Fayetteville, N.C. — Southern blues-rock band .38 Special will kick off the 27th Annual Dogwood Festival next month, festival organizers said Friday.

The band, which features guitarists Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant, topped the charts in the 1980s with hits like "Hold on Loosely," "Caught Up in You" and "Back Where You Belong."

The group will perform during the Bloom & Boom Kickoff Party, from 7 to 10 pm April 24 in Festival Park. A fireworks show will follow the concert.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, a downtown street fair will feature hundreds of arts and crafts vendors, a food court, a carnival and “Partnership’s Kidstuff.” Presented by the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, Kidstuff will includes the Two x Two zoo, face painting, interactive games and an area for toddlers.

Local and regional acts will perform on the Rock Shop stage both days, and events throughout the community will offer theater performances, “Dancing with the Fayetteville Stars,” classic and rock concerts, special sales and a fly tie-a-thon.

Collective Soul, a '90s rock band whose hits included "Shine," "Listen" and "Heavy," will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Regional gospel and R&B acts will perform from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, and R&B singer Ray J will close out the event with a Sunday evening concert.

“We are thrilled to offer this caliber of entertainment,” Carrie King, festival executive director, said in a statement. “Thanks to our partners, this year, we are able to offer free concerts from three major entertainers.”