Every spring, the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival brings the community together to celebrate everything that makes this community so special — the people, the food, the music, the diversity.
The festival boasts an impressive list of well-deserved awards, including four awards from the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events in 2018 alone. The festival was also named the 2018 Event of the Year in the Southeast by the Southeast Festivals and Events Association.
Longtime Dogwood Festival Director Carrie King retired last year, leaving the event in the hands of its new director — Malia Allen.
The Dogwood Festival starts Thursday, April 25, with Cork & Fork. Enjoy appetizers, beverages and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Kids Peace Foster Care. Tickets cost $40 per person. Find out more at www.thedogwoodfestival.com.
The festival’s activities include fireworks, rides, food, a midway and an abundance of live entertainment. The music stages include local performers as well as national artists.
Friday’s acts include The Pharcyde, and Tone Loc. The Pharcyde is an alternative rap quartet from South Central Los Angeles, California. The group formed in the early 1990s and has released three albums.
Tone Loc was a 1980s rap pioneer. His was the second rap act to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s album charts. “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” were his first two hit singles and remain his two most popular songs. Tone Loc went on to work in TV and film and continues his music career.
Friday festival hours: 5-11 p.m.
5 p.m. — Festival Park opens
5:30 p.m. — Throwback Collaboration Band
6:45 p.m. — Opening Ceremony/National
Anthem — Jill Charles
7:15 p.m. — Lotus Sun
9 p.m. — The Pharcyde
10 p.m. — Tone Loc
11 p.m. — Fireworks
Saturday festival hours: Noon-10:30 p.m.
Hay Street Performance Area
Noon — King BMX
12:35 p.m. — Ladysticks Music Performing Arts
1 p.m. — J’s U.S. Taekwondo
1:35 p.m. — Shadows of the Fire
2:25 p.m. — King BMX
3 p.m. — Aloha Ka’naka O Hula Halau
3:35 p.m. Shadows of the Fire
4:25 p.m. Canton of Attillium
5 p.m. King BMX
5:35 p.m. Aloha Ka’naka O Hula Halau
Festival Park Stage
1 p.m. - TBD
3 p.m. - Jill Charles & Nobody’s Business
5 p.m. - Denver Nixon Band
7 p.m. - Corey Smith
9 p.m. - Colt Ford
Country musician Corey Smith has sold more than 1 million concert tickets, 1.5 million digital singles and more than 220,000 albums. He’s got 10 albums to his name, but even more impressive is the fact that he’s written every song on every album he’s recorded. Some of his hits include “Twenty-one,” “If I Could Do It Again” and “I Love Everyone.”
Colt Ford said he has one goal when it comes to his music, “I’m just trying to bring people together.”
The Georgia native and former golf pro brings country, blues, rock and rap together for a unique sound and a philosophy of live and let live that resonates with his fans.
Sunday festival hours: Noon-9 p.m.
Hay Street Performance Area
Noon — bKing BMX
12:35 p.m. — Elevo Dynamics
1 p.m. — J’s U.S. Taekwondo
1:35 p.m. — Shadows of the Fire
2:25 p.m. — King BMX
3 p.m. — Aloha Ka’naka O Hula Halau
3:35 p.m. — Shadows of the Fire
4:25 p.m. — Canton of Attillium
5 p.m. — King BMX
5:35 p.m. — Aloha Ka’naka O Hula Halau
Festival Park Stage
1 p.m. — Paige Johnson
3 p.m. — Eastline Band
5 p.m. — The Guy Unger Band
7:30 p.m. — Rumours
A Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Rumours blends perfect harmonies and precise instrumentation while delivering a visually engaging show. The band routinely plays to sold-out audiences and is known as one of the top tribute bands in the country. The band flawlessly recreates the Fleetwood Mac vibe and attitude, drawing in fans far and wide.
Dogwood Festival sanctioned events
Friday, April 26: The Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crimestoppers Barbecue is a 35-year-old tradition. For many, the delicious barbecue, potato salad, coleslaw and a roll for just $8 signifies the unofficial kickoff of the Dogwood Festival. The barbecue takes place in the Harris Teeter Parking lot at 2800 Raeford Rd. on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Proceeds benefit Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers provides a safe and anonymous way to report crimes and also offers rewards. Citizens can call Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477) or toll-free at 866-542-TIPS (8477) if they have information regarding criminal activity. This number is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is designated for Crimestoppers information only. All calls are kept in complete confidence. Learn more at https://faynccrimestoppers.org.
Saturday, April 27: The Hogs & Rags Spring Rally is the largest escorted motorcycle and car rally in the state. Spanning nearly 120 miles, the ride goes from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It includes a stop at Rockin’ A Ranch for breakfast and a meal at the end as well.
The ride leaves the Airborne & Special Operations Museum at 7:30 a.m. It costs $50 per person and includes an official T-shirt, breakfast, lunch, door prizes, a 50/50 cash raffle and 3 gun raffles. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society, The Kidsville News Literacy & Education Foundation and The Special Forces Charitable Trust.
There will be a preparty Friday, April 26, at Mac’s Speed Shop at 482 N. McPherson Church Rd., from 6:30-9 p.m. To register or for more information, visit www.hogsandrags.org.