ORLEANS – The Orleans Chamber of Commerce is putting the finishing touches on its upcoming 2023 Dogwood Festival. This year will mark the 53rd anniversary of the celebration of the blooming dogwood, which is set for April 22 through April 29.
This year’s general theme is “Historic Orleans, My Hometown.”
Back by popular demand will be the Dogwood Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre “And Then There Was One To Another Spoof,” on Friday, April 28, Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30. Due to the growing demand for tickets, a third show has also been added for May 3. The cost of dinner and the show is $15 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are now on sale from the Orleans Town Hall.
The Dogwood Baby Contest is back this year and set for a new day and time on April 23. The longtime festival event will be held at the OHS Cafeteria that Sunday morning beginning at 2 pm.
Ashley Knight is once again chairing the now-combined Dogwood Pageants. This year as in the recent past both the Little Miss and Queen Crowning will again take place on the same day April 22nd at Orleans Elementary School. As has become tradition the 2023 “Mr. Dogwood” will also be named during the intermission for the queen crowning and official opening ceremonies. The pageant will begin at 5 p.m.
The Orleans Chamber’s Annual Town Wide Yard Sale is set for April 21-22. The Chamber will pay for advertising for anyone wishing to have a yard or garage sale on that weekend. Everyone is welcome to participate and there is no fee to participate in the event.
Returning also will be the Dogwood Mile Run & Walk on the opening Saturday, April 22 with a start time of 10 a.m. downtown. Registration for the event will be on-site that morning.
The Dogwood Car Show will also take place on the opening weekend, April 22. Registration opens at 10 a.m. Judging of vehicles will be from Noon until 2 p.m.
The Orleans American Legion will once again provide the Midway, Brady’s Amusements, which will set up and operate the entire week as in the past. Advance Sales of the 3-night “Armband”. Tickets are on sale now until 3 p.m. on April 24th while supplies last. The cost is $30 and offers unlimited rides Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights of the festival. The armband tickets may only be purchased at the Orleans Marathon and Hucks gas stations, Dollar Store, Mid-Southern Bank, and the Orleans Town Hall. No bracelet tickets will be sold or available after the cutoff date.
The entertainment lineup for the main stage this year has been expanded and will include performances by the popular band, Shiloh, Sweetwater Duo, and The Breeding Sisters with Worth the Journey Honky Tonk Heroes. Special performances are also planned during the festival week by the Orleans High School Choir and OHS Pep Band.
Other festival favorite highlights include the Phi Beta Psi Styles & Salads, Kids Chalk the Walk, Photo Contest, Student Art Show, the Band Parents Food Stand, Pet Parade, and Arts & Crafts in the Park.
The Orleans Christian Church’s Annual Chili Supper, Dogwood Euchre Tourney, the Orleans Cub Scouts’ “Raingutter Regatta” and Mock Accident Demo will also all return to the festival lineup this year.
Jennifer and Neil Blanton are returning as Parade Chairmen. The longtime hometown newspaper The Orleans Progress Examiner has been chosen as this year’s Grand Marshall. Everyone’s favorite Parade will make its way through the streets of the Dogwood Capital on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 2 p.m. The Chamber is still accepting entries for the event and everyone is being encouraged to participate in this year’s Dogwood Parade. Entry forms may be inside The Orleans Progress Examiner and also available from the Orleans Town Hall and online from the Dogwood website.
Vendor applications are still being accepted for arts and craft type vendors to be set up in the park during festival week.
More festival details, entry forms, and event chairmen’s contacts are available on the festival’s newly updated website, www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com.
The Orleans Dogwood Festival Facebook page is also being updated regularly with new information for 2022.
Chamber Executive Director Robert F. Henderson said the festival committee has been working hard these past many months to bring back both old favorites and some new offerings for this year’s edition of the town’s beloved springtime celebration and homecoming.
Below is a schedule of events:
Friday, April 21
All-Day Town-Wide Yard Sale
Saturday, April 22 (Opening Day!)
