Dix Park transforms for Dreamville 2024: Local musicians get spotlight in pre-festival events
With the Dreamville Festival expected to draw tens of thousands of fans this weekend, preparations are underway at Dix Park.
Crews are busy transforming the park, setting the stage for Dreamville 2024.
A series of events are also planned in the lead-up to the festival weekend in Raleigh.
NC State students like Carman Rice are excited to see the crews at work.
"Having J. Cole, a hometown North Carolinian ... it really feels like it's putting North Carolina on the map," said Rice.
Rice said the energy on campus right now is electric.
"Honestly, it's pure joy, paired with the fact that we're having an amazing basketball season right now," Rice said. "I think we're just bouncing back and forth between basketball, Dreamville, basketball, Dreamville."
Students aren't the only ones thrilled to see Dreamville back in action -- local businesses are too.
"Having the city be so walkable, they can just pop up here on Hillsborough Street if you need some coffee," Rice said, adding there are plenty of good places to eat in the area.
"One unique thing about Dreamville is the economic impact," said Grady Bussey with the city of Raleigh's Big Ideas Series. "You know, we'll get flooded with people from all over the world that want to be in Raleigh, and we have an opportunity for our vendors to take advantage of that."
More than 100,000 people attended last year's event.
The city's Big Ideas Series is hosting its "City Vibes" event on Friday, hoping to show visitors what Raleigh has to offer.
"We actually have leaders who are very serious about listening to the public and what they want," Bussey said. "The public wants arts and entertainment. They want the ambiance that downtown Raleigh brings. And so being partnered with the Raleigh Downtown Alliance has given us the ability."
Bussey appreciates the ability to highlight local talent and support small businesses while all eyes are on the City of Oaks.
"We always look at what has the greatest impact and how we showcase Raleigh in his highest fashion, and so Dreamvile bringing thousands of people to Raleigh became a no-brainer," Bussey said.
If you're planning to visit Dix Park this week, be aware that some areas are restricted due to Dreamville Festival preparations. Later this week, the park will be completely closed to the public for the festival.
Looking ahead, don't miss the City Vibes event on April 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. This free event features local musicians and artists.
