‘Thank y’all.’ Fans say goodbye to Dreamville Festival as J. Cole performs at Dix Park
On the final night, J. Cole stepped onto the stage as fluorescent blue lights washed over the crowd and the band erupted into his early hit “Rags to Riches,” his words weaving through the air like a farewell hymn.
A sea of devoted fans, mesmerized by the soundtrack of his 15-year career, sang along to every word as he offered gratitude and a heartfelt thanks for their unwavering loyalty at the bittersweet close of the Dreamville Festival.
“Tonight is special,” Cole said. “If this is the last time I get to do this. … We gotta make it special, correct?”
In the final hours of the Dreamville Festival, fans packed the grassy fields of Dix Park in Raleigh to hear their favorite songs with each other and hear Cole perform.
When he launched the festival five years ago for only one day, its future was uncertain — but it has since etched itself into the fabric of the arts community in North Carolina and as one of the most anticipated events in music.
Cole acknowledged the end of the festival as it is and the new changes coming to Dix Park over the next four years under the Dreamville Festival moniker, saying that the festival planning was “a lot.”
“We want to put on some amazing [expletive] for y’all, we want to do it for Carolina. We love being able to offer that and bring amazing artists,” he said, adding that fans stopped him at the park shocked this was the festival’s last year.
“I want to say thank y’all for making Dreamville Festival a massive success every year,” he said. “I’m sad, but we will be back, just in a newer form.”
Cole ended his set with his song, “Farewell,” from his 2010 “Friday Night Lights” album, before fireworks lit up the night sky.
‘A proper send off’
This year, the grounds were dotted with colorful blankets, art sculptures and murals, a Ferris wheel and dozens of vendors as temperatures rose into the 80s.
While R&B singer Tems performed into Sunday evening, Dane Simon, 27, listened with friends outside the merchandise tent between the Rise and Shine stages on opposite ends of the park. The next performer on the Rise stage was Erykah Badu.
“I went to the first, and now I’m coming to the last, so this is proper send-off,” said Simon, a Chapel Hill resident. “What I’ll miss about this is one in particular is [Cole]; he’s the glue that brings everyone together. He’s a guy that inspired a generation of people and I think who we’re all here [for] tonight.”
Cole, raised in Fayetteville, named the festival after his beloved hometown and his record label. Each year, the rapper closes out the event on the final night with some special guest surprises and performances of his biggest songs. In 2023, when he headlined with rapper Drake, guests Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne and 21 Savage appeared.
Alongside him this year headlining on the final night were Badu, rappers Glorilla, J.I.D, and Wale. On Saturday night, Wayne with Hot Boys and Big Tymers electrified the crowd after artists PARTYNEXTDOOR, Ludacris, 21 Savage and Keyshia Cole performed.
“I was most excited to see Wayne,” said Tonya Bland, 46. “I’m also excited to see J. Cole, I think Drake is going to come back out.”
Bland came to her first event in 2023. Now that the original festival is ending, she said she will miss meeting new people and feeling a sense of togetherness.
“I’ve loved every second,” she said. “The overall experience itself is amazing. You meet a lot of people. Everybody wants to come together.”
‘I get excited for this’
For years, fans have praised Dreamville Festival for its homecoming-like feel where they could make new connections over a common interest: music.
After she finished spinning the turntables during her set on Saturday, DJ See Bird Go, 36, of Charlotte, said this was her second time performing at the festival and was going to miss the “cookout feel.”
“I’ve seen it grow from 2022 when I performed, over the years it’s awesome to see [the festival] grow,” Bird said. “I love seeing people get dressed up and excited to hear music. Every year in April, it’s always a little nostalgic, I get excited for this.”
Kobe Brown, 23, traveled with his friend, Chris Crenshaw, 24, from Charlotte. This was the first Dreamville Festival they’d attended, and they were trying to “soak up everything” they could.
“I’m just going to miss everyone getting together collaboratively,” Brown said. “We’re just excited to be out here and experience this one last time.”
Details about the new festivals are still unknown.
Zach Hylan, 24, of Raleigh, sat on the grass between performers as he waited to see who would join Cole on stage.
“If it’s not directly under J. Cole they could have really different artists for different audiences that might not be super similar to Dreamville,” Hylan said. “But I’m going to miss [Cole].”
This story was originally published April 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM with the headline "‘Thank y’all.’ Fans say goodbye to Dreamville Festival as J. Cole performs at Dix Park."