Dollywood Flower & Food Festival 2026

What Is Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival?

Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival runs April 18 through June 7, 2026, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, wrapping the Great Smoky Mountains theme park in more than one million blooms alongside towering Mosaiculture sculptures, a seasonal food program, and the immersive Umbrella Sky installation that has become one of the most photographed moments in the park. Now in its seventh year, the festival is included with standard park admission, making it one of the most generous value-add events in the Southeast. The Smoky Mountains frame every sightline, and the combination of botanical artistry and Appalachian setting is genuinely unlike anything else in the region this time of year.

Signature Displays: Mosaiculture, Umbrella Sky, and the Coat of Many Colors

The centerpiece sculptures reach up to 14 feet tall and are crafted from living plants shaped into intricate wildlife portraits and Dollywood-specific imagery, including the Coat of Many Colors display that nods to Dolly Parton’s legendary story. The Butterfly Umbrella installation creates a canopy of color above one of the park’s main corridors and draws long lines for photos in the midday hours. Plan your time at these anchor displays early in the morning or in the softer light of late afternoon, when crowds thin and the colors read more clearly against the mountain backdrop.

Festival Food and the Tasting Pass

Food booths rotate seasonal menus across the park, with spring-forward small plates that have included blueberry pie milkshakes, pesto caprese paninis, lemon curd pastries, and savory flatbreads in past years. A Festival Tasting Pass allows guests to sample up to five festival-specific items at a set price, which is worth considering if your group wants to graze widely rather than commit to one booth. Near the Grist Mill, the park’s signature cinnamon bread aroma mixes with the spring floral installations in a way that feels very deliberately Dollywood.

Practical Tips for Visiting in April and May

Arrive 30 minutes before the 10:00 AM opening to reach the major floral displays before midday crowds build. The Dollywood app tracks real-time ride waits and show schedules, which helps when you want to shift from garden walks to roller coasters without losing momentum. Pack a lightweight rain layer, since East Tennessee spring weather shifts quickly. Most displays are outdoors, but shows and covered dining areas provide shelter when needed, and evening hours often extend to around 8:00 PM for illuminated garden viewing.

Where to Stay Near Dollywood and the Smokies

Pigeon Forge and Sevierville offer the most direct access to the park, with a wide range of hotels and resort properties along the main corridor. For more privacy and mountain quiet, cabin rentals in Gatlinburg and Wears Valley put you closer to the national park and away from the strip. Lake cabin rentals in the broader East Tennessee region, including properties near Douglas Lake and Norris Lake, offer a calm lakeside counterpoint to the festival’s energy. Browse available waterfront stays on Lake.com to find a mountain lake property that fits your group and extends the trip well beyond a single park day.