Dogwood Festival promises Fayetteville future amid budget concerns: 'Not going anywhere'
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The executive director of Fayetteville's beloved Dogwood Festival is clarifying the event's future as organizers face ongoing financial challenges.
Recent discussions with city officials revealed that festival leaders are feeling the strain of rising costs and are seeking additional funding to maintain the event at its current scale in the coming years.
"We're not going anywhere. It just means pivoting and looking at the layout of the festival and how we can keep it continuing," said Kaylynn Suarez, executive director of the Dogwood Festival.
Suarez emphasized that the festival, like many others, is grappling with financial pressures amid higher expenses.
"It's not a secret that we're all struggling, because if the average household is struggling, imagine what the people that are seeking those household homes funds are going through."
The free, three-day festival costs about $147,000 to operate and attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown Fayetteville each year. With more than 100 vendors, festival officials estimate it generates between $10 million and $20 million annually for the local economy.
Suarez told city leaders that the festival currently has just $22,000 in its account, prompting questions about its long-term sustainability. However, she assures the 2026 festival is still on track, with sponsorships and vendor payments expected to cover this year's costs.
"The hotels, the restaurants that they eat at, the guests that they purchase, the grocery stores that they visit, all of that tax that comes in goes back into the county and then into the city. So that money is going somewhere. It's just not going to the festival. And while we're not asking for all of it, we're asking for some of it," Suarez said.
Historically, the city has contributed between $12,000 and $15,000 to the festival. This year, festival leaders are requesting between $30,000 and $100,000 to help offset increased costs.
"The prices have gone up drastic. So what may have been a headliner costing only $10,000 to $15,000 before, that headliner might be costing anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000," Suarez said.
Despite the challenges, organizers say the event pays for itself. Sponsors contribute more than $100,000, and vendors bring in more than $80,000 each year.
Amanda Jekel, executive director of Fascinate-U Children's Museum, said her organization is excited to participate as a vendor this year.
"We're expecting a lot of fun and a large crowd. So we have a lot of supplies ready to make wild seed flower bombs and all sorts of really cool science experiments," Jekel said. "This will be our first year partnering with Dogwood. We've done this event every year separately, and so this year we decided to really come together and enhance both of our experiences."
While organizers continue to seek funding for future festivals, Suarez maintains that the Dogwood Festival is here to stay.
"We're not going anywhere," she said.
The board is considering adding an extra day in the coming years and possibly charging admission for that day to help offset costs, but for now, the event will remain free.
This year's Dogwood Festival begins on April 24.
