Scores of cars will soon begin to roll in from out of town.
The smell of fried food will waft through Siloam Springs' downtown and spring sunshine is in the forecast.
That can only mean that it is time to gear up for the Dogwood Festival.
The footprint of the celebration of this corner of the Natural State will look a little different under the white blossoms on the outstretched branches of the festival's namesake. This year, the location of some vendors has been adjusted to help the intrepid festival-goer on his or her quest to find the very best fried food, T-shirts and unique crafts.
But the single biggest adjustment to the Dogwood Festival will be immediately noticeable to anyone who has attended past iterations of the springtime celebration.
The Dogwood Festival's main entertainment stage will be shifted and expanded to be featured more prominently and accommodate this year's acts, said Nathanael Stone, who is coordinating the entertainment for the festival.
The speakers on the stage will be similar to last year's, but the stage itself will be significantly larger. The new stage, which is the same stage used at concerts at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, measures in at 20 feet by 24 feet. Last year's stage, which was owned by the company that provided the tents for the event, was only 16 feet by 16 feet.
In addition to being larger and better shaped acoustically, this year's stage will accommodate the musical acts better by allowing musicians to hear themselves better with a separate monitor mix.
Spectators will also notice an improvement this year as Stone has added bench seating for around 50 in addition to the traditional hay bale seating. And, like last year, there will be tents set up to provide shade or shelter in case of rain.
The stage will be in the street, nearly covering the width of University Street, facing West.
"It's closer to the food, so people can grab something to eat and not feel like they're missing out," Stone said.
Stone said the change was the next step in a process that started last year when the stage was moved the first time.
"It's amazing how little changes can effect so much," Stone said.
The vendors who are positioned near the site of the stage know it will be loud, said Holland Hayden, who was on the Dogwood Festival planning board.
"I told them to make sure they have good signs so people can point to what they want," Hayden said. "We've gotten a lot of interest this year, which is good."
The actual organization of booths has changed this year as well.
When planning, organizers watched the footpaths for tree roots that can make it difficult to push strollers in between rows of vendors, Hayden said. To enhance walkability, the booths will also be kept farther away from trees and the water than in previous years.
In the water, visitors will be able to paddle the Dogwood Festival in kayaks. Paddlers will also be able to enjoy the fountains of Sager Creek, which Hayden said will be cleaned and running.
Moving west from downtown, Hayden said organizers moved some booths to create more of a circuit, connecting University Street to the Kids' Zone at Bob Henry Park. Vendors have been moved out of the park and will be placed along the walking trail in front of the Masonic Lodge, which has agreed to let the city use part of their property.
The Kids' Zone itself will feature lighter park food and games and activities for the younger festival attendees.
Handicap parking will be in the same place this year, near the stage and in front of the Chamber building.
General News on 04/26/2017