Local author Chelsea Wilson Thayer was part of a long list of festival vendors. (MNJ photo)
The streets of Bakersville were full of life and activity this past weekend as the annual North Carolina Rhododendron Festival was again in town for its 75th year.
It marked the second straight year the festival hit Bakersville streets. Amid the ongoing pandemic, it was canceled in 2020 but returned the following year.
The festivities kicked off in earnest on Thursday, June 16 with a Pageant Queens Reunion Show during which 35 returning NC Rhododendron Pageant Queens made their way to Bowman Middle to meet, greet and entertain attendees.
The annual Rhododendron Pageant followed on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at Bowman and the rest of the festival followed just down the street.
Vendors lined up along the Bakersville Creek Walk to sell arts, crafts and food on Friday and Saturday. Many vendors sold handcrafted goods while others pedaled hot food and cold drinks.
As is an annual staple, many local agencies also set up booths to distribute information on their missions.
The Street Dance brought attendees together to cut a rug on Friday and Saturday nights with dances starting around 8 p.m. and going until about midnight. Bandana Rhythm provided live music.
Other annual festival staples also returned including the 10K run at Gouge Elementary School and the Rhododendron Cara Show presented by the Mountaineer Shrine Club.
Live music throughout the weekend was provided by David Wiseman, Crystal and Judge, William Ritter and Friends, Greg Speas and Ron Knight, High Country Grass, Smokey Joe Peoples Band, Sorella Jack, Rhonda Gouge and Keeping Time, Sam McKinney, Rhododendron Queens, Joe Lasher and Kaitlyn Baker and Steve Barnes, Ron Knight and Ray Desilvis.
The annual Rhododendron Festival draws hundreds of visitors to the area each year and its slate of events has become a yearly tradition. To learn more about it, visit NCRhododendronFestival.org.