Festivals, local art and dozens of trails celebrating a local landmark can only mean one thing. It must be spring in Knoxville.

After 48 years, the Dogwood Arts Festival still attracts thousands of people to its many festivities. This year, the festival will run from April 4 through April 25. Throughout the beginning of this festival, more than 60 artisans have displayed their best work, local musicians have entertained groups of all ages and the dogwood trails have reopened for the spectators-in-waiting.

The festival opened this year with several local art shows and a jazz concert at the Bijou Theater in downtown Knoxville.

The Festival on Market Square was held April 11 through April 13 in downtown's Market Square Mall. The celebration was a success with more than 60 artists from the Southeast displaying and selling their most prized works.

Fred E. Draper is a Knoxville-based photographer. Draper was one of the many local artists featured at the Festival on Market Square. Draper has been an active artist for more than 30 years.

"Making a million dollars," Draper jokingly said, was the best thing about being a local artist.

In the past, the Festival on the Square has begun with a large parade throughout downtown Knoxville. Due to inclement weather, the 2008 parade is postponed until Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Eight local high school marching bands will participate in the event.

The Festival would not garner past appreciation without its mascot: the dogwood tree. Trails are marked in pink throughout Knoxville for spectators to admire this tree, as well as any other hard work Knoxville gardeners have accomplished. The 2008 Feature Trail for the Festival is located in Sequoyah Hills neighborhood. Sequoyah Hills was Knoxville's first designated trail in 1955.  

Each year, local artists choose an artistic print from hundreds of applications. The 2008 Limited Edition Print is "Serenity Creek " by Don E. Urban. Participants in the Festival can purchase a copy of this Limited Edition Print by contacting the Dogwood Arts Festival office.