Spring Travel Fun! 74-Year-Old Atlanta Dogwood Festival Focuses on New Features

/PRNewswire/ -- No question - 2009 was good to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. With a homecoming to Piedmont Park, successful new features like the International Stage, Friday Night Comedy Show and Friends of Dogwood Pavilion, the city's oldest festival seemed shiny and new. As a result, the Dogwood Festival was honored with a variety of awards this fall including Readers' Pick award for Best Annual Event (Creative Loafing), Readers' Pick for Favorite Festival (Atlanta Magazine), Best Annual Event (Georgia Magazine) and a Silver Award for Best Community Outreach Program for the International Stage from the International Festivals and Events Association's Pinnacle Awards.

LOCATION: The 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in Atlanta's beautiful Piedmont Park. On April 16, 17 and 18, 2010, attendees will enjoy fine art, live entertainment ranging from music to comedy, a variety of food offerings and the fantastic Atlanta spring weather. http://www.dogwood.org/

ARTS: The 2010 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Artist Market participants have been selected from the largest number of exhibitor applications in Dogwood history. The Artist Market welcomes fine artists from throughout the country and will include a special section featuring Georgia artists.

The Dogwood Festival is particularly proud of its High School Art Exhibit, a community-oriented special feature of the festival, which presents the best works created by high school art students.

GLOBAL: Last year, Dogwood went international! The International Stage and decorated golf carts were such hits, that the festival is bringing them back and then some. Look for more exciting and maybe unusual performances on the International Stage, visit the International Village and get a picture next to the golf cart representing your favorite foreign holiday destination without even having to leave town. Each golf cart will be decorated by a local international organization or consulate to bring the world to Atlanta!

SPECTATORS: Each year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival offers entertainment throughout the weekend. As always, the Main Stage at the 2010 festival will include performers from a variety of musical genres. Dogwood attendees can also enjoy the popular live dog show on the lawn or hit the Friday Night Comedy show at the Lake Clara Meer stage; last year's inaugural event sold out, so get tickets early.

FOR FOODIES: The "Friends of Dogwood Pavilion," a ticketed event that has become a popular feature of the Dogwood Festival, will be open Saturday and Sunday. The Pavilion pairs fare from top local restaurants with wines and beers to show the upscale side of the city's longest-running outdoor festival. Tickets to Friends of Dogwood can be purchased in advance at http://www.dogwood.org/ or at the door.

KIDS: Designed just for the younger festival visitors, the Kid's Village has become a Dogwood favorite for families. This interactive zone comes complete with hands-on art projects, special kid-friendly displays and hours of entertainment for children. Spider Jump, anyone?

ENTRANCE: Just as it has been for the past 73 years, the 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival is free!

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