18 UCW APRIL 25-MAY 1, 2018
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Every spring for
the past three-and-
a-half decades, the
Fayetteville Dogwood
Festival has brought the community together to
celebrate the diversity and uniqueness that make
this community so special. This year, the festival
won four awards from the North Carolina Associa-
tion of Festivals and Events and was named the 2018
event of the year in the Southeast by the Southeast
Festivals and Events Association. Carrie King,
Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Executive Director
said of the award, "We are beyond thrilled to bring
home this prestigious award for our community.
The spirit of the Fayetteville community made the
Dogwood Festival a natural choice for the award.
We could not do what we do without the continued
support of our sponsors, volunteers and patrons."
This year's event
embodies the many
reasons the festival
is a winner both
regionally and state-
wide. Along with the
beloved favorites,
there are some new
events and pro-
gramming changes
this year, including
a new event to kick
things off. It's called Cork & Fork and it takes place
Wednesday, April 25, from 6-9 p.m. at Festival Park.
Cork & Fork is an evening of chef-inspired gour-
met creations paired with elegant complimentary
wines. It is a fundraiser for KidsPeace. Tickets are
$40 each and are available online at w w w.faydog-
woodfestival.com.
Additionally, the Dogwood Festival is taking
its traditional three-day format and expanding it
to a four-day weekend, with the official festivities
kicking off Thursday and continuing through the
weekend to include extended hours Sunday.
The festival hours are: Thursday, April 26, from
5-10 p.m.; Friday, April 27, from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday,
April 28, from noon-11 p.m.; and Sunday, April 29,
from noon-9 p.m.
The Thursday addition to the Dogwood Festival
will feature a band and food vendors exclusively.
The Sherman Neckties open Thursday at 6 p.m. on
the Compare Foods Stage. From 8-9:45 p.m., Jackyl
will perform.
No festival is complete without the midway
carnival, which will run Friday through Sunday.
Other events will run throughout the weekend as
well, including the BMX Shows, Airborne Aerials
and street performances, the activity zone, and the
street fair.
Boom and Bloom and the opening ceremony
kick-off party take place Friday, April 27. The E.E
Smith Marching Band opens the festivities at 5:30
p.m. in Festival Park. The evening concludes with a
fireworks display between 10 and 11 p.m.
