Attendees of the 70th annual Rhododendron Festival can expect a wealth of entertainment.
The mainstay in Roan Mountain gets underway Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while Sunday’s slate of events gets started at 10 a.m. and lasts until 5 p.m. at Roan Mountain State Park.
“We have a committee that comes together to line up the entertainment,” Roan Mountain Citizens Club president Brian Tipton said. “As soon as this year’s event is over with, we’ll be gearing up for the next. This is a year long process.”
Each year, the Rhododendron goes with the same mentality for shopping – stay local.
“That’s the biggest thing for each year,” Tipton said. “We always stress the importance of keeping the entertainment local and giving people some fun when they’re here.”
Saturday’s entertainment lineup gets underway at 9 a.m. with Rhodyjane & Coffee House at 9 a.m. Jim & Cheri Miller hit the stage at 10:30 a.m. followed by Joyfull Noise Handbell Choir 11:15 a.m.
With a jammed back early morning lineup, Boss Family takes the stage and noon and the Roan Mountain Moonshiners will play at 1 p.m. The RMCC will present hold their scholarship presentation for Rebecca Dishner, a recent Cloudland High School graduate, a 2 p.m..
Third Generation and Bandwagon Falacy will each have two hour sets before Siam Symphony takes center stage at 5 p.m.
Saturday is primarily bluegrass, Brian said, while Sunday features a mix of bluegrass and gospel.
Sunday’s schedule includes:
* 10 a.m. – Open Mike
* 12 p.m. – Rhodyjane
* 1 p.m. – Dan Henderson
* 2 p.m. – Young Family
* 3 p.m. – Reel Steel
* 4 p.m. – Greater Glory
“We have all kinds of different performers coming in this week,” Tipton said. “The Roan Mountain Moonshiners always have a big following wherever they go. The handbell choir is also real popular with the community.”
Along with the current entertainment lineup, Brian added that Congressman Phil Roe is expected to be in attendance Saturday as a special guest.
RMCC expects this year to be one of the, if not the biggest, Rhododendron Festivals to come through Carter County, the RMCC president said.
For any first year attendees, the entertainment, along with arts and crafts vendors, will be the belle of the ball, according to Tipton.
“Everything you’ll see at the vendors is homemade,” Tipton said. “All the handcrafted items, the promotions, everything is locally. We’re expecting some very good food by our vendors and, of course, the gardens. We’re hoping everybody enjoy there’s time at the festival.”