The Atlanta Dogwood Festival

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place every year in Piedmont Park during April every year. This Atlanta festival runs on a weekend for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Atlanta Dogwood Festival has activities for kids, families, art and craft lovers, and even has a dog competition! The artists market features artisans from around the country. The Atlanta festival comes complete with traditional foods, from funnel cakes to hot dogs, and kettle corn to crab cakes. Other entertainment includes music acts and a kid's amusement area.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Artist Market

The artists fair at the festival is a judged event featuring top artists. According to their website, they have over 200 artists exhibiting their works. The artists at the festival come from all over the country and include jewelry makers, glass workers, painters, sculptures, and photographers. If you would like to have a place at the Dogwood artist market, plan well in advance, because applications close months before the date of the festival. Prizes are awarded in each category of art represented.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Kids' Village

The Kids' Village is an area of the festival filled with activities and entertainment for kids. Apart from the arts and crafts areas, there is a climbing wall and putt putt golf. Other kids' activities at the festival include dance contests, relay races, and face painting. This part of the festival is sponsored by Publix supermarkets, with the goal of keeping kids entertained for hours. By the end of the day at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, your kids should be all tired out.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Dog Competition

On a rather unique note, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival hosts a Frisbee dog competition. The competition is the US Disc Dog Southern Nationals, and only open to serious competitors. The event is run by the Greater Atlanta Dog and Disc Club as well as WOOF! Sports USA. Even though you can't enter your pet in this competition, you and your family will have fun watching these agile dogs show off their speed and jumping skills. Check out the Greater Atlanta Disc and Dog website for more information and photos of this fun sport. No pet dogs are allowed at the Dogwood Festival, so leave Fido at home!

Atlanta Dogwood Festival - Donating and Volunteering

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival encourages community involvement and donation. There are several ways to contribute to the community at the festival. First, the festival needs volunteers to keep it running. Volunteering opportunities include encouraging people to donate, and manning the Kids' Village. Additionally, Atlanta non-profit businesses will have their own section at the Dogwood Festival, known as the "Community Corner." In this area of the Dogwood Festival, you can learn about local non-profit organizations or make a small donation to have a tree planted. It doesn't take much to help keep the community strong.