Immerse yourself in a sensory wonderland at the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival. Explore vibrant displays of blooming flowers while indulging in a culinary journey that tantalizes your taste buds with unique foods. Savor the best of spring at Dollywood with this handy guide to everything you need to know about this springtime extravaganza.
What Should You See at the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival?
At a celebration of flowers and food, chances are you’ve come to see just that. In other theme parks, the flower displays are called topiaries, but at Dollywood, they are called “mosaiculture.” These elaborate creations take the shape of butterflies, raccoons, and even a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. The vibrant colors throughout the park usher in springtime in the Smoky Mountains.
Bright and Instagram-Worthy Festival Signage
Upon entering the park, you will see the iconic Dollywood sign in front of the Showstreet Palace Theater. Decorations, which reflect the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival logo, are vibrant and include several different types of flowers.
The new signage is a great photo opportunity. Guests can have a Dollywood Host take their photo with a Dollywood official camera, or guests can take their own photos (or ask politely for the Host to take their photo with their own camera).
Umbrella Sky on Showstreet
After stopping to take a photo at the park entrance, hang a right down Showstreet and venture under the Umbrella Sky display.
A team from Portugal was supposed to travel to Dollywood to install the display in early 2020. Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions in the festival’s first year, they were unable to make the trip. Instead, the Dollywood team got to work learning how to install this awesome display on their own! It stands to reason that the team from Dollywood has continued the tradition of installing their own seasonal displays on Showstreet.
Mosaiculture—Unique Springtime Blooms
Topiaries at other theme parks, look out. The team at Dollywood hired Mosaiculture from Canada to create and install their displays, and wow do they look good. Mosaiculture is “the horticultural art of creating larger-than-life plant sculptures using thousands of plants to cover a steel frame.”
Unlike other topiaries formed from a single plant, these artistic forms are created by planting thousands of individual plants.
The festival’s showpiece is Dolly’s mother sewing the famous “Coat of Many Colors,” which inspired Dolly’s hit song of the same name. Other displays include butterflies, bears, raccoons, and turtles.
Merchandise for Guests and Passholders
What good is a festival without themed merchandise? Guests can purchase themed items in the pop-up shops along Showstreet and near Market Square. Passholders, keep an eye out for special merchandise just for you, too!
Hats, cups, umbrellas, shirts, and more are all adorned with the festival logo. Additionally, artificial plants and artificial flower crowns are available for purchase.
What to Eat at Dollywood Flower and Food Festival
What would a food event be without the opportunity to sample some new eats? I’ve always appreciated Dollywood’s food; their festival food brings new, lighter fare to sample. One thing to note is that the food portions at festival booths are quite generous. Unlike other theme parks, these portions are easily shareable and definitely bigger than snack sizes!
Spotlight Bakery
The first stop is the Spotlight Bakery. Inside, several festival specialties are offered. Butterfly, flower, or other shaped sugar cookies and cupcakes with a floral theme can be purchased.
Pro tip: Don’t want to wait for that world-famous cinnamon bread? The bakery offers Dollywood’s famous Cinnamon Bread, which previously could only be purchased at the Grist Mill in Craftsman’s Valley.
Festival Booths
Physical maps are available to plot your eating course throughout the park. However, if you’d prefer to go the digital route, make sure to download the Dollywood App before you get to the park. Wifi can be spotty, and the app takes a bit of time to download.
Most booths are on Showstreet, Rivertown Junction, The Village, and Craftsman’s Valley. You’ll also find a few in Wildwood Grove and Timber Canyon.
Showstreet and Market Square Booths
As previously mentioned, the portions of food are quite large, especially considering the inexpensive pricing! I was solo during my trip, so my stomach could only handle so much food at once! However, I took photos of as many menu items as I could. Past food and beverage items have included dishes such as:
- Blueberry Lavender Spritz
- Garlic Shrimp Mac & Cheese
- Honey Garlic Chicken Skillet
- Pesto Caprese Panini
- BBQ Pulled Pork Rinds
- Mountaineer Beef Sandwich
Behind Market Square/Rivertown Junction
The festival booths continue past Market Square on into Rivertown Junction. As they have expanded the offerings, a few more booths have popped up in Craftsman’s Valley and The Village, but you won’t find any in Country Fair or back by Wilderness Pass near Fire Chaser Express or Wild Eagle. In years past, some food highlights have included:
- Lobster Roll
- Blueberry Tart
- Pork Sliders
- Chocolate Ganache Brownie
- Watermelon Lime Fresca
Flower and Food Tasting Pass
Looking to add value to your Dollywood visit? Check out their new Tasting Pass for the Flower and Food Festival. The pass gives you the opportunity to try up to five different entrees at the festival for one price. The pass costs $39.99 (plus tax), and Gold or Diamond season passholders receive $3 off that price.
Purchase your Flower and Food Festival Tasting Pass today and enjoy a flavor-filled experience you won’t soon forget! The Tasting Pass is redeemable for festival food and drink only from April 19 to June 9, 2024.
Is Dollywood’s Flower Festival Dining Pass Worth it?
Dollywood’s Flower Festival Dining Pass can be worth it if you plan to indulge in the festival’s culinary offerings. The pass offers significant savings on food and drinks, making it a great choice for foodies looking to enjoy a variety of flavors and experiences at the festival.
Dollywood App
I recommend downloading the Dollywood App before your theme park day. It has specific Flower & Food Festival information and can help you navigate the expansive park. It’s free in the App Store and on Google Play.
The Dollywood Flower and Food Festival runs from April 19 through June 9, 2024! Hurry and see it this spring/early summer before it’s gone!
