North Raleigh Today

Although it will be days before Raleigh officials pin down the economic effect of its second Dreamville Festival, by all personal accounts, it seemed to be a resounding success.

In fact, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau is considering whether the Dreamville Festival could be an annual event.

"Their hope is to make this more than just a concert, but to integrate opportunities to speak to songwriters and people that put together videos,” Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, told ABC 11 News. 

The event at Dorothea Dix Park kept festival-goers hopping Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, and it has others in the state capital wondering if other big events could be held at the site.

“We always think, ‘Could we do Brewgaloo at Dix; could we make it over there?’” Jennifer Martin, executive director of Shop Local Raleigh, told ABC 11 News.

That question is based on the insights she gleaned from how successfully Dreamville was pulled off this year.

“It was super eye-opening,” Martin said, according to ABC 11 News. “The level of infrastructure that they had, the professional way they built, it's inspiring for all of us local to try and see how can we do something, maybe not to that scale, but maybe halfway to that scale.”

Festival attendees also wonder whether the park could be used for similar events.

"I'm hoping that maybe they get a permanent stage over there and have musical events often,” Raleigh resident Kenny Ray told ABC 11 News.

After more than a year of curtailments on such gatherings because of COVID-19, the prospect of getting out undoubtedly drew some who might not have otherwise considered attending. The decision paid off for Raleigh resident Paige Powell.

“I was surprised, also had a little FOMO (fear of missing out),” Powell told ABC 11 News.

Talks are reportedly in the works for a third festival.