This week’s seasonal sogginess hasn’t dampened the resolve of Atlanta Dogwood Festival coordinator Nancy Musser. “I have a direct connection with God,” she jokes. But Musser admits she’s been closely scrutinizing the 6-foot white dogwood in her Atlanta yard daily just to ensure that it’s still blooming. And yes, there have been certain years in the Piedmont Park springtime tradition’s 67-year history when, well, the dogwoods have exactly cooperated on the weekend set aside for them.

Despite the bouts of driving rain this week, the blooms in the park are hanging tough. “Thankfully, there are so many trees in the park where, even when some of the dogwoods have finished, lots of others are still in full bloom,” says Musser. The average dogwood tree can remain in full bloom for about 14 days.
This year, in addition to pollinated petals, the 300,000 festival goers expected today through Sunday can anticipate several new attractions. The Demonstration Station will feature artists working in various mediums as the create works in front of viewers. The Visual Vibes area will showcase the works of talented high school artists from across the metro area.

As always, art lovers will be able to stroll the market with their pets. Purina, a festival sponsor, is planning to distribute samples of a mint-flavored concoction called Dogwiches. Since the dissolving of the Atlanta Arts Festival in 1998, the annual Dogwood weekend has assumed increased importance for the approximately 240 national artists and craftspeople who rent booths in the artists’ market.