Starkville Strong and the Starkville Area Arts Council proudly present Dollyfest, a three-day fundraising celebration of all things Dolly Parton! Join us January 17-19 for a weekend filled with sparkle, fun, and Southern charm:

  • Friday, Jan 17: Kick off with a Dolly Impersonation Contest—big hair, bigger personality, and even bigger fun! (CANCELED)
  • ​Saturday, Jan. 18: Unleash your creativity at a Dolly-inspired Paint Party.
  • Sunday, Jan. 19: Wrap it all up with a Dolly-themed Brunch & Bingo—sweet tunes and even sweeter prizes.

Tickets are available for individual events, or grab a Weekend Pass for the full Dollyfest experience! Don’t miss this celebration of music, art, and community.

Get your tickets now and let’s toast to Dolly in true Starkville style!

Want to Shine Like the Queen? Sign up to be in the Impersonation Contest!
(Due to lack of interest, this contest has been CANCELED)

This Contest is part look-a-like, part performance. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2025, at midnight! Application fee is $10. Proceeds raised from applications are split between SAAC & Starkville Strong.

How it works:
  • Applications are $10 per applicant. Open to any age, any gender.  Applications will close on January 5 at Midnight.
  • Submit your application and a 30-second audition video via SAAC’s Submittable page.  The application fee is $10 per contestant.
  • All applicants will be posted on SAAC's social media and the Top 10 (Top 5 Amateurs and Top 5 Pros) will be judged publicly using Facebook and Instagram. Judging will be live that week and the top 10 will be announced that Friday. The top 10 applicants with the most votes will be selected to perform at the contest on January 17th at Dunkington.
  • There will be 2 elements to the performance 1. Catwalk and 2. Performance (Lipsync, live singing/playing, or monologue). Performances must be 1-2 minutes long.
  • Judging format: 3 judges will judge based on 1. Likeness, 2. Performance, 3. Authenticity, and 4. Creativity

FAQs and Full Rules Below
FAQs
1. Who can enter the Dolly Parton Impersonation Contest?
  • Anyone can enter, regardless of age, gender, or experience level. However, participants under 16 must have parental or guardian consent and be accompanied by an adult on the day of the contest.
2. What is the difference between the Amateur and Pro categories?
  • “Amateur” is generally for those who have limited or no professional performance experience, while “Pro” is for those who have performed regularly in a professional or semi-professional capacity. If you’re unsure, choose the category you feel best fits your experience level.
3. How do I apply?
  • Submit your application and a 30-second audition video via SAAC’s Submittable page. The link and instructions will be available on the SAAC website. The application fee is $10 per contestant.
4. Do I have to be in full costume for my audition video?
  • No. The audition video just needs to give voters a sense of your impersonation. A short Dolly-style greeting, a quick monologue, or a snippet of you performing is enough. Your final costume and performance will be for the live event.
5. How will finalists be chosen?
  • After the application deadline, your audition video will be posted on SAAC’s social media pages. The public will vote on their favorites. The top 5 amateurs and top 5 pros with the most votes will advance to the live contest.
6. When is the live contest?
  • The live contest will be on January 17, 2025, at Dunkington. Specific time and location details will be provided to finalists.
7. What will I do on the night of the contest?
  • Finalists will present themselves in two segments:
    • Catwalk: Show off your Dolly look and persona.
    • Talent Performance (1–2 minutes): Lip-sync, sing live, monologue, or combine elements to capture Dolly’s essence.
8. Will I need to provide my own music or instruments?
  • Yes. You must bring any instruments you need and provide your music or sound files in advance so they can be played during your performance.
9. How is the winner decided?
  • A panel of judges will score finalists based on likeness, performance quality, authenticity, and creativity. Each category has a set percentage weight in the overall score.
10. What do winners receive?
  • Prizes are still being determined. More information will be announced closer to the event date.
11. Is there anything else I need to know about behavior or dress code?
  • All performances should be family-friendly and respectful. Good sportsmanship is expected. You can be disqualified for inappropriate behavior or not following the rules.
12. Where can I find more information or ask additional questions?
  • Visit the SAAC website or contact the event organizers directly. They’ll be happy to help clarify anything not covered in the FAQs or rules.
All Impersonator Contest Rules

Starkville Area Arts Council and Starkville Strong are teaming up for a brand new fundraiser in 2025, Dolly Parton Fest! Join us for a fun weekend jam-packed full of Dolly fun! We're kicking off the weekend with a Dolly Parton Impersonation Contest on Friday night, followed by a Paint Party on Saturday, and a Bingo Brunch on Sunday. This fundraiser is sponsored by Dunkington Art & Jewelry.

If you want to participate in the Dolly impersonation contest, you've come to the right place! This Contest is part look-a-like, part performance. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2025, at midnight!

