21°
Traditionally the Dogwood Festival has been held Mother’s Day weekend at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. But this year’s festival was moved to May 4-6. The festival committee decided to move the annual festival up to coincide with early-blooming dogwoods and to give volunteers Mother's Day off for a change.
“The Dogwood Festival has, for 78 years, been a wonderful tradition within the Fairfield community,” Dogwood Festival Committee Chair Tom Wambach said in a press release. “Our congregation pulls together to make it the success that it is every year. We work hard and have a lot of fun together.”
The Dogwood Festival began in 1936 as a way for members of the Greenfield Hill congregation to raise money by selling handmade crafts. Art and craft sales are still a major part of the fair, with vendors coming from around New England to participate in the festival and its juried craft show.
The modern version of the festival also includes more than arts and crafts. Live music shows are scheduled throughout the weekend, featuring the church’s choir and other local acts. There will also be games for kids, guided tours through Greenfield Hill’s historic locations and food prepared by church members and local restaurants.
“We will be featuring long-time arts and crafts vendors, as well as several new artisans and craftspeople this year,” Greenfield Hill Congregational co-minister Alida Ward said in a press release. “The weekend-long events are shaping up to be some of our most comprehensive and exciting events of the year in Fairfield and perhaps since the Festival’s inception.”
Profits from the festival go to the church’s outreach board, which in turn supports local and national charities such as Operation Hope, the Children at Risk Fund, Janus House, the Center for Women and Families and Project Learn.
The 2013 Dogwood Festival will take place Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. on the grounds of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, 1045 Old Academy Road. Shuttle Bus parking will also be available at Dwight Elementary School, 1600 Redding Road. For the full schedule and tickets to special events, visit the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church website.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
