Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass: Is It Worth it?
Alright, let’s get straight to the good stuff: Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass. You’ll spot folks rockin’ lanyards – think of it as your VIP ticket to sample a bunch of yummy festival flavors.
So, How Does This “Tasting Pass” Thing Actually Work? And How Much Does It Set Ya Back?
It’s pretty simple, thankfully:
See something delicious? Use one of your credits to try it!
You snag a Tasting Pass lanyard, and BAM! It comes loaded with five tasty credits (aka “tastes”).
You wander around Dollywood, hitting up all those tempting Flower & Food Festival food spots.
The 2025 Cost (According to current Dollywood information and online purchase):
- Regular Tasting Pass: $48.71 after tax
- Gold/Diamond Passholder Tasting Pass: $45.39 after tax – A nice little perk for season pass holders!
The Magic Number: Calculating Your Break-Even Point
To figure out the value, we need to know the cost per “taste” credit:
- Regular Pass: $48.71 / 5 credits = $9.74 per credit
- Passholder Pass: $45.39 / 5 credits = $9.08 per credit
This is your magic number. To save money with the Tasting Pass, the goal is to use your credits on individual food items that cost more than your per-credit cost ($9.74 for most guests, $9.08 for Passholders). The greater the price difference, the more you save!
Complete 2025 Menu with Prices: Item by Item Value Analysis
Now for the fun part! Let’s analyze every item available for the 2025 Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass and categorize them based on their value when using a Tasting Pass credit.
(Note: These prices are the official 2025 prices. Locations are included to help you plan your festival route.)
ZONE 1: EXCELLENT DEALS = BEST VALUE
- Chopped Brisket Bowl ($15.99) – Hickory House BBQ – GF
Tender chopped brisket served in a hearty bowl presentation. Savings: $6.25 regular/$6.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Honey Garlic Chicken Skillet ($14.99) – Market Square
A tasty combination of honey garlic chicken with flavorful accompaniments. Savings: $5.25 regular/$5.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Grilled Steak Flatbread ($14.99) – Market Square
Fresh flatbread topped with grilled steak and complementary ingredients. Savings: $5.25 regular/$5.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Chipotle-Honey BBQ Ribs ($13.99) – Miss Lillian’s BBQ Corner – GF
St. Louis-style ribs glazed with chipotle-honey BBQ sauce. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Cilantro-Lime Honey Smoked Wings ($13.99) – Hickory House BBQ
Smoked chicken wings with a cilantro-lime honey glaze. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Honey BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich ($13.99) – Booth Between Kettle Corn & Aunt Granny’s
Tender pulled pork in honey BBQ sauce served on a soft bun. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE! - Braised Beef Ragu Nachos ($13.99) – Festival Booth By TN Mountain Home – GF
Crispy tortilla chips topped with braised beef, cheese, and flavorful toppings. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Hot Honey BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese ($13.99) – Festival Booth By TN Mountain Home
White cheddar mac & cheese paired with BBQ spiced chicken topped with hot honey glaze. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Loaded Country-Fried Potato Wedges ($13.99) – Market Square
Crispy potato wedges topped with bacon, scallions, comeback sauce, and a hot honey drizzle. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Pesto Caprese Panini ($13.99) – Booth By Market Square – V
Cuban bread filled with beefsteak tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and basil pesto. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Pork Belly Bowl ($13.99) – Festival Booth By TN Mountain Home
Glazed pork belly served with fried rice, pickled vegetables, and flavorful accompaniments. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Potato Birria ($13.99) – Booth By Market Square – GF
Flavorful combination of potatoes, Mexican-spiced slow-cooked beef, and toppings. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Loaded Street Fries ($13.99) – Till & Harvest (Wildwood Grove) – V
Seasoned fries loaded with flavorful toppings. Savings: $4.25 regular/$4.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Wild Berry Cream Cheese Funnel Cake ($12.99) – Crossroads Funnel Cake – V
Classic funnel cake topped with strawberries, blueberries, blackberry filling, whipped cream and cream cheese icing. Savings: $3.25 regular/$3.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
Bacon Jam & Broccoli Pizza ($12.99) – Iron Horse Pizza & Lumber Jack’s Pizza
Pizza topped with broccoli, bacon-onion jam and chili-roasted red peppers. Savings: $3.25 regular/$3.91 passholder. Verdict: BEST VALUE!
