76th Rhododendron Festival will feature plenty of music, crafts, and food vendors
Published 2:57 pm Wednesday, June 7, 2023
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The 76th Annual Rhododendron Festival will be held the weekend of June 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The Saturday schedule of entertainment includes:
– 10 to 11 a.m., Simply Scott
– 11 a.m. to 12 noon, Trailblazer Cloggers
– 12 to 1 p.m., Jim & Cheri Miller
– 1 to 2 p.m., Moonshiners
– 2 to 3 p.m., Sound Traveler
– 2 to 4 p.m., Mike McKinney
– 4 to 5 p.m., Fiddling Leona and J.P. Mathes
The Sunday entertainment lineup includes:
– 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Open Mic
– 12 to 1 p.m., Rock Creek Ramblers
– 1 to 2 p.m., Bright in the Corner
– 2 to 3 p.m., Greater Glory
– 3 to 4 p.m., Stemwinder
June 1947 saw the first of the Rhododendron Festivals, conceived and carried out by the Roan Mountain Citizens Club as a two-day celebration to memorialize and perpetuate the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North American continent. This festival has continued uninterrupted for over 60 years.
Originally the festival was held at the top of Roan Mountain. In recent years the festival is held in Roan Mountain State Park, located at the foot of Roan Mountain, and features handmade crafts, food, and a variety of traditional music, plus an array of old-time folkway demonstrations.
Parking by donation to local civic group, admission, demonstrations, and entertainment all day both days. Over 100 arts and crafts vendors. A variety of food available. Visit the world’s largest natural rhododendron gardens atop 6,000-foot Roan Mountain. Hike the Appalachian Trail as it runs along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.
The Citizens Club will have Roan Mountain cookbooks, auto tags, and t-shirts available for purchase at the festival. All proceeds go to Roan Mountain community projects at schools, fire department, etc.
A mini-auction for scholarships for Cloudland High School graduates will be conducted between performances. Festival vendors and local businesses have donated items.