Organizers behind the Dreamville Festival have submitted an application to the City of Raleigh to host a two-day event at Dix Park this April.
The filing, submitted in October, seeks to bring a major music gathering back to the City of Oaks following the conclusion of the original festival’s five-year run in 2025.
While the proposal remains under review by city officials, the potential return of a large-scale event has drawn attention from local business owners and hospitality leaders. The festival, which in previous years attracted over 100,000 total guests, previously generated much revenue for the region, according to data from Visit Raleigh.
The city currently holds an agreement with ScoreMore—a Live Nation subsidiary that collaborated on the original festival—allowing for events at the park through 2029. However, that agreement does not mandate that a festival must occur every year. Dreamville did not respond to a request for comment regarding the status of the current application.
Local Businesses Welcome the Potential Festival Return
The prospect of an April festival is being welcomed by local businesses that felt the absence of the event this year. Courtney McGlone, manager of The Big Easy, previously said that the lack of the festival resulted in a large sales deficit for the area, according to reporting from WRAL.
Other downtown business owners are looking toward the potential return as a way to increase community engagement. Thai Bhommavong, owner of the Warehouse District’s Heirloom Brewshop, expressed hope that a new event would prioritize deeper interaction with the local community.
“I want to see more of a community involvement and more interactions with the community,” Bhommavong said.
Hospitality Growth Near Dix Park
The hospitality sector is also positioning itself for the potential influx of visitors. Hotel Indigo, which opened recently following a $36 million renovation of the former Holiday Inn property, is located about a mile from the park. General Manager Carlos Faz said that the hotel is already seeing strong demand, noting that major events remain a critical driver for local tourism.
The City of Raleigh is reviewing an application from Dreamville organizers to hold a two-day event at Dix Park this April. https://t.co/kUuf4966t5 pic.twitter.com/aZuvZRbimH
“The more festivals like this that they attract people from out of town. It just keeps fueling the economy in terms of travel and tourism,” Faz said.
The city’s previous partnership announcement with festival organizers emphasized the collaborative effort required to stage such events. Parks Director Stephen Bentley noted at the time that the city’s ability to host unique gatherings relies on a shared commitment from all partners involved.
Future Festival Planning
In April 2025, representatives from the Dreamville team met with city officials to discuss potential successors to the original event series. While a similar application was submitted last year, no event was ultimately held.
The financial terms of that agreement set an annual fee of $125,000 for one event or $225,000 for two consecutive festivals.
Whether the proposed April dates will be approved remains the primary question for city planners and local stakeholders. The city is currently reviewing the October submission to determine if the event meets the criteria established in the long-term agreement.
