Artrageous Art Event Joins Dowdy Park Grand Opening Celebration

Posted By Matt Artz on January 19, 2017

The new Dowdy Park in Nags Head will have its official grand opening celebration in May, an event which will now include Dare County Arts Council‘s annual Artrageous kids art show, as well as a free evening concert at the outdoor venue.

The Town of Nags Head is partnering with the Dare County Arts Council on the Grand Opening of Dowdy Park, which will be held Saturday, May 13 from 10am to 8pm.

The Grand Opening, a free, family-friendly event, will celebrate the visual, performing and culinary arts. The event will feature the Dare County Arts Council’s 28th Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival from 10am-3pm, followed by a free outdoor concert from 3 to 8 pm.

The entire day will be complemented by local restaurants providing artistically inspired cuisine.

“We are excited to be working with the Dare County Arts Council to make Dowdy Park’s grand opening really special and an event that people of all ages will want to attend,” said Nags Head Mayor Bob Edwards. “The goals of Artrageous correlate perfectly to Dowdy Park’s design elements: fun for all ages, a free, safe space for the community to gather, with elements that pay homage to our heritage such as our art and our family-friendly atmosphere.”

“We are grateful to the committee of Nags Head citizens, as well as many other members of the public, who worked hard to bring the park’s design to fruition,” Mayor Edwards further said. “In addition, the project would not be possible without generous grants from Trillium Health Resources, the Dare County Tourism Board, and the Outer Banks Community Foundation. Their support for our vision for a park for all ages and abilities was unqualified.”

The event’s theme, Art is the Heart of the Park, focuses on the importance of art in the community. Artrageous is an annual community event that brings families together to paint, sculpt, dance, and be creative.

“This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for DCAC,” said Dare County Arts Council Executive Director Chris Sawin. “It is beyond remarkable that the Town of Nags Head has envisioned Dowdy Park as an art park – and that the Arts Council would be asked to help with its grand opening. For decades, the Town of Nags Head has taken a leadership role in the Outer Banks arts community and I applaud and thank them for taking it to a new level with the creation of Dowdy Park.”

Purchased in 2013, with the plan to develop a fully accessible, inclusive gathering space for all ages, the five-acre Dowdy Park sits at the corner of South Croatan Highway and Bonnett Street.

Phase One of the public park, including an event plaza, covered pavilion stage, and a playground, is currently under construction. As of the most recent update to the Nags Head Board of Commissioners on Dec. 7, the project remains ahead of schedule.

The Dowdy Park Grand Opening is happening on Saturday, May 13, starting at 10am. The park is located at the former site of Dowdy’s Amusement Park, at 5401 South Croatan Highway in Nags Head.