For the past 45 years, the Orleans community has celebrated the blooming of the dogwood trees.
This year’s 46th annual Dogwood Festival, sponsored by the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, runs April 30 through May 4.
Dogwood Festival visitors are invited to start their day Saturday, which is parade day, by attending the Annual Orleans Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast.
Serving will be from 6:30-9 a.m. at Orleans Elementary School. Tickets, priced at $5 for adults and $2 for children, are available for purchase from Kiwanis members or at the door.
After breakfast, a variety of events and activities will take place on the square.\
Chamber representatives recently learned that Coca-Cola as agreed to be one of the festival’s main corporate sponsors this year.
“We certainly appreciate Dean Jones and the Coca-Cola folks for stepping up and helping us to keep the festival going,” said Executive Director Robert Henderson.
Henderson said other than a small handful of generous corporate benefactors the only annual operating monies the festival receives is the 10% of the net profits of those groups, or organizations who traditionally sponsor money making events during the Dogwood days.
Weather Note: Some events subject to change or cancellation due to weather. The Main Stage entertainment will be moved to Orleans Elementary, SR 337 E in the event of bad weather.
*Both the Orleans Christian Church and Orleans United Methodist are designated emergency type shelter areas during festival week in the event of severe weather or other type of emergency.
First Aid-Orleans 1st Responders (South side square).
Dogwood Headquarters, festival, area visitor info etc. (Orleans Chamber, north side of square)
Wednesday, April 30 (Official Opening Day)
Dogwood Headquarters-Chamber Office – Vendors Arts & Crafts-Congress Square
- 4-7 pm Student Art Show-Orleans Library
- 4:30 pm OES/OHS Choir Performs-Main Stage
- 5 pm OHS Pep Band Concert-Main Stage
- 5-10 pm Carnival-Congress Square
- 6 pm *Gospel in the Park (Kirby Staley)-Main Stage
*Sponsored by Orleans Area Ministerial Association
Thursday, May 1
Dogwood Headquarters-Chamber Office – Vendors Arts & Crafts-Congress Square
- 10 am – 6 pm Student Art Show Orleans Office
- 11 am- 8 pm Silent Auction-OCC Unity Hall
- 11 am-8 pm Photo Contest Display-OCC Unity Hall
- 11 am- 8 pm Dogwood Art Walk-OCC Unity Hall lobby
- 5 – 10 pm Carnival-Congress Square
- 5 pm Registration/6 pm Start *Cub Scout Rain Gutter Regatta-Congress Square *Sponsored by Coca-Cola
- 6 pm Local observance National Day of Prayer-Prayer Booth in Park *Sponsored by Orleans Ministerial Association
- 6:30 pm Sign-In/ 7 p.m. Start -Euchre Tourney-Fire Department
- 7 pm Lip Sync Contest-Main Stage
Friday, May 2
Dogwood Headquarters-Chamber Office – Vendors Arts & Crafts-Congress Square
- 10 am – 5 pm Student Art Show Orleans Library
- 11 am-8 pm Silent Auction-OCC Unity Hall
- 11 am-8 pm Photo Contest-OCC Unity Hall
- 11 am-8 pm Dogwood Art Walk-OCC Unity Hall lobby
- 5 -7 pm UMC Ham & Bean Supper-Orleans Elementary
- 7 pm Pet Monkey Band performs-Main Stage
Saturday, May 3
Dogwood Headquarters-Chamber Office – Vendors Arts & Crafts-Congress Square
- 6:30-9 am Kiwanis Breakfast-Orleans Elementary
- 9 am-4 pm Silent Auction-OCC Unity Hall
- 9 am-4 pm Photo Contest Display-OCC Unity Hall
- 9 -11 am Tri Co. Tractor Club Display-D & B Grain Parking Lot
- 10 am – 2 pm Student Art Show – Orleans Library
- 10 am Kiwanis Bubblegum Contest-Bandstand
- 10:30 am Dogwood Pet Parade-Bandstand area
- NOON-46th Annual Dogwood Parade (Theme: “Come Home When Dogwood Blooms”-Historic Maple Street)
- 2 pm Sweet Water (band)-Main Stage
- 5 pm Carnival closes
Sunday, May 4 (Official Closing Out)
- 6 pm Community Vesper Service – Congress Square (In case of rain, Orleans United Methodist Church)
