PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Join the Phoenixville Jaycees Foundation from May 17th to May 20th at Reeves Park for an unforgettable celebration of community and service in Phoenixville! You won’t want to miss out on the Annual Dogwood Festival, where 50,000 visitors come to experience the fun. The highlight of the festival is the Annual Dogwood Parade, which attracts 10,000 spectators and is the 2nd largest parade in Chester County. This is truly an event you won’t want to miss!
Phoenixville’s Annual Dogwood Festival and Parade celebrate the town’s deep-rooted commitment to service and community, a tradition that has held strong since 1943.
This year’s Dogwood Festival, brought to you by Videon Chevrolet of Phoenixville, aims to be the best yet! Starting on Wednesday, May 17 running through to Saturday, May 20, the festivities will take place at Phoenixville’s Historic Reeves Park. The Festival has an array of things to do, from carnival rides and games, to mouth-watering concessions, and a variety of food, craft, and non-profit vendors to choose from!
But that’s not all; the highlight of the Dogwood Festival is the annual parade that takes place at the end of the week. On Saturday, May 20 at 1:00pm, you’ll hear the joyful sound of marching bands, feel the excitement of watching the towering floats go by, and immerse yourself in the vibe of the crowd as we all celebrate this spectacular event.
As Phoenixville celebrates the history and tradition of Dogwood, this year there are some exciting new additions to the festival.
New this Year: Dogwood Superbands
In addition to $32 daily all-you-can-ride wristbands, this year for the first time Dogwood Superbands are available for $75, allowing you to ride unlimited rides for the entire four-day festival. Dogwood Superbands are available for presale only now through May 6th at givebutter.com/dogwoodsuperband.
Dogwood Beer Garden
On May 18-20, Dogwood Beer Garden will occur on 3rd Avenue adjacent to the Dogwood Festival. Local, craft beer will be available for purchase benefiting the Phoenixville Jaycees Foundation.
Aunt Mary Pat Bingo
On Saturday, May 20th, 4:00-6:00 pm Bingo hosted by DelCo comedian Aunt Mary Pat will take place at the Reeves Park Bandshell. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at givebutter.com/ampbingo23.
Dogwood Tree Planting
To celebrate the origin & namesake of the Phoenixville Dogwood Festival, the Borough of Phoenixville will be planting a Dogwood tree at the Main Street entrance to Reeves Park following the Dogwood Parade on the afternoon of Saturday, May 20th.
Sensory-Friendly Parade
Inspired by the new All Accessibility Playground at Reeves Park, this year’s parade will feature Sensory-Friendly experiences for children and adults who may require a low sensory environment.
On the Dogwood Parade route along Main Street between Walnut and Washington Streets, a Sensory-Friendly area will ensure parade participants proceed without lights, sirens, horns, music, yelling or other loud noises, additionally, participants will reduce audience interaction and stay as close to the center of the road as possible in the designated area.
Dogwood Festival and Parade History
It all began in May 1943, when Retired Army Major General Edward C. Shannon, former commander of the 28th Division (PA National Guard), dedicated a dogwood tree in Phoenixville’s Reeves Park. This tree was a memorial to the men and woman of Phoenixville that served in the Armed Forces, many of whom had died in active duty during World War II.
The weather for the first Dogwood Parade was reported to be a “perfect spring day” attracting almost 7,500 spectators. Serving as the Grand Marshall was Phoenixville’s Mayor, Arthur H. Tompkins, who was joined in an open car by General Shannon and Col. Henry Beeuwkes, the first commander of the newly opened Valley Forge General Hospital, now the University of Valley Forge Campus.
The Rotary Club of Phoenixville had a horse-drawn float with a large Rotary wheel, the edges of the float were surrounded by flags of the United Nations countries. The Junior Red Cross had blood donors riding on a large float adorned by greens featuring a large “bottle” of blood with the words “That They May Live”. Adolf Muller, president of the Valley Forge Dogwood Association, walked beside the Junior Red Cross float. The Phoenixville High School Band, under the direction of Walter Sample, provided marching music for the soldiers as they marched from the Valley Forge General Hospital.
1943 Phoenixville High School graduate Regina Glowacki, became the first Dogwood Queen. This status was earned based on the large number of War Bonds and War Stamps she sold. Glowacki’s efforts helped to raise over $8,154.85 for the war effort which was a central theme for early Dogwood celebrations.
Today, in 2023, we continue this tradition through our Dogwood Royalty Campaign to celebrate children and teens who fundraise for their community: givebutter.com/dogwoodroyals23.
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