeds benefiting the Burlington Public Library.
🍨 Burlington Black Water Mini Golf & Mississippi Moon Ice Cream Parlor will be serving a special Dolly Sundae.
📚 Burlington By The Book will have a display of Dolly books and will be passing out Dolly stickers.
📖 Burlington Vintage & Co. will have Little Free Library refill boxes available for anyone who knows a local library that needs more books. We’ll also be giving free gently used children’s books to kids.
✨ Gypsi on Jefferson is joining in too, details coming soon!
🔮 Natural Inspirations is participating as well, details coming soon!
💗 Port of Burlington Welcome Center will be joining the pink-out with pink bags and a Dolly giveaway.
🧶 Stitch ’n Smile will be offering Dolly’s “Life Is Like a Butterfly” bookmarks, with profits benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
And that’s really the heart of it.
You don’t have to buy anything to participate.
You don’t have to dress up.
You don’t even have to know a Dolly Parton song.
Wear pink if you want to.
Fluff your hair if the spirit moves you.
Support somebody local.
Give somebody a compliment.
Donate something.
Help somebody.
Do something good when nobody’s keeping score.
For two days, let’s make Burlington a little kinder, a little brighter and a whole lot more Dolly.
Check the event for full details, link is in the comment section. The event will likely be growing over the next week so check the discussion tab for full updates.
