The park is always noted for its incredible landscaping, but the Flower & Food festival takes that up several notches, delighting guests with lavish landscaping and massive floral sculptures created from more than half a million vibrant flowers. Guests can find fun around every corner, thanks to expansive displays that include a vivid butterfly umbrella, scenes featuring mischievous animals, and even a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. These “Mosaicultures” were developed in partnership with Mosaicultures International, a Montreal-based company that has gained international recognition for its one-of-kind floral creations.
“When I was a little girl, I loved springtime because everything seemed so bright with color,” Dolly Parton says. “It started to get warm outside and you just felt like you could finally get out of the house after being cooped up in there for so long, which is something I know we’re all feeling right now. But the thing I remember most about those spring days were the flowers that would start blooming all over the hills. So, the Smokies really were the inspiration for this festival.
The flowers are only half the story, though. This festival, now in its second year, also celebrates the culinary creations for which this park has won countless awards. The food and beverage team has been busy developing a range of new menu items especially for this event, including these delicious offerings:
Cuban sandwich with plantain chips Fish and chips Mountain paella Summer succotash featuring pan-seared chicken Lobster rolls Beef bulgogi nachos Blueberry and blackberry mini funnel cakes Lemon curd and blueberry Liege waffles
Thanks to the introduction of a new Flower & Food Festival Dining Pass, guests can partake in multiple items at a variety of locations around the park. The dining pass, which is available online or at the park, is just $29.99 plus tax (or $27.99 plus tax for season passholders). With the dining pass, guests can sample five meals at any of the Flower & Food Festival culinary locations.
Entertainment is at the very heart of this park, and therefore also a major component of this year’s festival. Several performances and shows take place each day of the event, and a new concert series, Melodies of Spring, features contemporary Christian artists, Southern gospel groups and other inspirational acts appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival. All shows are included with park admission and a full schedule of performances can be found at Dollywood.com.
Dollywood is a destination unto itself, complete with its own family-friendly hotel. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is celebrating the Flower & Food Festival with its own series of special activities and events designed to bring the fun of the theme park straight to the doors of the resort. Here are some of the programs in place during the festival:
Special floral designs have sprung up around the property, including potted flowers at the entryway and vibrant flowers around its fountain. Camp DW, the resort’s kids camp, is offering special festival-themed projects, from painting your own flower pot to designing a birdhouse. Featured festival performers also appear at the hotel.
The resort is serving a family-friendly “drink of the day,” from 4 to 6 p.m. These “agua frescas” are light and full of flavor, and the resort is giving out recipe cards so guests can recreate these refreshing drinks at home.
The Spa is offering treatments fused with lavender, honey, pomegranate, blackberry and other fresh, springtime ingredients. On select days, the resort chefs offer lunchtime cooking demonstrations at Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery.
Song & Hearth also offers a special Spring Celebration menu. The resort is partnering with Biltmore Winery for a Winemaker’s Dinner on Saturday, May 22, pairing festival-inspired dishes with exemplary wines from Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
Dollywood specializes in creating exceptional experiences all year round, with each season unlike the next. After the Flower & Food Festival has finished ushering in spring, guests can enjoy Summer Celebration from June 25 through July 31, which this year will feature a new evening drone show and dance party every night. From September 24 through October 30, thousands of pumpkins glow to life as part of the Harvest Festival, and Smoky Mountain Christmas will celebrate the spirit of the season from November 6 through January 2.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.
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