City leaders, Dreamville organizers announce new music festival coming to Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- People from all over the country and world will descend upon Raleigh starting Friday for the fifth and last installment of Dreamville Festival, and we are hearing from folks who believe the festival has put Raleigh on the map.

The festival officially happens on Saturday and Sunday, but this whole week has been filled with Dreamville-related activities.

Pop-up shopping, musical events, and later workout sessions, and art displays.

The organizers provided some insight on Thursday during a press conference into what attendees could expect at this year's final festival and how it will top all the others.

Many fans were clamoring for an extension; however, behind the scenes, those conversations were already happening between the festival's leaders and the City of Raleigh.

"We're gonna be bringing you a new brand in Raleigh, North Carolina, continue to do a music festival here at Dix Park," Dreamville Promoter Sascha Stone Guttfreund said. "We're so excited for the opportunity, and we're gonna be here for years to come."

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau says last year, Dreamville brought in over $10 million each day in economic impact.

People who come from out of state say this has been something that has elevated Raleigh as a must-see destination.

"Oh, 100%. I think people think that Raleigh is not a place where things happen or hasn't been anything, but ever since Dreamville came, people definitely need to make it to Raleigh," said Tiffany Cox.

And with Dreamville bringing more foot traffic to Raleigh, local businesses are cashing in.

Brinton Hayes, an NCCU grad, has been working around the clock to get his new bar, District on Glenwood Ave., up and running in time for Dreamville. He said music festivals like Dreamville help keep his own dream afloat all year round.

"It's been amazing. You know, the amount of people that I've met so far that are not even from Raleigh, that are just traveling to the area just because of the event. It's been tremendous. And I really hope that they continue it because it's an amazing thing for not only Raleigh but the state of North Carolina in general," Hayes said.

What does that look like?

The new festival will involve Dreamville and J Cole, but festival leaders have not settled on a name just yet. But the event would take place at Dix Park and involve some of the same talent and leaders that brought Dreamville to Raleigh.

The new event is also expected to be held in the spring, just like Dreamville.