By Debbie Adams
The Vinton Dogwood Festival Committee and the Town of Vinton brought the community
together on April 26 and 27 with another great Dogwood Festival– No. 69 this year. The weather
was beautiful; so were the 10 William Byrd students in the Dogwood Court.
There was entertainment on three stages, a mini-circus, streets filled with vendors, and a friendly
crowd reveling in the day.
The festival kicked off on April 26 with a concert by The Frequency Band, who received rave
reviews at the Vinton Farmers’ Market.
Dogwood Festival Day included performers on three stages (Island Trio Band, Karlee Raye,
Gurlz with Attitude, the jazz bands from William Byrd Middle and High Schools, the Tim
Martin and Brian Wheeling Duo, Rare Form, Jerry Wimmer and Terry Hannabass, Mason Creek
Bluegrass Band) and about 180 craft, business, and food vendors, along with quite a few non-
profit organizations lining the streets downtown.
There was entertainment at the library and a pet
adoption event, along with tours of the Vinton History Museum. The AACA held its annual
Antique Car Show on Saturday morning at Thrasher Memorial UMC.
The Farmers’ Market area featured not only performers but a Kids Zone with inflatables, crafts, a
hugely popular petting zoo, games, and more.
At noon, the 2024 Dogwood Queen, Emily Tuck, was crowned by Mayor Brad Grose, after a
performance of “God Bless America” by Floyd Boone and the Roanoke Symphony Chorus. The
nine other members of the Dogwood Court were introduced, also seniors at William Byrd–
Olaedo Anyanwu, Jaslyn Bibby, Sydney Blewett, Kathryn Bryant, Elizabeth Dixon, Claire
Glover, Makenna Jacobsen, Emma Kageals, and Addisyn St. Clair.
highlights of the Vinton Dogwood Festival Parade each year is the Dogwood Queen and Court
riding through the streets of Vinton in horse-drawn carriages which are festooned with dogwood
blossoms. (photos by Debbie Adams)
The highlights of the day, in addition to the crowning of the new Dogwood Queen, were
performances by the spectacular and hilarious Old Bay Circus featuring Michael Rosman with
aerial artist Hannah and the child/student/family-focused “Dogwood Stroll Walking Parade.”
The traditional Dogwood Parade was replaced this year with a trendy “strolling” parade through
the historic streets of downtown Vinton. It was a return to parades of the past focused on
children, family, schools, and community.
The Vinton Police led the half-mile parade in a patrol car, followed by the Roanoke County
Honor Guard, several Vinton Town Council members, the Dogwood Queen and Court in horse-
drawn carriages from Lexington Carriage Company, the William Byrd Marching Terrier band,
Michael Rosman from Old Bay Circus, honored media guests from WFXR News, Vinton’s
School Board representative Tim Greenway, students from Herman L. Horn Elementary and
their PTO, the Southernettes baton group, Roanoke Valley Chapter DAR members in Colonial
costumes, the Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, the Stiltwalkers, the “ Exit, Pursued by a
Bear ” Downtown Community Theatre, Gurlz with Attitude, the Island Trio band, a group of
children and adults who decorated themselves and made props at a Creative Station to participate
in the parade, Miss Heart of Shenandoah Brielle King, and Roanoke County Fire and Rescue.
Byrd Marching Terriers (who started the Dogwood Festival tradition 69 years ago to purchase
band uniforms) performed.
highlight of the parade was the first appearance of the Old Bay Circus featuring aerialist Hannah.
Appalachia contemplated the Dogwood Festival goings-on from her mural perspective.
Roanoke Valley Chapter DAR strolled in the Vinton Dogwood Parade, accompanied by Bob
Taylor of the Fincastle Resolutions SAR Chapter.
Highlands Pipes and Drums marched again in the Dogwood Parade.
newly formed Downtown Community Theatre “Exit: Pursued by a Bear” introduced themselves
to Vinton in the parade.
made their annual appearance in the Dogwood Parade.
Ringling Brothers-trained founder of Old Bay Circus, performs.
community were encouraged to decorate themselves and create props at Creative Station to
march in the parade.
The day’s events concluded with an outdoor concert on the Creek Bank Stage at Twin Creeks
Brewing Company.
This year’s Vinton Dogwood Festival Committee members who dedicated themselves to
continuing the Dogwood tradition in Vinton included President Jeff Teass, Vice President
Heather Beamer, Secretary Susan Teass, Publicity Chair Mary Beth Layman, Entertainment
Chair Joey Nicely, along with Beth Abbott, Callie Webb, and many others. Town Manager Pete
Peters and many members of town staff were instrumental in facilitating the event for months
beforehand and on the days of the festival. Numerous volunteers made the event “do-able.”
The Vinton Dogwood Festival is made possible through the contributions of many businesses
and organizations in the Town of Vinton and throughout the Roanoke Valley. They include
Platinum Sponsors– the Town of Vinton, Roanoke County, the Community Foundation Serving
Western Virginia, and WFXR News; Gold Sponsors– HomeTrust Bank, Shepherd Realty,
Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery, Twin Creeks Brewing Company, and The Vinton
Messenger; Silver Sponsors– Dirk Padgett Law, Pretty Paws Dog & Cat Grooming Salon,
Harmony Senior Services, and Dr. Jeff and Susan Teass; Bronze Sponsors– A Cleaner World
and SFCS Engineering; and Brad Grose, Nita Echols, Vinton Appliance Center, and Mountain
View Real Estate.
