Your Guide to the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival
If you haven’t been to the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival, then you should definitely go! This is one of the newest festivals the theme park puts on every year. There are incredible handmade sculptures made of plants and a ton of great food. Plus, you get to enjoy all the other perks of the park! Keep reading to find out more about the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival:
Sculptures and Flowers
There are hundreds of plant sculptures made from half a million flowers used during the Flower and Food Festival. The planning process starts a long time in advance, usually at the beginning of January. Horticulture artisans plan out the sculptures and which plants will be used for each one. They have used over 100 different species of plants in these designs. One of the signature pieces is the Coat of Many Colors, which is an ode to Dolly’s mother sewing her famous coat. You’ll also see all kinds of incredible animals that live in the area made of plants.
Twice a week, these sculptures have to be trimmed to keep their shape. A really cool thing about them is they are all self-irrigating. An app is used to tell the sculptures when to release water.
Food at the Festival
Usually during the holiday seasons or a festival, there are special foods you can sample. The Dollywood Flowers and Food Festival is no exception, especially since it’s in the name! Some of the great entrees you can try include chili lime steak, a lobster, roll, grilled brussel sprouts, and pork sliders. For dessert, you can get toasted coconut cupcakes, chocolate ganache brownies, or blueberry tarts. This festival also has specialty drinks, and they are watermelon lime fresca and a blueberry lavender lemonade. The food changes every year, but no matter what it is, it will be delicious!
Other Cool Things to Find
One of the most memorable parts of the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival is the umbrella walkway. This breathtaking sight is along Showstreet, and you’ll get to walk under the colorful umbrellas. It makes a great place to stop and take pictures!
In addition to the umbrella walkway, there will be all kinds of merchandise you can bring home. There are shirts, magnets, cups, and so much more. These souvenirs can be picked up at a variety of shops within the park.
More Information about the Festival
The festival doesn’t cost any more than the regular admission to Dollywood. You can enjoy all of the sculptures just by walking around the park. They are located in all different areas. If you want to try the food, you will have to pay for it separately from admission, as well as any merchandise. The festival runs from April 23 to June 7.
You won’t want to miss out on the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival. Need a place to stay when you come to town? Look through our Pigeon Forge hotel rooms and book one for your next trip to Dollywood!