ZONE 2: GOOD DEALS = OK DEAL
Ice Cream Nachos ($11.99) – Blue Ribbon Cone (Country Fair) – V
A sweet twist on nachos featuring ice cream and delicious toppings. Savings: $2.25 regular/$2.91 passholder. Verdict: OK DEAL
Vegetable Cobb Salad ($10.99) – Market Square & Both Pizza Locations – GF/V/VG
Cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, fire-roasted corn, egg, red pepper, chickpeas and blue cheese tossed in raspberry vinaigrette. Savings: $1.25 regular/$1.91 passholder. Verdict: OK DEAL
Smoky Mountain Grilled Corn ($10.99) – Miss Lillian’s BBQ Corner – GF/V
Sweet corn grilled and topped with garlic butter, cilantro crema, queso fresco, and toasted sesame seeds. Savings: $1.25 regular/$1.91 passholder. Verdict: OK DEAL
ZONE 3: BREAK-EVEN/POOR VALUE ITEMS = BAD DEAL
- Blueberry Pie Milkshake ($8.99) – Showstreet Ice Cream
A blueberry flavored milkshake topped with blueberry pie pieces, fresh blueberries, and whipped cream. Savings: -$0.75 regular/-$0.09 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL - PB&J Ice Cream Donut ($8.99) – Showstreet Ice Cream – V
Vanilla ice cream on a glazed donut with strawberry jam, peanut butter, and toppings. Savings: -$0.75 regular/-$0.09 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL - Salted Caramel Milkshake ($7.99) – Red’s Drive-In – GF/V
Salted caramel and vanilla milkshake topped with whipped cream. Savings: -$1.75 regular/-$1.09 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL - Bakery Cupcakes & Lemon Sweet Roll ($6.99) – Showstreet Bakery
Beautifully decorated cupcakes and sweet rolls with seasonal flavors. Savings: -$2.75 regular/-$2.09 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL - Bakery Cookies & Brownies ($6.49) – Showstreet Bakery
Freshly baked cookies and brownies with festival designs. Savings: -$3.25 regular/-$2.59 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL - Various Festival Beverages ($5.99) – Various Locations – GF/V/VG
Specialty drinks including Blackberry Basil Lemonade, Blueberry Lavender Spritzer, DragonFly Lemonade, and more. Savings: -$3.75 regular/-$3.09 passholder. Verdict: BAD DEAL
DIETARY OPTIONS GUIDE
VG = Vegan
GF = Gluten Friendly
V = Vegetarian
NOT TASTING PASS ELIGIBLE
These items cannot be purchased with Tasting Pass credits:
- Bottled water
- Soft drinks
- Regular menu items not specific to the festival
- Alcoholic beverages
Check out our article on refillable mugs to learn how to save money on beverages outside of the Tasting Pass items.
Making Your Choice: Is the Tasting Pass Right for You?
Look at the lists above. Now, think about what you are most likely to eat during your festival visit:
YES, get the Tasting Pass if: Your must-try list is loaded with items from the “Good Deal” zone (like the Honey Garlic Chicken Skillet, Pork Belly Bowl, and Pesto Caprese Panini). If you plan to eat 3-5 of these higher-priced items, the pass will almost certainly save you money and is very convenient. It’s great for foodies wanting variety!
MAYBE consider the Tasting Pass if: You plan to eat a mix of “Good Deal” and “Okay Deal” items. You’ll likely break even or save a little, and gain convenience. Calculate based on your specific desires.
NO, skip the Tasting Pass if: You’re mainly interested in drinks (“Bad Deal” zone), smaller snacks, or only plan to eat one or two festival items total. You’ll save money by paying à la carte for the specific things you want.
My Personal Tasting Pass Strategy for 2025
When I grab my Tasting Pass lanyard, here’s my game plan for maximum value:
- Download the Dollywood App: I always check the full menu and locations before my visit using the official Dollywood app. This helps me plan my route through the park. I use the map to coordinate my food stops based on my touring plan. Learn more about that here.
- Target the BEST VALUE Items First: My first credits always go towards items in the “GREEN” zone. I’m definitely using credits on the Chopped Brisket Bowl ($15.99) and the Honey Garlic Chicken Skillet ($14.99) – that’s over $11 in savings on just two items!
- Follow with More Premium Items: Next, I’ll use credits on other pricier “GREEN” zone items like Grilled Steak Flatbread ($14.99) and one of the $13.99 options like Chipotle-Honey BBQ Ribs or Braised Beef Ragu Nachos.
4. Consider Dietary Needs: If you’re vegetarian or gluten-sensitive, look for the labeled options (GF/V/VG) in the GREEN zone like Pesto Caprese Panini ($13.99) or Loaded Street Fries ($13.99).
5. Pay Cash for “RED” Items: I always pay cash/card for beverages ($5.99) and bakery items ($6.49-$6.99). Using a credit on these loses money.
6. Map Your Locations: Note that festival food items are spread throughout the park. Plan your route to hit Market Square, the Festival Booths by TN Mountain Home, and other key locations efficiently. Add these to your touring plan ahead of time so you don’t lose precious touring time trying to make decisions.
7. Check the Last Date: Remember that the last day to use your Tasting Pass is June 8th, so plan your visits accordingly!
The Final Bite: Delicious Value Requires Strategy
The Dollywood Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass for 2025 can be an excellent value, but it requires some strategic planning. By knowing the break-even point (around $9.74 per credit for regular guests, $9.08 for passholders) and targeting the higher-priced items, you can save significantly.
If you’re planning to try several of the premium dishes from the GREEN zone, the Tasting Pass is definitely worth purchasing. A well-planned strategy focusing on the heartiest entrées priced $13.99+ can save you $20+ on five items. However, if you’re more interested in beverages or bakery items, you’re better off paying à la carte.
Happy tasting amid the beautiful blooms!
