DENMARK -- As has been the tradition each spring for the past 26 years, a group of volunteers got together Tuesday night to paint giant dogwood blossoms at the main intersections in the city of Denmark.

Heading up the painting of the dogwoods since 1982, Mimbee Baker said she is excited to help kick off the city's annual Dogwood Festival, which will be held the weekend of April 3-5 in Denmark.

"We are looking forward to many, many new vendors at the 2009 Dogwood Festival. It promises to be very entertaining," Denmark Mayor Carrie Sojourner Simmons said. "Our Prayer Breakfast speaker, Rev. Sanka Davis, has recently come to Rome Baptist. He is a real good speaker. I went to school with his brother, Sam Davis. I'm looking forward to hearing him."

The Community Prayer Breakfast, sponsored each year by Voorhees College and the city of Denmark, will get under way at 8 a.m. Friday at the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center on the Voorhees campus.

Carnival rides, concessions and music provided by a DJ will entertain attendees from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday.

The Dogwood Festival will kick into high gear Saturday with rides, concessions and vendors opening at 9 a.m. and continuing until 10 p.m.

The Dogwood Festival Parade will roll at 11 a.m, followed from noon to 7 p.m. by country and R&B musical performances, a step show, poetry and jazz.

Saturday evening, music will be provided by WIIZ 97.9 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The festival will continue from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday with carnival rides, concessions and vendors.

Also on tap Sunday will be a performance by Christian comedian Tommy Ingram, along with gospel music by The Gospel Originals, Richard Jamison and The Morning Stars of Glory, Bless-ed and The Low Country Mass Choir.

T&D Correspondent Laura G. Carlson contributed to this report. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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