🟢🟢 DOLLYWOOD'S 2026 'I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU' FESTIVAL AND OPENING WEEK +VIDEOS, TRIP REPORT AND MORE! 🟢🟢

Hi Everyone!

This article includes all of my visit to the "I Will Always Love You'' Festival and Opening Week AND A Photo Trip Report that includes some of the pics from my visit.  

If you are interested in all of the Holiday Flavors that Dollywood serves up, then you need to check out my mouth-watering blog post detailing all the menu items that the park serves for their incredibly popular Tasting Pass menu.  In short, you purchase this pass and can get any five items from their vast selection of offerings.  All the details are in the blog post.  Click Here to go there!

Let's start with the videos, and below that the Photo Trip Report!

Welcome to Dollywood and a new season of fun and excitement! Dollywood was celebrating the "I Will Always Love You'' Festival during this tour around the park. This is Part One. In Part One - going to be sticking around Showstreet, Rivertown Junction, The Village and Country Fair Areas - the rest of the park in Part Two. I will share some highlights from the Dollywood Express and I've got a Nightflight Expedition construction site progress update from March 25th - it's changed a lot since that time.

PART TWO: I’ll be finishing up my tour of the park to catch all the little details and décor updates that have popped up since last season. In Wildwood Grove, I take a peek at the construction fence for Nightflight Expedition...and continue the park tour. Then, we’re heading into Craftsman’s Valley for a seat at the Valley Theater to enjoy a full performance from the Smoky Mountain String Band. After that, we’ll take a walk through the Emporium to share some highlights of the new 2026 merchandise—including some early looks at the Flower & Food collection.

NightFlight Expedition!

Last summer, I published a video detailing some of what we might experience in NightFlight Expedition - based off of the only other Mack Rocking Boat attraction - so check it out to get an idea of what we can expect out of this incredible new attraction!

If you're curious about Dollywood's Next Huge Ride - This is It!!

Check out my blog post with all the details that I think I know.

https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2025/04/dollywoods-project-2026-what-is-it.html

Trip Report 

PHOTOS FROM 'I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU' FESTIVAL AND OPENING WEEK 2026.

IN RANDOM ORDER

new wheel for the grist mill

Daredevil Falls has colorful new boats

IWALY Sky

Cinnamon bread is $12.99 a loaf

Blacksmith Shop

Blacksmith Shop

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026 + new water storage tank

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026 + Ride Entrance is the wooden arch

Nightflight Expedition as of March 25, 2026 + Ride Vehicle on display at Celebrity Theater

Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home

Cinnamon Bread - this entry/exit setup seems new to me.

New covered seating area at the Wilderness Pass Restaurant

Smoky Mountain String Band

this is the same video featured and embedded up closer to the top.

Thanks for Watching!

🔵Blog Posts and other Helpful Trip Planning information - 

• Dollywood's 2026 Ride - Hidden Hollow Aviation - Updates, Photos, Videos of it Under Construction.
• Getting To Dollywood by Plane
• Hotels with High Ratings in Pigeon Forge.  I have created a spreadsheet that incorporates ratings from different reliable sources and ranked hotels in the area.  I've listed out columns for things like indoor pools, hot tubs and more on the spreadsheet.  Very helpful if you, or someone in your group is looking for a specific amenity.
• Top Breakfast Restaurants in Pigeon Forge.  I have created a list of the best Breakfast restaurants in Pigeon Forge using ratings from various reliable sources and ranked them in my blog post.
  
• 30 Great Places to Eat In Pigeon Forge that are open after 2pm! A list of highly rated establishments that are open past 2pm.
• Guide To Mountain Coasters - A look at all the types of mountain coasters in Sevier County.
• Dollywood's 2025 Operating Calendar +MORE - speculation, guesses on future projects, etc.
• Dollywood's 2026 Operating Calendar +MORE - Calendar + Much More!
• Exclusive Ride Time, Golden Hours, Golden Events - What's the difference??  
• Navigating to Dollywood from North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene.
• 8 Things to do at Dollywood if you don't care for rides - There's a lot to do!
• Pigeon Forge Trolley Info You'll Want to Know!
• Trip Advisors Top 10 Budget Friendly Hotels in Pigeon Forge.
• Tons of YouTube videos - I have so many YouTube videos of Dollywood including every festival and lots of general park updates as well as Big Bear Mountain footage.
• Check out my 2024 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2024.
• Check out my 2023 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2023.
• Check out my 2022 End of Year Recap to see all of my Dollywood videos from 2022.
• 2024-2025 School Break Calendar - includes Fall, Christmas & Spring Breaks for regional schools.
• Link to Dollywood's TimeSaver Info Page - click Here.
• GrayLine Day-Long Tours from downtown Nashville to Dollywood and back to Nashville - click here

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