Categories: 
  •     Amateur
  •     Pro

How it works: 
  •  Applications are $10 per applicant. Open to any age, any gender.  Applications will close on January 5 at Midnight.
  • All applicants will be posted on SAAC's social media and the Top 10 (Top 5 Amateurs and Top 5 Pros) will be judged publicly using Facebook and Instagram. Judging will be live that week and the top 10 will be announced that Friday. The top 10 applicants with the most votes will be selected to perform at the contest on January 17th at Dunkington.
  • There will be 2 elements to the performance 1. Catwalk and 2. Performance (Lipsync, live singing/playing, or monologue). Performances must be 1-2 minutes long. 
  • Judging format: 3 judges will judge based on 1. Likeness, 2. Performance, 3. Authenticity, and 4. Creativity

How to Apply: 
  • All applications must be made on SAAC’s submittable page. Submissions are $10 per person. Funds from Application fees are split between Starkville Strong and SAAC
  • Applicants must submit a 30 second video of an example of their final performance or a brief impersonation. This will be posted on social media for the voting. This does not necessarily have to be in the final costume for the video. It can simply be a quick "Dolly greeting" introducing yourself in a Dolly-esque style or quoting a fun Dolly line, an excerpt of a past performance, ... anything that will get people to vote for you!

General Rules: 
  • Eligibility: Contestants under 16 must have adult consent in order to participate and must be accompanied by a guardian at the contest. Any age participant is welcome to apply. Applicants must choose between the Amateur and Pro categories and will be judged accordingly. 
  • Registration: All applications must be made on SAAC’s submittable page. Submissions are $10 per person. Funds from Application fees are split between Starkville Strong and SAAC. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2025, at midnight. 
  • Selection: Applicants' videos will be posted to SAAC social media. The public will vote on their favorite video and the applicants with the top 5 most votes in the amateurs and pros categories will be invited to perform at the Contest on January 17. 
  • Theme: Contestants should embody the spirit, appearance, and persona of Dolly Parton, including her music, style, and personality. Contestants will be judged on 1. Likeness, 2. Performance, 3. Authenticity, and 4. Creativity

Performance Rules: 
  • Costume: Contestants must dress in attire reminiscent of Dolly Parton, the better the likeness, the better chance you have of winning!
  • Catwalk Segment: The first segment of the contest will be a catwalk/runway where contestant will talk down a runway and pose for the judges and spectators. This will help the judges judge the Likeness category
  • Talent Segment: Contestants must give a 1-2 minute performance as the talent portion of the contest. Contestants must perform the performance method they selected in the application. Options include Lipsync (singing or monologuing), Live Singing, Live singing AND instrument playing, Monologuing (not singing, not lipsynced). Contestants total performance time CAN be a combination of these options things, but contestants should  pick the option that suits their performance best.
  • Presentation: Contestants will be judged on their ability to capture Dolly’s voice, mannerisms, humour, and charm. Judging categories include likeness, talent, and creativity. 
  • Instruments and Sound: Instruments must be provided by the contestant. Contest hosts can provide a microphone and sound system. Contestants must provide the hosts with a link, sound file, or flash drive of any songs or other sound requirements before the day of the contest. 
  • Props and Accessories: Small props are allowed, but contestants must set up and clear them within 1 minutes before and following their allotted performance time.

Judging Criteria

  • Likeness (25%): How well the contestant’s costume and makeup resemble Dolly.
  • Performance (30%): Singing, lip-syncing, or acting quality, and stage presence.
  • Authenticity (25%): Faithfulness to Dolly's persona, voice, and mannerisms.
  • Creativity (20%): Unique or original elements added while staying true to Dolly's essence.

Contest Logistics
  • Order of Performance: Contestants will perform in an order determined by a random draw.
  • Time Limits: Performances exceeding time limits of 2 minutes will be penalized.
  • Judging Panel: A panel of judges will score each contestant based on the criteria above.

Awards and Prizes
  • Prizes: TBD

Code of Conduct
  • Good Sportsmanship: Contestants are expected to act respectfully toward one another and the judges.
  • Appropriateness: All performances must be family-friendly, reflecting Dolly’s wholesome yet glamorous image.
  • Disqualification: Contestants may be disqualified for inappropriate behavior, offensive content, or failing to comply with the rules.


Questions? Contact Juliette Reid at Starkville Area Arts Council:

662-268-6231
[email protected]
109 W Main St 
Starkville, Mississippi 39759
[email protected]
662.722.0103
Hours: Tues - Fri 10am - 4pm
( remote Mon; closed Sat-Sun )
SAAC is sustained by donors and sponsors. Donations amounts are flexible and can be recurring. Learn more by clicking the button above.
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