It is spring and time for Camdenton’s Annual Dogwood Festival, April 24th through April 27, 2014.  The festival is one of the oldest traditions in the Lake area. It is scheduled around the third week of April when the Dogwood, which flourishes in the Ozarks woods, is at its peak. In April of 1950, the first Dogwood Festival was held in Camdenton. The festival has been held every year since then except in 1965, when highway construction prevented it. The first Dogwood Parade was led by Hope Varner and her mare Painted Lady.  The first Dogwood Festival Queen was Miss Machir Vincent.  The events at the first festival were: buffalo bbq, coon dog race, boat races on The Lake of the Ozarks,  square dance and fiddling exhibitions, carnival, beauty contest, horse show and cowboy songs.  Follow this link to see a list of the Dogwood Festival events scheduled for this year.

We will be in the parade again this year.  Watch for Larry in G & G Marina’s red Durango which will be pulling a new Voyager pontoon boat powered by a Honda Outboards on a Haul Rite trailer with the Little Miss and Mr Dogwood contestants onboard.  Hope to see you there.

Dogwoods in full bloom April 25th, 2014