Dollywood will kick off its second-annual Flower & Food Festival this Friday, April 23, 2021, with half a million flowers, a new dining pass and live music throughout the park.
The event is packed with large floral sculptures and over 500,000 vibrant flowers. The “Mosaiculture” displays include a butterfly umbrella, “mischievous and friendly animals” and a depiction of Dolly Parton’s mother quilting the famous “Coat of Many Colors.”
The “Mosaicultures” are created in partnership with Mosaicultures International, a company known around the world for its unique floral creations.
Photo © Dollywood
The beautiful Umbrella Sky art installation will return in 2021. Guests entering the park will see hundreds of colorful umbrellas suspended above Showstreet.
The display was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in the park (and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful sights at Dollywood over the years). Of course, the colorful umbrellas made for a very “Instagrammable” backdrop — and free marketing for the park!
New this year are works of chalk art in the Adventures in Imagination area. Each day, one of Dollywood’s talented artists will create new pieces inspired by springtime in the Smokies.
Dolly herself elaborated on the significance behind the event:
“When I was a little girl, I loved springtime because everything seemed so bright with color. 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.”
Dolly’s mother sewing the “Coat of Many Colors.”
“And I just love we made that big, beautiful display of my mama with all those wonderful flowers. It’s special to me, and I know she would have been so proud of it.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be the “Flower & Food Festival” without some culinary creations. The event will offer guests a full menu of items inspired by springtime in the Great Smoky Mountains. And foodies can rejoice knowing there is a new “Flower & Food Festival Dining Pass,” which will allow guests to enjoy multiple items at the numerous culinary locations throughout 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 pass, guests can sample five meals at any of the Flower & Food Festival culinary locations.
Among the items featured on this year’s festival menu are a Cuban sandwich with plantain chips, fish and chips, mountain paella, summer succotash featuring pan-seared chicken, lobster roll, beef bulgogi nachos, blueberry and blackberry mini funnel cake, lemon curd and blueberry liege waffle, and much more.
Plaintain Chips and Mango Salsa (left) and Fresh Berry and Lavender Funnel Cake (right)
The indecisive eater in me has always struggled with what to order at Dollywood’s food events just because there are always so many delicious items to choose from. This dining pass is something I’ve been longing for.
The 2021 Flower & Food Festival will also include a plethora of live entertainment offerings including performances, shows and a new “Melodies of Spring” concert series featuring contemporary Christian artists, Southern gospel groups and other fresh and inspirational acts appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival. Guests also will enjoy additional musical performances throughout the park.
In addition to the visiting entertainers, several shows featuring Dollywood’s own performers debuted earlier this spring including Harmonies of the Heart—featuring Dolly’s family—and A Brighter Day, an inspiring show that delights guests with uplifting favorites at the Back Porch Theater. In The Village, Dollywood’s talented The Tones offer a fresh acapella take on today’s current hits.
The video below shows the sights and sounds that you can expect at Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival 2021:
Dollywood’s 2021 Flower & Food Festival will run April 23-June 7, 2021. For more information, visit the Dollywood website.
See our coverage of last year’s inaugural Flower & Food Festival here.
Did you visit the Flower & Food Festival last year? Let us know what you thought about the event in the comments section below.
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