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Dogwood-Azalea Festival returns to Charleston, Mo. April 16-19

Talk of the Heartland: Dogwood-Azalea Festival returns April 16-19 Talk of the Heartland: Dogwood-Azalea Festival returns April 16-19 (kfvs12)

CHARLESTON, Mo. (KFVS) - The 58th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival is set for April 16-19 in Charleston.

People can head out to explore the six-mile Dogwood-Azalea Trail and take part in plenty of activities.

Visit the event website or Facebook page.

Miss Dogwood Azalea Pageant

Leading up to the festival, the Miss Dogwood Azalea Pageant is Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Auditorium at Charleston High School.

Entry fee is $5 per person, ages two and younger are free.

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Doors open at 5 p.m. The Shaw Shack food truck will be onsite.

The pageant is open to all communities. Contact 636-235-1152 or mdapageant@gmail.com with questions.

Dogwood-Azalea Festival schedule

At this year’s festival, attendees will not be able to purchase alcohol after the city council voted down sales.

The carnival will run each day on E. Marshall St. at the following times:

  • 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday
  • 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
  • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

There will be a petting zoo and pig races starting at 10 a.m. across from Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free.

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Taste of the Festival opens at 11 a.m. daily, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It includes a variety of food vendors at Rolwing Park and Citizens Bank.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a photo contest will take place at Rolwing park. Categories are Cutest Baby, 0 to 12 months, and Cutest Dog, any age or breed.

Submissions of 5x7 printed vertical photos must be turned in at the Charleston Chamber office on S. Main St. by Monday, April 13. Include contact name and number on the back. Contest entry is $10.

It’s 10 cents per vote, and winners will be announced on the last day of the festival. Winners receive a free portrait session.

Thursday, April 16

A book sale will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library on E. Marshall St.

The Molly French Garden Club will also host a plant sale at that time.

A soup and sandwich luncheon will take place at Southside Baptist Church on School St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Friday, April 17

A book sale will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library on E. Marshall St.

The Molly French Garden Club will also host a plant sale at that time.

A Pop-Up Art Gallery will take place at First Assembly of God on S. Main St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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The Joseph H. Moore Home on N. Main St. will be open to tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5.

The Mississippi County Historical Society will host a bake sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on N. Main St.

A soup and sandwich luncheon will take place at Southside Baptist Church on School St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m, there will be an Arts and Crafts Bazaar at Rolwing Park.

The Mississippi County Historical Society will host a Private Home Tour on E. Commercial St. from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a ticketed event.

Wagon rides will take place down Commercial and Cypress Streets from 2 p.m. to dusk. Pickup and dropoff are at the corner of Main and Market Streets.

From 4 to 8 p.m., First Christian Church on S. Virginia St. will host Grandma’s Cookin’ Supper. Meals are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages six to 12.

The United Methodist Church on E. Marshall St. will have a fish fry for $15 per plate from 5 to 7 p.m.

A truck parade will begin at dusk. Unique trucks will travel from Exit 12 to Exit 10 on E. Marshall and S. Main Streets.

Saturday, April 18

From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., there will be a car show at Galemore Park on Cypress St. Categories include pre-1950, 1950-1980 and 1980-present.

The Charleston Revitalization Movement and select vendors will host the Downtown Showcase from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the Main St. canopy.

A Pop-Up Art Gallery will take place at First Assembly of God on S. Main St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, there will be an Arts and Crafts Bazaar at Rolwing Park.

Lineup for the Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m. The route is from City Hall, down Commercial St., to Rolwing Park. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.

A book sale will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library on E. Marshall St.

The Joseph H. Moore Home on N. Main St. will be open to tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5.

Vybe Coffee House and Cafe on S. Main St. will host a quilt show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wagon rides will take place down Commercial and Cypress Streets from noon to dusk. Pickup and dropoff are at the corner of Main and Market Streets.

Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. for the Dogwood 500 across from Rolwing Park. It’s a battery-powered, four-wheel toy car race with prizes.

From 4 to 8 p.m., First Christian Church on S. Virginia St. will host Grandma’s Cookin’ Supper. Meals are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages six to 12.

A Candlelight Tour featuring 2,250 luminaries will begin at dusk. The tour will run from N. Main, to Cypress, to Commercial St.

Sunday, April 19

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, there will be an Arts and Crafts Bazaar at Rolwing Park.

Registration for cornhole opens at 11 a.m. at the corner of Stark and Cypress Streets. It’s $40 per team for the six-game tournament, with a 75 percent payout. Bags fly at noon.

A 5K and Youth Race will take place at Rolwing Park. Checkin opens at 11 a.m. The Youth Race is set for 1:30 p.m., and the 5K is at 2 p.m. Click here to sign up before April 17.

A dog show is set for 4 p.m. at the Rolwing Park Tennis Courts. It’s free to enter, but dogs must be on a leash. Donations will go to support the Charleston Animal Shelter.

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