Dogwood Festival - A Siloam Springs Tradition
Every Spring for the last 52 years, downtown Siloam Springs begins buzzing in preparation for the annual Dogwood Festival. Vendors begin filling their booths with home made crafts, jewelry and pottery, locally sourced spices and dry goods, and eclectic art and textiles.
The smell of barbecue, kettle corn and freshly squeezed lemonade fill the air along the banks of Sager Creek.
The Dogwood Trees for which the festival is named, are fully in bloom, just in time to greet visitors, both locals and those from all over the country.
For life long residents, the festival is a staple of many childhood memories of face paintings, cotton candy, rubber duck races, and yes, the occasional rain storm.
For newer residents and out of town visitors, the festival is a great introduction to our community. Coming together and supporting local artists and musicians, small business owners and restauranteurs, and all in a family friendly environment.
The First Dogwood Festival was held in April 1975, less than a year after the flood of 1974, which devastated much of downtown Siloam Springs. Planting of the Dogwood and Redbud trees were in part an attempt to improve the downtown again.
Founded by local realtor Donetta Samuels, artist Troy Anderson and civic leader Jim Sheets, the festival not only celebrated the resilience of our community in wake of the flood, but the return of an economy that had been drastically shaped by mother nature.
The first festival was small, featuring around 70 vendors, and was attended by 7,000 visitors from Siloam Springs and the surrounding area. Today, the Dogwood Festival features over 200 vendors and receives around 30,000 visitors and is a the largest income-producing event in the city each year.
Wether its the live music, the hand made arts and crafts, family friendly activities, or the all of the food options to choose from, there is something for everyone at the Dogwood Festival.
The blend of culture, art, food and music truly highlight the best of our community.
