56th Annual Dogwood Festival Returns to Its Roots
at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – A Lake of the Ozarks tradition since 1950, the 56th annual Dogwood Festival will return to the Camdenton Square, April 20-23.  The festival, featuring three days and four nights of music, theater, art, golf, crafts, a carnival and much more, originally was created to greet the glories of springtime in the Lake area.  This year, the event also will honor “Lake of the Ozarks, 75 Sparkling Years,” saluting the 75th anniversary of Bagnell Dam, the forming of the Lake and the founding of Camdenton.
 
“We're excited about the events returning to downtown Camdenton,” says Bruce Mitchell, executive director of the Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival sponsor.  “This will put almost all of the activities within walking distance so people can just park, enjoy the parade, partake in the food and crafts booths and enjoy the carnival and juried crafts show.”  In recent years, some festival events were held at nearby Stoneridge Amphitheater. That site is closed for renovations through May, prompting the festival's return to the Camdenton Square.

The fun kicks off with a carnival from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. Thursday, located off Court Circle Street at the Old City Hall.  At the Camden County Museum, the traditional Ham and Bean Dinner will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by an original historical play at 7:00 p.m.  Both the carnival and the dinner/play will continue on Friday evening and the carnival also will run 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday.

Friday evening highlights will include the Little Mr., Little Miss, Junior Miss and Teen Miss Dogwood contests in the High School Little Theater, and the Miss Dogwood Pageant at the Main Street Music Hall in nearby Osage Beach.  Both events will start at 7:00 p.m.  A fish fry at the High School Cafeteria will attract hungry festival-goers from 4:00 -7:00 p.m.

On Saturday, visitors can get their day off to a hearty start with a pancake breakfast from 7:00 - 10:00 a.m. at United Methodist Church.  The much-anticipated Dogwood Parade will take to the streets of downtown Camdenton at 10:00 a.m. Saturday.  Grand Marshal Lloyd Slone, 92, who worked on the construction of Bagnell Dam as a teenager, will lead the parade featuring more than 100 units. “We always have a few more floats in an election year,” Mitchell notes.

Also in conjunction with the festival, a fine arts show and sale featuring works by more than 15 area artists will be held at First National Bank, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., April 11-16.  A juried craft show and sale with work from up to 100 Missouri and Midwest artisans will be on display at Dogwood Elementary School from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

Cute canines will compete at the Dog Contest, 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Old City Hall, followed by continuous free musical entertainment until 6:00 p.m., featuring the Color of Mercy, Bill Jones and the Blue Grass Travelers, Doug Hasch and Steve Clarkson, and Janette Michelle Gilbert.

Other festival features will include a wide array of food and craft booths on the Square throughout the event; St. Anthony's Garage Sale, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday; and a Band Booster Silent Auction, 7:00 p.m. Saturday at The Rail Restaurant in Osage Beach.  In addition, the Camdenton Chamber will distribute more than 1,300 young dogwoods, the Missouri state tree.

Festival activities will wrap up on Sunday with the annual Dogwood Golf Classic at The Club at Old Kinderhook, preceded by a lunch for tournament participants.  All proceeds will benefit the Band Boosters.

“We invite everyone to the Dogwood Festival – the oldest festival in the Lake area,” Mitchell says.  “It's a beautiful time of the year with the promise of dogwood blossoms in the air.  It truly is a great family weekend.”

For more details about the Dogwood Festival, visit www.camdentonchamber.com or contact the Camdenton Area chamber of Commerce at 800-769-1004 or 573-346-2227.  And for more information about lodging, dining, attractions, shopping and other events at Central Missouri's famous Lake of the Ozarks, call 800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau's web site, www.funlake.com.

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