Orleans Dogwood Festival

06/01/2026

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The Orleans America Legion Post #69 Commander, Ron Taylor (far left) and Will Terry (shown third from the left) recently presented a check to Orleans Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robert F. Henderson (middle) for the legion's 10% monies from the recent America 250 Dogwood Festival Carnival ticket sales. Also pictured on the far-right Legion Member Tim Hines.

Sponsoring event organizations who operate "fun-raiser" type events in conjunction with the annual Dogwood Festival historically have submitted back 10% from any profits to the Chamber.

These monies along with some booth rental revenue greatly help keep the festival going year after year, pay for advertising, promotion etc. The Legion members also generously donated another $2,000 to go towards the town's firework display on July 4th at the airport.

05/19/2026

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

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The Orleans Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE who helped in any way to make our annual Dogwood Silent Auction a HUGE success. $7,150 was raised during the three-day event. Proceeds will go directly toward the Chamber’s various community projects such as keeping the Dogwood Festival going, and our other special events throughout the year including the Fall Fun Fest, Christmas on the Square and other hometown enhancements spearheaded by the local Chamber.

Our sincere thanks to all the Orleans area businesses and individuals for their most generous donations and all the bidders who participated in the auction. We are grateful for your continual support.

Special thanks to our event chairperson Leslie Padgett and committee members, Janelle Springer, Debbie Suddarth, Emily Brown, all the volunteers who helped manned the event, along with anyone else we may have missed or overlooked and the Orleans Christian Church for their generous use of their fellowship hall to stage the event this year.

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04/27/2026

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The 2026 Dogwood Festival “America 250” edition is now in the Books!

On behalf of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and its Board of Directors, we wish to take this opportunity to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped in any way with the 56th Annual Dogwood Festival.

A huge thanks to all the various event chairpersons, sponsoring organizations and the participants who came out, supported and took part in all the activities.

Special thanks to Parade Chairs Jennifer and Neil Blanton and their crew of volunteers, who another fantastic job once again with the Parade, Tom Babbitt, Pat Hall, Orleans Town Supt. Daniel Houchin & the entire town crew, Ronnie Roach, Jim Lindsey, Orleans Police and Fire Department members, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police, HD Graphix, Dr. Leah Morgan, The Orleans Progress Examiner, Timeless French Lick, Funtime Carnival, Beacon Credit Union, Jasper Group Brands, Reynolds Construction LLC, Springer and Springer Insurance, Hoosier Hills Credit Union & Insurance, Erie Insurance, Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana Balloon Fest, Duke Energy, Babcock Motors, Town of Orleans, Orleans Community Schools, Orleans Christian Church, Warren Brock Post #69 American Legion, Northeast Township Community Center, Orleans Library, and anyone else whom we may have overlooked or failed to mention.

The annual Dogwood Festival doesn’t just happen each spring. It is only through the efforts of a very small, but dedicated special group of community volunteers, who work tirelessly both in front and behind the scenes to make it happen year after year. And all too often these volunteers do so with little thanks or appreciation from the rest of us for all the efforts put forth. Planning for the annual celebration literally takes months and the process starts all over for the next year right after the last carnival ride leaves town.

We are grateful to every one of our volunteers and their devotion to our little hometown of Orleans. And we gladly welcome new volunteers to help.

The Dogwood Festival has undergone many changes and has been enhanced greatly since its humble inception in 1968. In the months ahead, we, as the sponsoring organization, will continue to look at ways and ideas to continue the tradition going forward.

Robert F. Henderson, Executive Director
Orleans Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

04/26/2026

11/08/2025