The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival

Elizabeth D. Wood Smith

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780738542102
• eBook ISBN: 9781439617212
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

During the month of April, the residents of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange Counties converge on the city of Charlottesville to celebrate the beauty of Central Virginia and honor the state flower. Beginning in 1950 as the Apple Harvest Festival, the festival took on its current name, the Charlottesville Dogwood Festival, in 1958. Each year, Charlottesville comes alive not only with the blooms and blossoms of spring, but with fireworks, amusement rides, and a host of local royalty. The beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and fall foliage as well as breathtaking springs and some of the nation's oldest and most prestigious plantations make this area one of the most popular places to visit in the South. The Charlottesville Dogwood Festival takes pride in being a long-standing part of an area rich in tradition and heritage.

Three

THE DOGWOOD FESTIVAL IN THE 1970s

The Dogwood Festival was thriving in the 1970s. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1974. Charlottesville was changing and growing, and the Dogwood Festival had to make some changes, too. In the late 1970s, Main Street was closed to traffic. It became a pedestrian mall. The Dogwood Parade was forced to find a new route. The parade now went down Water Street and Market Street. Some parades were held at night, and others were held during the day. By the end of the 1970s, all parades were held during the morning hours.

The 1970s were the decade of celebrities in Charlottesville. The very popular Phyllis George (Miss America 1971), Elizabeth Taylor, Red Skelton, and Gov. Mills Godwin were all part of the Dogwood Festival. In 1976, Charlottesville celebrated the bicentennial. The celebration included a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. She visited Monticello, strolled down the lawn to the Rotunda, and waved to crowds as her entourage drove through downtown. The Dogwood Festival parade had an unofficial “1776” theme to it.

The Dogwood Festival saw the addition of the Dogwood Invitational Track Meet. This meet drew local, state, and out-of-state participants. It was named one of the top track meets on the East Coast.

Participating in the Dogwood Festival in 1970 was Ruth Lane Bielke. She was representing Fluvanna County. Miss Bielke was elegantly dressed in a light-pink formal gown and evening gloves as she waved to the crowd during the parade. (Courtesy Ed Roseberry.)

This is an aerial shot of the Dogwood Parade in April 1970. The parade is heading down Main Street toward West Main Street. Today Main Street is a pedestrian mall. The grassy area on the right is now the Omni Hotel and the Federal Court Building. Woolworth, Roses, and Leggett’s are there no longer. A movie theater and an ice rink are in their places. The brick building next to Wise Discount Center today is home to the best pizza in town—Christian’s Pizza. (Courtesy Ed Roseberry.)

The Miller School, located in Albemarle County, was a military school that opened in 1878 with 33 students. Girls were admitted in 1884. It is one of the nation’s oldest coeducational boarding schools for students in the 7th through 12th grades. Today the Miller School is open as a day/ boarding school to local, state, national, and international students. (Courtesy Ed Roseberry.)

The ACCA Temple out of Richmond, Virginia, has always been a crowd favorite at the Dogwood Parade. In 1970, they brought their Klownz unit and Petunia, their gorilla friend. The ACCA Temple raised money to help families with children who have serious illnesses or injuries. The ACCA Temple pays for any and all medical expenses a sick or injured child may have. (Courtesy John Atkins/The Daily Progress.)

In 1970, the Beverly Hillbillies were in the Dogwood Parade. Based on the popular television show, this entry portrays them quite well. We have Jethro driving the truck, Uncle Jed riding shotgun, Granny with the shotgun, and Ellie Mae with one of her beloved dogs. Granny has brought along a jug of the family recipe moonshine just in case. (Courtesy John Atkins/The Daily Progress.)

When the hillbillies headed to California, they took it all! Not to be outdone by anyone, this little goat is checking out the parade observers from the back of the Beverly Hillbillies truck. He looks like he is very securely chained in the truck, but if a hot dog vendor comes into view, he may be out of there. (Courtesy John Atkins/The Daily Progress.)

Heading down Main Street is one of the local scouting troops. The Boy Scout Organization began in 1930. There are many levels of scouting for boys to become a member of, such as Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cubs, and Bear Cubs for younger boys. For the older boys, there are Webelos and Boy Scouts. They do many different activities such as camping, hiking, biking, canoeing, and swimming. Scouts also learn first aid and wilderness survival. Scouting remains very popular today, and the Dogwood parades are always participated in by many local scouting troops. (Courtesy Ed Roseberry.)

Marching bands are always present in parades. The Dogwood parade is no different. Marching bands from Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the surrounding counties ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - THE APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
• Two - THE DOGWOOD FESTIVAL
• Three - THE DOGWOOD FESTIVAL IN THE 1970s
• Four - THE FUTURE OF THE DOGWOOD FESTIVAL
• DOGWOOD QUEENS 1968–2006
• Dedication