The Dreamville Festival took place this year from Saturday, April 6th to Sunday, April 7th, 2024.  The exciting event, featuring many famous artists like SZA, J.Cole, and Nicki Minaj, brought over 104,000 people to Dorothea Dix Park in downtown Raleigh. These visitors came from all fifty states and more than twenty countries. With such an influx of people, there are bound to be some positive effects on our local economy. 

The Festival was founded by Fayetteville native and rapper J.Cole and Ibrahim Hamad. It is a large celebration of rap, hip hop and R&B music. The 2023 Dreamville Festival brought $145 million in for the local economy, and this year’s festival likely increased that number. 

There are a variety of businesses in downtown Raleigh that received patronage from the Dreamville festival attendees. Restaurants, retail stores, and hotels alike received an increase in business over the weekend. Even businesses in surrounding areas like Raleigh, Cary, and the greater Triangle area experienced increased business due to the increased amount of tourists in town. 

This year’s festival received significant updates from years past. The festival organizers partnered with local restaurants to provide food options for festival attendees as well as free events occurring in the downtown area leading up to, and at the same time as, the festival. 

Overall, the Dreamville Festival was a wonderful experience that provided an economic boost to our downtown area. Along with providing an opportunity for revelry, the Dreamville Festival allows us to celebrate our local community and encourage others to appreciate Raleigh and the whole Triangle area. The festival dates for next year will be announced in the fall.