The weather is finally breaking; warmer days are becoming more frequent, and the gardens are in full bloom. This can only mean one thing: it’s time for the annual Dogwood Festival. Fayetteville’s biggest free community event stretches from Downtown on Hay Street to Festival Park, featuring food, entertainment, rides, and vendors. The weekend-long event kicks off on Friday, April 25, and runs through Sunday, April 27.
Since the early 1980s, the Dogwood Festival, organized by a nonprofit organization, has hosted a variety of quality, family-friendly events in downtown Fayetteville. The spring festival not only provides an opportunity for the community to come out and enjoy but also helps boost tourism, contributing to the local economy, with an average attendance of 250,000 over the three-day weekend. While the festival has experienced its ups and downs, one thing has remained constant: the organization’s dedication to offering a variety of free family-centered events for the community. And this year is no different.

Festival Entertainment
One of the most popular features of the Dogwood Festival is the free concerts held all weekend on the main stage in Festival Park. Each day will feature top bands and musicians from across the Carolinas, including local talent. Those who are planning on attending the concerts at Festival Park, please be advised of the following rules: No coolers, no personal food or drink, no outside alcohol, no pets, and no weapons.
Lawn chairs and blankets are acceptable. Food trucks and the free Kids Zone will be available in Festival Park.
Main Stage Lineup:
Friday/ Rock
• 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. - The Simpletones (Sanford, NC)
• 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
• 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Fear State (Fayetteville)
• 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Echostone (The Carolinas)

Saturday/ Local Acts & Headliners
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Nicholas Vernon (Vander, NC)
• 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. - The Guy Unger Band (Fayetteville)
• 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. - Josh Ross
• 9:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Drew Baldridge
Sunday/ Variety
• 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. - The Phoebes (RTP, NC)
• 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Throwback Collaboration Band (Fayetteville)
The Dogwood Festival will feature free concerts and Kid Zone, a midway full of carnival rides, food trucks, and vendors. Along with the attractions that people have come to love and expect, this year’s event organizers have added some new attractions and brought back some fan favorites to the festival.
Thursday, April 24
• Cork & Fork
6 p.m.
An evening of wine, beer, and tapas featuring local restaurants, live music, and a cigar-rolling class. Ticketed event.
Saturday, April 26
• Cooking for a Cause Wing Cookoff
Voting starts at noon
Sunday, April 27
• Classic Car & Truck Cruise
Noon to 4 p.m.
Hay Street
Categories for antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Festival Schedule
The 2025 Dogwood Festival offers a wealth of fun for all ages. From browsing the vendors in scenic downtown to enjoying live music at the main stage in Festival Park, there's something for everyone. This year's event will feature over 100 vendors, a diverse selection of food trucks, and a variety of entertainment. Located in Festival Park, the dedicated Kids Zone will provide bouncy houses, games, and other activities for our youngest residents and festival attendees.
Friday
Festival Park
5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Kicking off the festival, attendees can enjoy the official opening ceremony of the 2025 Dogwood Festival, enjoy some of the best Rock bands in the Carolinas, and have their fill of the tastiest food trucks around.
Saturday
Downtown Fayetteville (Hay Street) & Festival Park
Noon to 11 p.m.
The first full day of the festival will feature vendors on Hay Street, as well as the amazing businesses that call it home. There will not be a shortage of places to eat and drink. The midway, vendors, sponsors, and food trucks will be awaiting attendees as they make their way down to Festival Park, located at 335 Ray Ave.
Sunday
Downtown Fayetteville & Festival Park
Noon to 8 p.m.
Closing out the festival weekend, attendees can enjoy the Classic Car Show downtown, groove to local DJs in Festival Park from Noon to 6 p.m., and grab any last-minute handcrafted goodies or turkey leg.
Don’t miss out on any of the fun, check out the Dogwood Festival map at https://www.thedogwoodfestival.com/festival-map-2025.

Parking & Festival Tips
• Don’t get ticketed during the festival; make sure you are in a city-run lot. All lots owned by the City of Fayetteville will have event parking and are designated by blue signs. Parking lots without the blue sign designation by the city are private and therefore subject to rules set by those lots. Air Garages are not owned by the city and have an independently set fee for events. City-owned parking garages, such as Franklin Street, will be available. For a map of city-owned parking, download the ParkMobile app.
• While many vendors will be accepting digital forms of payment, it’s always a good idea to bring cash. ATM access is limited downtown, so a quick trip to the bank before coming downtown is always a great idea.
• Strollers are perfectly fine in Festival Park, but some wagons are not allowed. When in doubt, check the website, https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails/Festival-Park
• Make sure to utilize the festival map. Don’t miss a food truck, performance, or vendor.
This year’s festival is anticipated to be one of the biggest since its resurgence after the COVID-19 lockdown. Under the new leadership of Kaylynn Suarez and renewed excitement, the festival is destined to not only be successful but also set a new standard. As with any event, it wouldn’t be possible without the amazing sponsors who give time, energy, goods, services, and money. Some of this year’s sponsors include: PWC, Beasley Media Group, Healy Wholesale, DistiNCtly Fayetteville, Up & Coming Weekly, ABC 11, Cumulus Media, The Fayetteville Observer, Campbell University, Dogwood Nursery & Sheds, CityView and a host of other generous businesses and individuals.
For more information on The Dogwood Festival and its sponsors, check out the website at https://www.thedogwoodfestival.com/.

(Photos courtesy of the Dogwood Festival)