On April 19 – 21, 2013 the 77th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival presented by PNC Bank will be held in Piedmont Park.
The festival hours are noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a non-profit fine arts festival that is the longest running outdoor even in the city and serves as Atlanta’s annual inauguration of the spring.
Entrance to the festival is free.
The juried Artist Market presents the best of more than 250 artists in a variety of media, from oil painting to jewelry to sculpture and fiber for adults and collectors.
The festival features a 7 p.m. Saturday concert in the Meadow presented by PNC Bank featuring the award-winning Sony Music Nashville recording artist Sara Evans and also a opening act of Kurt Thomas Band.
Supporter donations of $12-20 will be greatly appreciated with reserved seating and cash bar access. VIP supporter donations of $55 gain access to tented seating, private bathrooms, catered hors d’oeuvres and complimentary alcoholic beverages of beer and wine.
The festival sponsors the award-winning High School Art Exhibition, a competition of young artists whose winning artworks are displayed at a show in the Community Center during festival weekend.
In addition to the fine arts for adults and art collectors, there is a Kids Village featuring huge inflatables, arts and crafts and face painting for all ages, as well as the 24-foot rock climbing wall.
“The festival will feature the award-winning international Stage show with entertainment from more than 500 performers representing over 20 countries as well as local community organizations, and the International Village will be filled with edutainment booths from around the world”, said the Chairman of the Board of Directors Brant Andrews.
All weekend long, their will be diverse music of various genres performed live at the Coca-Cola Main Stage and the guests can kickback and relax in the Corona Light Beer Garden also.
“We really hope that the weather holds because we really want everyone to come out and have a great time at our Dogwood Festival,” Andrews said.
Atlanta Journal Constitution will present a disc dog competition, which is a great opportunity to cheer on a favorite canine. Pre-registration will be required prior to the competition.
However, due to city guidelines and ordinance, dogs will not be allowed in the park during the festival and security will be enforced.
Each year, the dogwood festival connects with some of the city’s most vibrant arts organizations and welcomes them as Cultural Alliance Partners. The partners of this year’s festival partners include: The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) as Lead Cultural Alliance Partner, the Atlanta History Center, Margaret Mitchell House, Mudfire, and Smart Glass Jewelry.
The festival’s award-winning Eco-Village is a partnership with Live Thrive that adds suspense to the three-day event and puts educational elements together to make the city greener even after the festival is over.
Delicious foods, including funnel cakes, gyros, crab-cakes, onion rings, and kettle corn will be served at the festival as well.
Guests that are looking to travel by Marta can take the Marta train to the Arts Center Station or the Midtown Station on 10th Street and walk east 10th Street straight to Piedmont Park. The shuttle will run from the Arts Center and Midtown Stations.
Parking is available in the Campanile Parking Deck at 1155 Juniper Street and at the Sage Parking Facility operated by the Atlanta Botanical Garden for guests looking to drive.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival special hotel rates are offered at nearby Midtown hotels.
If interested, visit www.dogwood.org to find out more information.
