Festival in the Park was held May 15-17 at Ballou Park. It has been held in Danville since 1974, making this the 41st anniversary. This year the event was sponsored by Pepsi.

Many stands were set up around the park showcasing artwork, homemade jewelry, bows and scarves. There was even a henna tattoo stand and a live artist painting pictures. There were also business and organization tables to sign up for things like Boy Scouts.

Games at the festival included things such as a tiny golf course, a rope climbing course, and human foosball. In human foosball, people held onto bars and kicked a soccer ball around an enclosed area.

“There actually was not a tournament. It was for people to get in and have some fun,” said sophomore Kaelyn Reese, who participated in it on Saturday.

In the Kids’ Area there was a bouncy house, an inflatable batting cage (sponsored by the Danville Braves), and amusement rides. Kids enjoyed riding things like the Scrambler and getting their face painted. There were also snacks like cotton candy and Icees.

Many bands and artist performed on various days at the festival. Some of the most popular were Ray Scott, The Cadillac Three, The Band Concord, and Deads 27.

On Saturday evening, the Color Me Danville 5k was held. Many people were excited to run and for some it was their first color run.

Something new at the festival this year was the Carolina Dockdogs. Four trained dogs would jump across a pool and were judged on their distance after landing. One of the dogs who competed, Sulley, is ranked 3rd in the world for competitions like these. The event was to raise awareness and money for pet cancer. This was the biggest attraction and brought in a large crowd. There was also a dog named Melvin up for adoption.

Overall, it was a great weekend celebrating this fun tradition and showcasing the talents of the town. Like the host of the Carolina Dockdogs competition said, “I’ve been to a lot places but Danville is one of the most beautiful with this park. Y’all are really lucky to live in such a nice city.”