Everyone seems to love Dolly, and just as there is no theme park like Dollywood, there is no one else like her in the world. The Middle Tennessee theme park in Pigeon Forge is surrounded by majestic mountain views. There’s always a reason to visit Dollywood, and the newest festival is worth planning a visit.
Dollywood’s “I Will Always Love You Music Festival” begins March 9th. There will be new shows, art installations and culinary specialties inspired by Dolly. The festival runs from March 9th to April 14th, and you don’t have to be a music fan to enjoy its contents. Festival benefits are included in park ticket admission. It’s the perfect excuse to plan a spring trip to the Smoky Mountains.
Three new Dolly-inspired shows debut
![Dollywood's 'I Will Always Love You' Music Festival Begins Week 2 This Week sing at dollywood](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Singing-at-Dollywood.jpg)
Clap your hands and stomp your feet to the vibrant sounds of live music streaming from all outdoor theaters. As you stroll through the streets, vibrant performances from live musicians and artists fill the park with great sound. Three new must-see performances of his will make their stage debut.
- An epic singalong featuring Dolly’s biggest hits.
- The much-loved ‘Paradise Road’ show is excitingly reimagined with brand new performances.
- We also lovingly pay homage to the magic of Dolly, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt’s joint album Trio, with a medley of the album’s best melodies.
Sparkling art and installations
Get your camera ready, because the dazzling new art installation at Dollywood’s new I Will Always Love You Music Festival is Instagram-worthy. Celebration Sky will dazzle with a vibrant display of pink sequins, and a larger-than-life “I Will Always Love You” sign will rise above the Smokies sky. In between coaster rides throughout the day, snap the perfect spring selfies.
festival food and drink menu
![Dollywood's I Will Always Love You Music Festival Begins Week 3 This Week I Will Always Love You Festival Drinks](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Drinks-at-I-Will-Always-Love-You-Festival.jpg)
![Dollywood's I Will Always Love You Music Festival Begins Week 3 This Week I Will Always Love You Festival Drinks](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Drinks-at-I-Will-Always-Love-You-Festival.jpg)
Festival food and drinks are separate from park admission, but Dollywood offers an easy way to munch on all the delicious treats. With the “I Will Always Love You Music Festival Tasting Pass” you can try up to 5 festival foods for one low price. A regular tasting pass lets him sample five foods for $39.99. Dollywood Gold & Diamond season pass holders receive a $3 discount when purchasing a tasting pass.
new festival drink
- Hot cranberry tea: Delicious cranberries give this hot tea the perfect tang, making it the perfect drink for your Dollywood day.
- Iwari Punch: Pineapple Pink Lemonade Spritz is topped with pineapple, maraschino cherry, mandarin orange, and strawberry for a tangy combination for a refreshing taste.
- Peanut butter hot chocolate: The warm and comforting peanut butter hot chocolate is made even more delicious with crushed peanut butter cups and sweet cream.
savory snacks
![Dollywood's I Will Always Love You Music Festival starts this week 4 I Will Always Love You Festival Food](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Food-at-I-Will-Always-Love-You-Festival.jpg)
![Dollywood's I Will Always Love You Music Festival starts this week 4 I Will Always Love You Festival Food](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Food-at-I-Will-Always-Love-You-Festival.jpg)
- Appalachian fried potato chips: There’s no better snack than the combination of barbecue-spiced potato chips loaded with bacon, cheese sauce, ranch dressing, and scallions.
- Antipasto salad shaker: Packed in a delicious salad shaker, this Italian flavor is a blend of spiralized pasta, olives, pepperoni, mozzarella, artichokes, peperoncini, and tomatoes, tossed with a red wine vinaigrette.
- BBQ chicken melt: This flavorful sandwich includes white cheddar cheese-crusted barbecue chicken, caramelized onions, dill pickles, and creamy coleslaw.
- Chuck roast and braised potatoes: The combination of slow-cooked beef shoulder roast, buttery mashed potatoes, carrots and crispy fried onions is the perfect complement to a spring day meal.
- Succotash skillet with chicken and smoked sausage: A hearty succotash dish that combines a variety of vegetables with smoked sausage and chicken is sure to please.
- Crispy Brussels sprouts: A mouth-watering mix of crunchy sweet chili Brussels sprouts, lemon ricotta, Benton bacon and craisins is served over garlic-toasted sourdough slices, drizzled with olive oil and served with maple-glazed sweet potatoes.
- Grilled Chicken & Sausage Flatbread: Tempt your taste buds with this mouth-watering combination of delicious flatbread with grilled chicken, crumbled sausage, basil pesto and pink tomato cream sauce.
- Grilled Chicken & Sausage Pizza: Enjoy a mouth-watering combination of delicious pizza, grilled chicken, crumbled sausage, basil pesto and pink tomato cream sauce.
- Hogback Tater: Blending the sweetness of BBQ sauce with the hearty flavors of smoked pork shoulder, cheddar cheese, and pickled jalapeños, it’s served over a baked potato for a dish that hits all the palates.
- Slow roasted stuffed pumpkin: A delicious blend of oven-roasted yellow pumpkin, creamed spinach, herbs and Parmesan gratin, this healthy and flavorful dish is sure to become a spring favorite.
- Smoked bologna burnt ends: Harness the delicious flavor of smoked bologna’s charred edges and serve it with stone-ground mustard and dill pickles for a unique Southern dish.
- Smoky corn chowder: This cozy and delicious chowder has the perfect flavor balance of smoked Gouda cheese, crispy bacon, and flame-roasted corn.
- Spinach and artichoke dip potatoes: These spuds are packed with flavor and made even more hearty when topped with spinach artichoke dip, garlic butter, grated parmesan, and roasted garlic cherry tomatoes.
- Turkey pot roast potatoes: Combining flavorful, slow-cooked pot roast turkey, turkey gravy, crispy bacon, and more, this baked potato is a delicious and filling option for Dollywood Day.
sweet festival dessert
- Pink velvet rose cupcake: These delicious festive treats found at Spotlight Bakery are so delicious this spring. This cupcake is full of sweetness.
- Raspberry cookies & cream: A sweet sugar cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, raspberry crunch & coulis, whipped cream, and white chocolate sauce for an even more flavorful finish.
- Strawberry cannoli: These delicious festive treats found at Spotlight Bakery are so delicious this spring. Enjoy plenty of sweetness with this cannoli.
- Strawberry cheesecake milkshake: Rock your taste buds with this delicious creation that combines cheesecake ice cream, white chocolate, strawberry sauce, and crushed graham crackers. It’s a milkshake masterpiece!
- Strawberry crunch funnel cake: With strawberry and cheesecake flavors combined with white chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream and strawberry crunch, this new twist on our famous funnel cake is sure to be a hit any time of the day.
- White chocolate strawberry cupcake: These delicious festive treats found at Spotlight Bakery are so delicious this spring. This cupcake is full of sweetness.
- Pixie cookie dough: Try this new sensation of spring sweets, made with edible cookie dough topped with colorful crispy cookies, whipped cream, and sprinkles.
Download the Dollywood Parks & Resorts app to easily navigate the festival. The app shows show times, festival food and drink locations, and ride wait times. Turn your festival visit into a long weekend and book a stay at Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and Resort, which opened earlier this year. You’ll leave the festival with a song in your heart and a full stomach.