Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Photo Credit: Explore Georgia. Photo by Kimie Yates, @kimieyates
Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Piedmont Park in the Spring
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Every spring, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park honors the warmer weather with performances, art booths, kiddie rides, snacks from local restaurants, and thousands upon thousands upon thousands of cabin-fevered Atlantans.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2021 Arts Agenda, Festivals
Friday April 9, 2021 12:00 pm EDT
The Dogwood Festival will take place April 9-11, 2021
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About the Dogwood Festival
The first Dogwood Festival took place April 19, 1936. The founder of Rich's department store, Walter Rich, was the visionary behind the week-long event.
Largely due to the popularity of the festival, the Dogwood Tree is connected to the City of Atlanta in a similar way that the Cherry Blossom is identified with Washington DC. The Dogwood grows mainly in the Southeast US, the Atlantic Seaboard and the MidWest.
Is the Dogwood Worthy of Its Own Festival?
Creative Loafing's Jeff Slate asks residents:
Street Talk 2009
Ric: "Definitely. When something can bring attention to nature, it’s a good thing. And they are beautiful, they’re beautiful trees. They’re kind of like the cherry blossoms in Japan. They only come a certain time of year, so you might as well enjoy them. The white blossom is different and really stands out in the midst of everyday green, pink and yellow. I’m not a botanist, but a beautiful flower is a beautiful flower. I’m new to Georgia and I’ve never seen a dogwood until I came here. It is a gorgeous tree and flower." |
Street Talk 2009
Gina: If there was an impressive display of them at Piedmont Park, then yes. But I’m from D.C, and the cherry blossoms are always so breathtaking and beautiful. The park here is lacking dogwood trees. It’s kind of silly to name it the Dogwood Festival when you only have five dogwood trees. In D.C. people go to see the cherry blossoms. It’s impressive. There are cherry blossoms! But here, call it a spring festival or something, so you don’t have any expectations of seeing beautiful dogwoods. Or plant some more dogwood trees. |
Street Talk 2009
Rosalyn: Yes. It’s a initial sign of spring. It’s symbolic of Christianity. It was the tree that was used for Jesus to be nailed to the cross, and the flower heavily resembles the cross. My parents and grandparents would always show them to us and explained to us what they meant. It’s the first tree I learned about. There’s a lot of sentimental value, especially for this area because it's the Bible Belt. The white is a symbol of purity. Most people, if they know their history, know what the dogwood symbolizes. And when you see them, they are just so beautiful. |
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2018 Video
News About the Dogwood Festival
Past Coverage
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2021 Article
Friday April 9, 2021 12:00 pm EDT
The Dogwood Festival will take place April 9-11, 2021
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Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2020 Article
Friday August 7, 2020 12:06 pm EDT
This year's Atlanta Dogwood festival has been postponed to August 7 – August 9, 2020 and then cancelled. We'll publish the festival schedule, recommendations and events next Spring when it returns.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2019 Article
Friday April 12, 2019 12:10 pm EDT
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Annual Event
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SEE & DO: Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Issue Date April 04 2017 Article
Tuesday April 4, 2017 03:09 pm EDT
The popular festival is back for its 81st year
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Dogwood Festival returns this weekend Article
Tuesday April 13, 2010 08:10 pm EDT
Atlanta party-funk crew Noot d' Noot will perform, along with local psych-surf dudes the Jaguars, Soulphonics & Ruby Velle and the Forty-Fives
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See & Do - Special event: Atlanta Dogwood Festival April 12 2010 Article
Monday April 12, 2010 04:00 am EDT
Fri.-Sun., April 16-18
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Photo Galleries - Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park Article
Tuesday April 21, 2009 02:15 pm EDT
Photos from this year's Festival
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Streetalk: Is a dogwood worthy of its own festival? Article
Sunday April 12, 2009 12:22 pm EDT
image-1Ric: Definitely. When something can bring attention to nature, it’s a good thing. And they are beautiful, they’re beautiful trees. They’re kind of like the cherry blossoms in Japan. They only come a certain time of year, so you might as well enjoy them. The white blossom is different and really stands out in the midst of everyday green, pink and yellow. I’m not a... | more...
Pop Smart - See & Do: Atlanta Dogwood Festival Article
Friday April 4, 2008 03:00 pm EDT
2008 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage
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See & Do - Art: Atlanta Dogwood Festival April 02 2008 Article
Wednesday April 2, 2008 12:04 am EDT
Fri., April 4
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It's official: Lenox will host Dogwood Festival Article
Friday February 1, 2008 10:39 pm EST
CL's 2008 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage
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Dogwood Fest to Lenox? Article
Thursday January 31, 2008 11:00 pm EST
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage from the January, 2008 issue of Creative Loafing.
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Dogwood Fest still scrambling Article
Tuesday January 29, 2008 04:36 pm EST
CL's 2008 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage
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Atlanta Dogwood Fest looks for a new home Article
Friday January 11, 2008 11:08 pm EST
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage from the January, 2008 issue of Creative Loafing.
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Are you looking forward to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival? Article
Wednesday April 11, 2007 12:04 am EDT
Everyday answers to oddball questions
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See & Do - Festival: Atlanta Dogwood Festival April 11 2007 Article
Wednesday April 11, 2007 12:04 am EDT
Sat., April 14
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Reasons to go to the Dogwood Festival Article
Wednesday April 5, 2006 12:04 am EDT
Five acts worth checking out
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Local Music Feature: Atlanta Dogwood Festival Music Schedule Article
Thursday April 1, 2004 12:04 am EST
Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2004
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Atlanta Dogwood Festival Music Schedule 2004 Article
Thursday April 1, 2004 12:04 am EST
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage from the April, 2004 issue of Creative Loafing.
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Dogs banned from the Atlanta Dogwood Festival Article
Thursday March 25, 2004 12:04 am EST
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage from the March, 2004 issue of Creative Loafing.
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Atlanta Dogwood Festival music schedule Article
Wednesday April 9, 2003 12:04 am EDT
Atlanta Dogwood Festival Coverage from the April, 2003 issue of Creative Loafing.
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Dogwood Festival sprouts a new leaf Article
Wednesday April 10, 2002 12:04 am EDT
Our Coverage of the 2002 Atlanta Dogwood Festival
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Talk of the Town - Suzika's Dream, Bluegrass, the Dogwood Festival (left) and more April 11 2001 Article
Wednesday April 11, 2001 12:04 am EDT
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Did your friend enjoy the Dogwood Festival? Article
Wednesday April 11, 2001 12:04 am EDT
Talk of the Town Profiles: Dogwood Festival 2001
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Atlanta Dogwood Festival - News, Information about the Dogwood Festival