Dolly Day Colorado! A Statewide Celebration of Dolly Parton and Her Imagination Library Legacy September 25–27
Imagination Library of Colorado, the Office of Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood invite Coloradans to celebrate Dolly’s music, heart, storytelling and extraordinary legacy of putting books into the hands of children.
DENVER (September 15, 2026)— Grab your best wig, your rhinestones and your biggest heart: Colorado is throwing Dolly Parton a party, and true to her spirit, everyone’s invited.
Imagination Library of Colorado is bringing communities together September 25–27 for Dolly Day Colorado!, a two-part statewide celebration honoring Dolly’s music, storytelling, generosity and the extraordinary literacy legacy she created - Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This national program provides children from birth to age five free, high-quality, age-appropriate books mailed directly to their home each month.
September 25, a date Dolly fans nationwide have crowned “Dolly Day” in honor of “9 to 5,” will kick off a weekend filled with opportunities for Coloradans to celebrate Dolly. The celebration kicks off with a free, family-friendly gathering at Governor’s Park in Denver on Friday, September 25, from 3 to 7 p.m., hosted in partnership with the Office of Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
Across the state, Imagination Library affiliates have collaborated with local partners to plan Dolly Day Colorado! celebrations in their communities from September 25–27. An interactive statewide map will allow Coloradans to find celebrations happening near them and see how communities across Colorado are honoring Dolly and her Imagination Library legacy.
Affiliate-led events across Colorado will include storytimes, fundraisers, Dolly-themed mocktails, live music, children’s activities, Dolly look-alike contests and other community celebrations.
The celebration comes just a month after Parton’s passing on August 25 at age 80, offering Coloradans a chance to gather, sing along and honor her exactly the way she’d want: with joy, generosity and each other. Colorado joins communities across the country, from New Orleans to Manhattan to Parton’s native East Tennessee, in Dolly Day festivities, with many directing their tributes toward the cause closest to her heart: childhood literacy.
“Dolly Parton’s belief that every child deserves the opportunity to fall in love with reading has created a lasting legacy for children and families around the world. Through Imagination Library of Colorado, more children across our state are growing up with books of their own and the joy, connection, and possibilities that come with them,” said Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. “Dolly Day Colorado is an opportunity to celebrate that legacy and the simple but powerful idea that putting a book in a child’s hands can help open the door to a lifetime of learning.”
Colorado Loves Dolly! at Governor’s Park
As Coloradans continue to share their love for Dolly, Imagination Library of Colorado has partnered with the Governor’s Office and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood to host a gathering that embodies so much of what Dolly gave the world: love, joy, music and, perhaps her greatest gift, storytelling.
Dolly had a tireless flair for sharing stories throughout her life and passed that love of storytelling on to generations of children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has mailed more than 300 million books to children around the world.
At the heart of the Denver celebration will be an Imagination Library Station, featuring storytime, Dolly-inspired art activities and opportunities for families to learn more about Dolly’s literacy legacy and enroll eligible Colorado children in the Imagination Library. The event will also include a playground, games, family-friendly live entertainment, bubbles and opportunities for children to express their love for Dolly through songs, letters, pictures and the creation of a butterfly fairyland.
Colorado Loves Dolly! is designed to reflect who we know Dolly to be: fun, sparkly, generous, full of laughter and always ready with a good story. Come as you are, take a moment to honor all that Dolly has given us, meet new friends, share stories and sing along to live entertainment. This family-friendly gathering welcomes everyone who wants to share in the celebration and help carry Dolly’s legacy forward.
Costumes and festive attire are strongly encouraged. Think rhinestones, western wear and big hair, with prizes for some of the best looks of the night—including a special prize for the 925th Dolly look-alike to enter the event.
“There is no better way to celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton than coming together over good music and kids learning with your sparkling rhinestones, cowboy boots and hats, big hair, and children's books. Getting books at a young age is important for a child's development and future learning. Thanks to Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library, Colorado children have received over 3.4 million books, inspiring our next generation to grab a book, go on an adventure, and explore all that the amazing world of literature has to offer. Thank you Dolly!” said Governor Jared Polis.
Imagination Library Affiliates Celebrate Dolly Across Colorado | September 25–27
Throughout the weekend of September 25–27, Imagination Library affiliates across Colorado are working with local partners to bring Colorado Loves Dolly! celebrations to communities throughout the state.
Restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, libraries, schools, arts organizations and businesses large and small are partnering with local Imagination Library programs to celebrate Dolly in ways that reflect their own communities. Events will include storytimes, fundraisers, specialty drinks, live music, children’s activities, Dolly look-alike contests and more.
An interactive Colorado Loves Dolly! map will showcase celebrations across the state, making it easy for Coloradans to find an event in their community and join in the weekend honoring Dolly.
From a storytime at a local library or bookstore to a Dolly-inspired drink at a neighborhood coffee shop or restaurant, these affiliate-led celebrations share a common purpose: bringing communities together in the spirit Dolly brought to the world—joy, kindness, creativity, storytelling and a whole lot of fun.
Dolly’s legacy lives in her music, movies and stories, but it also arrives in mailboxes across Colorado every month. Through Imagination Library of Colorado and its local affiliates, more than 93,000 Colorado children currently receive a free book each month, helping families build home libraries and helping children develop a love of reading long before they enter kindergarten.
“Dolly Parton accomplished more in one lifetime than most of us could imagine—as an artist, songwriter, entertainer, businesswoman and humanitarian. But I believe the Imagination Library may ultimately stand as her greatest achievement,” said Jack Tate, CEO of Imagination Library of Colorado. “There are children learning to love books today because of an idea Dolly had more than 30 years ago. There will be children who have not even been born yet whose first books will arrive in their mailbox because of her. That is an extraordinary legacy.”
Denver Event Details
What: Colorado Loves Dolly! — A Statewide Celebration of Dolly Parton and Her Imagination Library Legacy
When: Friday, September 25, 2026, 3–7 p.m.
Where: Governor’s Park, 701 Pennsylvania Street in Denver
Cost: Free and open to the public
Dress: Come as you are. Costumes and festive attire are encouraged, with prizes for some of the best looks and the 925th Dolly look-alike to enter the event.
Additional Colorado Loves Dolly! celebrations will take place in communities throughout the state September 25–27. A statewide interactive map with participating events and locations will be available at https://celebrate.colorado.gov/dolly-days.
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About Imagination Library of Colorado
Imagination Library of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and statewide partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Working with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and local nonprofit partners throughout Colorado, the organization provides children from birth to age five with a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month. Today, more than 93,000 Colorado children receive an Imagination Library book each month.
The program’s mission is to foster a lifelong love of reading, prepare children for school and ensure equitable access to books for Colorado children.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to benefit children in her home county in East Tennessee. The program subsequently expanded across the United States and internationally and today serves children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. Children enrolled in the program receive a free, age-appropriate book each month from birth through age five, regardless of family income.
For more information, visit imaginationlibrarycolorado.org. Engage with Imagination Library of Colorado on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
For media questions, contact Jack Tate, CEO, Imagination Library of Colorado, at Jack@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org.
For information about Colorado Loves Dolly! events planned throughout the state September 25–27, email DollyDays@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org.
To volunteer, enroll a child ages 0–5, make a contribution or learn more about the program, email books@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org.
Media Contact:
Chea Franz
720.220.4241
chea@indiecreativeco.com