From the return of the Dogwood Festival to the Fayetteville Comic Con, the weekend will be jam-packed with fun things to do in the Fayetteville area.
40th Annual Dogwood Festival
The 40th annual Dogwood Festival returns to Fayetteville on Thursday and runs through Sunday at Festival Park.
The three-day festival offers live music, a kids’ zone, carnival rides, a midway and various vendors. Music performers include rock bands Marcy Playground and Hoobastank on Friday; country music by Tyler Farr, Kameron Marlowe and Dillon Carmicheal on Saturday; and The Purple Madness, a Prince tribute band, on Sunday.
The festival is 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Fayetteville Comic Con
The Fayetteville Comic Con holds its spring convention Saturday and Sunday at the Crown Complex Expo Center. Since 2021, there have been two conventions a year with the other being held in the fall.
The Comic Con features all things “geek” from comics, toys, gaming, cosplay, horror, creators and celebrities. The event is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Fourth Friday
Cool Spring Downtown District hosts May’s Fourth Friday event Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.
The event features food vendors, live music and a chance to explore downtown.
Wedding Expo
The Barn at Righteous Oaks hosts a Wedding Expo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1578 Dunn Road. The event will include caterers, cakes, accessories, decor and wedding planners. There will also be giveaways and classes at the event.
The event is free but people can register on Eventbrite.
Earth Day at the Market
Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom hosts its Earth Day-themed farmers market Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Hope Mills.
There will be a street cleanup of Corporation Drive at 9 a.m. before the market that is open to volunteers. Bringing gloves is advised for the cleanup. The market offers plants and plant-based and reusable products.
Spring Lake Cleanup
Hazardous waste like oven cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, garden pesticides, bulk trash or tires and electronics can be disposed of during the spring clean-up, hosted by Spring Lake Stormwater Management.
The event is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Lake Recreation Center.
Cape Fear Studios Exhibit
Cape Fear Studios hosts its seventh annual Alpha Romeo Tango Exhibit featuring art from military-affiliated artists from Thursday through May 24.
An opening reception is Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.at 148 Maxwell St.
Arts Council 10:10:10 Exhibit
Ten North Carolina artists will be featured in the 10:10:10 Exhibit hosted by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.
The free exhibit runs through May 21 at the Arts Council, 301 Hay St.
Get to know more about the featured artists on We Are the Arts website.
Roller Skating
Cora’s Community Foundation hosts The Rollout, a skating event, that will give attendees the chance to meet candidates for some local government races.
The event is Tuesday at Round-A-Bout Skating Center in the Eutaw Shopping Center from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Demetria Murphy, cofounder of the Heal the Ville organization
According to Rakeem Jones, founder of Cora’s Community Foundation, the following candidates for local offices will be at the event:
Mayor Mitch Colvin; mayoral candidate J. Antoine Miner; City Council District 3 candidates Kurin Keys and Mario Benavente; Candidate for Cumberland County District Court, Judge Adam Phillips,l City Council candidate for District 6 Peter Pappas; state Sen. Kirk DeVierel and Charles Graham, who is seeking a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for District 7.
City Market at the Museum
The 2022 season of the city market at the museum kicks off Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The market, held at the Fayetteville History Museum, features locally grown vegetables and fruits, eggs and honey. There will also be seasonal offerings including plants, flowers, wood crafts, soaps and candles
The event is each Saturday through December at 325 Franklin St.
Staff writer Akira Kyles can be reached at akyles@gannett.com.
