Dollywood’s I Will Always Love You Music Festival Starts This Week

Everyone seems to love Dolly, and there is nobody else in the world quite like her, just as there is no theme park quite like Dollywood. Magnificent mountain views surround the middle Tennessee theme park, located in Pigeon Forge. There’s always a reason to visit Dollywood, but their newest festival is worth planning a visit to.

Dollywood’s I Will Always Love You Music Festival begins March 9. New Dolly-inspired shows, art installations, and specialty foods will debut. The festival runs from March 9 to April 14, and you don’t have to be a music fan to enjoy its offerings. Festival perks are included with the admission price of your park ticket. It’s the perfect excuse to plan a spring trip to the Smoky Mountains!

Three New Dolly-Inspired Shows Debut

Clap your hands and stomp your feet to the vibrant sounds of live music pouring from every outdoor theatre. As you stroll the streets, vibrant performances from live musicians and artists will wrap the park in glorious sounds. Three new must-see performances will make their stage debut:

• A spectacular sing-a-long featuring Dolly’s biggest hits.
• The much-loved “Paradise Road” show will see an exciting reimagining with updated performances.
• The magic of Dolly, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt’s joint album “Trio” will also receive a loving tribute, treating you with a medley of the album’s best melodies. 

Sparkling Art and Installations

Get your camera ready because the dazzling new art installations at Dollywood’s new I Will Always Love You Music Festival are Instagram-worthy. Celebration Sky will wow with a vibrant display of pink sequins while the larger-than-life I Will Always Love You sign pops against the Smokies sky. Take the perfect spring selfies between riding coasters all day.

Festival Food & Drink Offerings Menu 

The festival food and drink are separate from park admission, but Dollywood offers easy ways to munch your way through all the delicious treats. Try up to five festival foods for one low price with the I Will Always Love You Music Festival Tasting Pass. A regular Tasting Pass lets you sample five foods for $39.99. Dollywood Gold & Diamond Season Pass holders receive a $3 discount when purchasing a Tasting Pass.

New Festival Drinks

• Hot Cranberry Tea: Tasty cranberries provide the perfect tang to this hot tea, a perfect drink for any Dollywood day.
• IWALY Punch: This tangy combination of pineapple pink lemonade spritz topped with pineapple, maraschino cherries, mandarin orange, and strawberry makes a refreshing flavor.
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate: The warm comfort of peanut butter hot chocolate is made even more delicious, topped with crushed peanut butter cups and sweet cream.

Savory Small Bites

• Appalachian Fried Potato Chips: Snacking has never been more delicious than this combination of BBQ spiced potato chips loaded with bacon, cheese sauce, ranch dressing, and scallions.
• Antipasto Salad Shaker: This taste of Italy packaged together in a delicious salad shaker blends spiral pasta, olives, pepperoni, mozzarella, artichoke, pepperoncini, tomatoes, then tossed in red wine vinaigrette.
• BBQ Chicken Melt: This flavorful sandwich features BBQ chicken smothered with white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, dill pickles, and creamy cole slaw.
• Braised Chuck Roast & Potatoes: The best culinary complement to a spring day is this combination of slow-cooked beef chuck roast, buttery mashed potatoes, carrots, and crispy fried onions.
• Chicken & Smoked Sausage Succotash Skillet: A variety of vegetables combined with smoked sausage and chicken for a hearty succotash dish that will delight!
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts: A mouth-watering mixture of crispy sweet chili Brussels sprouts, lemon ricotta, Benton’s bacon, and craisins are placed atop a garlic-toasted sourdough slice with an olive oil drizzle and served with maple-glazed sweet potatoes.
• Grilled Chicken & Sausage Flatbread: Tempt your taste buds with an appetizing combination of grilled chicken, crumbled sausage, basil pesto, and pink tomato cream sauce on delicious flatbread.
• Grilled Chicken & Sausage Pizza: Tempt your taste buds with an appetizing combination of grilled chicken, crumbled sausage, basil pesto, and pink tomato cream sauce on delicious pizza.
• Hog Back Tater: Blend the sweetness of BBQ sauce with the hearty flavor of smoked pork shoulder, cheddar, and pickled jalapeno, then place it atop a baked potato for a dish with all the tastes!
• Slow-Roasted Stuffed Squash: Oven-roasted yellow squash, creamed spinach, herbs, and Parmesan gratin are deliciously blended for a healthy and flavorful choice that will surely become a spring favorite.
• Smoked Bologna Burnt Ends: Take the delicious taste of smoked bologna burnt ends and serve with stone ground mustard and dill pickles for a uniquely Southern dish.
• Smoky Corn Chowder: This cozy, delicious chowder has a perfect flavor balance of smoked Gouda cheese, crisp bacon, and fire-roasted corn.
• Spinach and Artichoke Dip Potato: This spud is loaded with flavor and made even heartier when topped with spinach artichoke dip, garlic butter, shaved parmesan, and roasted garlic cherry tomatoes.
• Turkey Pot Roast Potato: Flavorful slow-cooked turkey pot roast, turkey gravy, crispy bacon, and more make this baked potato a delicious filling option for any Dollywood day.

Sweet Festival Desserts

• Pink Velvet Rose Cupcake: This delectable festival treat found in the Spotlight Bakery is very berry delicious this spring. Sample sweetness in abundance with this cupcake.
• Raspberry Cookies and Cream: Sweet sugar cookies taste even more flavorful, topped with vanilla ice cream, raspberry crunch and coulis, whipped cream, and white chocolate sauce.
• Strawberry Cannoli: This delectable festival treat found in the Spotlight Bakery is very berry delicious this spring. Sample sweetness in abundance with this cannoli.
• Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake: Shake up your taste buds with this delicious creation of cheesecake ice cream, white chocolate, strawberry sauces, and crushed graham crackers. It’s a milkshake masterpiece!
• Strawberry Crunch Funnel Cake: You will always love this new twist on our famous funnel cakes, as strawberry and cheesecake flavors combine with white chocolate sauce and are topped off with whipped cream and a strawberry crunch.
• White Chocolate Strawberry Cupcake: This delectable festival treat found in the Spotlight Bakery is very berry delicious this spring. Sample sweetness in abundance with this cupcake.
• Pixy Cookie Dough: Try a new sweet sensation for the spring season – edible cookie dough topped with colorful crispy cookies, whipped topping, and sprinkles.

Navigate the festival with ease by downloading the Dollywood Parks & Resorts app. The app offers showtimes, festival food & 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’re sure to leave the festival with a song in your heart and a full belly.