The Jolene Ride (or: Dolly Parton’s America)
Day
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Meet
7:00 PM
Where
-
Laurelhurst Park
SE ANKENY and 39th Ave · Laurelhurst
By the bathrooms
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- 20 E Burnside & NE Floral · 4 min walk
- 75 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd & Ash · 4 min walk
Who it’s for
General
NOTEMeet at 7, Ride at 730 ish. Meet by bathrooms; end spot Morrison Bridge
About
This ride is inspired by the new song “Son of Jolene” by Belles and Dolly Parton. It’s also inspired by who Dolly is and what she has done for the world.
We won’t be playing covers of Jolene all night, we’re gonna go ALL THE WAY BACK to Hello, I’m Dolly and move through the years. We’ll hear songs she wrote but was made a hit by someone else, like Skeeter Davis or Whitney Houston. Even songs she loaned her voice to, like Sabrina Carpenters “please please please” and yes, even Beyoncés Jolene cover.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has provided books to children for free in at least FIVE countries!
We will be visiting a few Little Free Libraries and I’d like to encourage you to bring books to donate! I’ll be bringing along a handful of kids books myself, including copies of my most favourite book, The Phantom Tollbooth.
Ending the evening with fireworks feels like a chefs kiss for celebrating a woman who has done so much for so many. Stay tuned, this could become a series!