All-Day Town-Wide Yard Sale
10 a.m. On-Site Registration-Dogwood Mile Run & Walk-Congress Square
10 a.m. Registration Starts-Dogwood Car Show – Congress Square Show runs Noon until 4 p.m.
5 p.m. – 53rd Annual Dogwood Little Miss, Jr. Miss Queen, “Mr. Dogwood” and Queen Crowning – Orleans Elementary Gym
Sunday, April 23
2 p.m. – Baby Contest – Orleans High School Cafeteria (New Day & Time!)
Monday, April 24
5 p.m. – Carnival opens – Congress Square
*Brady Amusements sponsored by Orleans American Legion Post #69
*O.B.R. Band Parents Food Stand Opens Downtown
Tuesday, April 25
10 a.m. – 5:30 pm – Photo Display – Orleans Public Library
5-10 p.m. – Carnival – Congress Square – Bracelet Night
6 p.m. – Phi Beta Psi Styles & Salads – Orleans Elementary School Cafeteria
6 p.m. – Mock Accident Demonstration – Congress Square
Wednesday, April 26
Dogwood Headquarters – Chamber Office
Vendors Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
4-7 p.m. – Student Art Reception – Orleans Public Library
4-7 p.m. – Photo Contest Display – Orleans Public Library
5-10 p.m. Carnival – Congress Square – Bracelet Night
5 p.m. – OHS Choir/OHS Pep Band – Main Stage6 pm – Gospel Night – Breeding Sisters w/ Worth the Journey – Main Stage
Thursday, April 27
Dogwood Headquarters – Chamber Office
Vendors Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Photo Contest Display-Orleans Public Library
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Student Art Display – Orleans Public Library
5 p.m. -10 p.m. – Carnival-Congress Square Bracelet Night
6 p.m. – Orleans Cub Scouts Pack 384 Rain Gutter Regatta – Congress Square
6 p.m. Registration Starts-Euchre Tourney – Old Leipsic School
Games begin 6:45 p.m.
7p.m. – Sweet Water Duo – Main Stage
Friday, April 28
Dogwood Headquarters – Chamber office
Vendors Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Photo Contest Display – Orleans Public Library
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Student Art Display – Orleans Public Library
6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Chili Cook-Off/Supper – OCC Unity Hall
(Register Chili Sample & Recipe by 5:30 pm)
5-10 p.m. – Carnival – Congress Square
5:30 p.m. – Pet Parade – Congress Square
7 p.m. – Shiloh – Main Stage
7 p.m. – Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Orleans Wesleyan Fellowship Hall
“And Then There Was One Too Another Spoof”
($15 per person)
Saturday, April 29
Dogwood Headquarters – Chamber office
Vendors Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Student Art Display – Orleans Public Library
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Photo Contest Display – Orleans Public Library
10 a.m. – Kids Chalk the Walk – Congress Square
11 a.m. – Orleans Kiwanis Creekbank Potatoes – Carroll Corner (S.E. of Square)
12 noon – 10 p.m. Carnival – Congress Square
1:00 p.m .– Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Band – Main Stage
2 p.m. – 53rd Annual Dogwood Parade – Historic Maple Street (SR 37)
Theme: “Historic Orleans, My Hometown”
Grand Marshall: The Orleans Progress Examiner
7 p.m. – Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Orleans Wesleyan Fellowship Hall
($15 per person)
Sunday, April 30
7 p.m. – Murder Mystery Dinner Show – Orleans Wesleyan Fellowship Hall ($15 per person)
Weather Note: Some events subject to change or cancellation due to weather.
*In the event of severe weather, or any other type of emergency, the Orleans Christian Church and Orleans United Methodist Church are designated shelter areas during festival week.
First Aid – Orleans 1st Responders (South side square).
Dogwood Headquarters, festival, area visitor info, etc. (Orleans Chamber, north side of square).
