LEWISTON, Idaho – The Dogwood Festival of the Lewis-Clark Valley, an annual celebration of arts, culture and community during the month of April, is now in its 31st year. The festival is coordinated through the work of community volunteers and administered by the offices of Continuing Education and Community Events at Lewis-Clark State College.
A new feature of the Dogwood Festival is the designation of honorary chairs. Designating chairs of the festival allow the community to celebrate the work and commitment of key individuals who have contributed to the vitality of the valley throughout the history of the Dogwood Festival. Chairs will represent the festival to the community and assist in the promotion of events and activities throughout the run of the festival each year.
The honorary chairs of the 31st Annual Dogwood Festival are Bill and Sharon Taylor-Hall. Bill Hall is a native of Idaho, born in Nampa. He is a Boise High School graduate and majored in journalism at Idaho State University. Hall worked as editorial page editor of the Lewiston Morning Tribune from 1965 until 2002, with a year and a half away from the job to work as chief speechwriter and national press secretary to former Idaho Senator Frank Church during Church’s 1976 presidential campaign. Hall has published five books and writes a weekly column which is syndicated in 10 newspapers.
Sharon Taylor-Hall is a native Oregonian. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a Ph.D. in theoretical linguistics. Taylor-Hall came to Lewiston to set up and direct the Intensive English Institute at Lewis-Clark State College, where she worked for 23 years before retiring in 2006. Taylor-Hall is also known as a sculptor who has created several public sculptures around Lewiston. The Dogwood Festival was Sharon Taylor-Hall’s inspiration and she worked with Deanna Vickers and several other Lewiston residents to make this event a reality.
Dogwood Festival posters and T-shirts feature a design by Pullman artist, Cori Dantini. A long time vendor of Art Under the Elms, Dantini was commissioned by the Dogwood Festival Committee to create something in her signature style, incorporating elements of a dogwood tree or blossom. Dantini asked if there were any specific animals which indicate spring in the Lewis-Clark area, and it was suggested the “Yellow Finch” was a beloved sign for the Valley. Limited edition T-shirts featuring Dantini’s design are available at the Dogwood Festival office at 415 Main Street.
For two full weeks in April, the Dogwood Festival of the Lewis-Clark Valley holds 11 events that include:
April 10-May 1: Stephen Lyman Memorial Children’s Art Exhibit
April 11: Color the Valley Run
April 16: Earth Day
April 17: 25th Anniversary Confluence Grape & Grain
April 17-20: Lewiston All Breed Dog Show
April 18: Dogwood Dunk
April 24: Dogwood Festival Concert: Shook Twins & Fruition
April 24-26: Art Under the Elms
April 25: Dogwood Show & Shine
April 25: 38th Annual Seaport River Run
April 25-26: 30th Annual Festival of Quilts
For additional Dogwood Festival information, contact Continuing Education and Community Events at 208.792.2447.