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Orleans Town-Wide Yard Sale Coming April 21-22

Last updated on Wednesday, April 19, 2017

(ORLEANS) - For nearly 50 years, the Orleans community has celebrated the blooming of the dogwood trees with a festival the last week of April. This year’s 49th annual Dogwood Festival will begin April 21st with a number of pre-festival activities.

Then, officially the festival runs April 26 through April 29.

In the early 1960s, the Village Improvement Society, under the direction of Elizabeth "Bill" Wheeler, began planting dogwood trees along the town streets, in Congress Square and around the town's cemeteries.

Then in 1965, the town celebrated its Sesquicentennial. Following the Sesquicentennial, local leaders needed to find a new focus. Kate Noblitt envisioned an annual festival based on the blooming of the dogwoods. Her effort led to the annual festival and Orleans being named the Dogwood Capital of Indiana.

So each spring, Orleans residents are joined by former residents and other area citizens in marking the Dogwood Festival. The fickle spring weather sometimes plays havoc with events, but every year, since 1968, there has been a festival.

The Orleans Chamber of Commerce will once again be sponsoring its popular and Annual Town-Wide Yard Sale in conjunction with the upcoming 2017 Dogwood Festival. The yard sales will begin this Friday.

The 49th Annual Dogwood Parade will be Saturday April 29th at 2 p.m.

Friday, April 21

Saturday, April 22

Sunday, April 23

Monday, April 24

Tuesday, April 25

Thursday, April 27

Friday, April 28