Lasst uns feiern! The cooler weather has finally arrived with perfect timing for the Dogwood Foundation’s Dogwood Nights Series, Oktoberfest edition on Saturday, October 10th. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and wrap up promptly at 9 p.m.. This month’s Dogwood Nights is transforming Downtown Fayetteville into a little slice of Germany, with polka, Oktoberfest-themed brews, dancing and a pretzel-eating contest. That’s right, a champion of salted carbs will be crowned at Gaston Brewing Restaurant at 124 Hay Street. The Little German Band, a Raleigh-Durham-based polka band and dance troupe, will be providing the live entertainment for the evening, an immersive, authentic Polka experience. Downtown businesses that include bars, restaurants, and shops will be open and ready to serve attendees.
Dogwood Nights is a new event series presented by the Dogwood Foundation and its community partner, Brightspeed Fiber.
On the second Tuesday of the month, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival board members and volunteers close down Hay Street and throw a big street party, highlighting the businesses of downtown, select local vendors, and live entertainment and performances. The series was created to enhance the Downtown Fayetteville experience with curated live entertainment. The goal is not only to bring people downtown but for them to discover a new favorite place while they are there.
“Dogwood Nights has grown into more than we ever could have hoped for, and we are incredibly excited about what’s still to come!” said Kaylynn Suarez, Executive Director of Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. “The success of this series would not be possible without the partnerships that continue to invest in our mission and our community. A special thank you to Brightspeed Fiber, our presenting sponsor of Dogwood Nights, for believing in this series and helping us create more opportunities for our community to come together, connect, and enjoy downtown Fayetteville. We are grateful for their continued support and excited to keep building something special together. The best is still ahead.”
Community partners are vital to what the Dogwood Foundation does: from local businesses to corporate sponsors, these collaborations make events like Dogwood Nights completely free for the community. For many, Brightspeed Fiber is just the company that provides its Wi-Fi, but the company itself is making big investments behind the scenes into the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community. Their partnership with the Dogwood Foundation has not only meant a lot for the organization, but for Brightspeed as well.
“At Brightspeed, we believe strong communities are built through strong partnerships,” said Sabrina Anderson at Brightspeed. “Supporting the Dogwood Foundation and the Dogwood Nights series is one way we can invest in the people and neighborhoods we serve every day.”
As always on event days, the public is reminded that road closures will begin around 4:30 p.m. the day of the event on Hay Street and side roads. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the Franklin Street parking deck for convenience. City Parking is free that day on side streets. All parking lots labeled “Air Lots” are privately owned and are subject to towing. Organizers also ask that the public refrain from bringing electronic scooters or bikes to the event for safety purposes. For more information about Dogwood Nights or the Dogwood Foundation, visit https://www.thedogwoodfestival.com/