In April, Downtown Perry Is the Place to Be
Every year, when the dogwoods start to bloom and the air finally smells like spring, I know it's almost time for one of my favorite weekends of the year. The Perry Dogwood Festival is something I genuinely look forward to, and I've been lucky enough to experience it as a local and not just as a visitor passing through.
The 37th Annual Perry Dogwood Festival is April 11 and 12. Free admission, 150+ vendors, live music, food, and more!
If you've never been, let me tell you: it's one of those events that reminds you exactly why living in a community like Perry, Georgia is something special.
What the festival is all about
This year marks the 37th Annual Perry Dogwood Festival, and it's happening April 11 and 12 in Historic Downtown Perry. Admission is free both days.
Over 150 small businesses and local vendors take over the streets, selling everything from handmade goods to clothing to specialty items you won't find anywhere else. There's food from local vendors and food trucks, live music on the City Hall Lawn, a kids zone full of inflatables and activities, and an adult zone where you can grab a drink from local brands like Tipsy Peach or Bodega Brew and just slow down for a little while.
This year they've also added a brand new Dogwood Dash 5K on Saturday morning at 8am, winding through the historic streets of downtown Perry. Whether you run it or just cheer people on, it's a fun way to start the day.
Why I love it so much
What gets me every single time is how it feels. Downtown Perry is already charming on an ordinary Tuesday, but during the Dogwood Festival the streets fill up, neighbors run into each other, kids are running around, and there's just this easy, unhurried energy that I don't take for granted.
Come visit Perry during the annual Dogwood Festival! Hope to see you there!
Events like this one are part of what I point to when someone asks me what Middle Georgia life actually looks like. It looks like this. People who show up for each other, a downtown that has something to offer, and springs that make you glad you stayed.
Come see it for yourself
If you're thinking about making Middle Georgia home, or if you're already here and you haven't made it to the Dogwood Festival yet, put April 11 and 12 on your calendar. Walk around, grab some food, support a small business or two, and see what I mean.
And if you ever want to talk about what it's like to live in Perry beyond the festival weekend, I'm always happy to share. This community is something I'm proud to be part of, and helping people find their place in it is work I genuinely love.
