Rhododendron Festival attendees in 2019 enjoy the nightly street dance in Bakersville. The festival and the dancing return after a 2020 postponement. (MNJ file photo)
BAKERSVILLE — The annual North Carolina Rhododendron Festival is set to return Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19.
The 74th iteration of the festival, which was originally set for June 19-20, 2020, was postponed in April 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Festival’s return is expected to usher in the usual hundreds of visitors from all over the region. The regular event staples, including the Rhododendron Festival Pageant, the nightly street dance and the annual Car Show will all return.
The event is set up within the confines of all applicable current guidelines from Toe River Health District, the state of North Carolina and the Centers for Disease Control.
The Rhododendron Pageant will be held at Bowman Middle School starting with the first round of competition on Friday, June 18. The first round includes junior division talent and senior division swimsuit and special entertainment will be provided by former Rhododendron Queens.
The final round of pageant competition, including senior division talent, junior and senior evening gown and the crowning of the Rhododendron Queen, is set for Saturday, June 19. Special entertainment will again be provided by former Rhododendron Queens.
Doors open both nights at 6 p.m. with the pageant starting at 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and discounted two-night passes will be available for $15 for adults and $10 for children.
Robert Hensley will serve as the master of ceremonies for the pageant and souvenir programs, books, concessions and event shirts will be available for purchase.
The annual craft fair will also return to the Bakersville Creek Walk as part of the Festival. The fair, which features a slew of vendors from across the region, will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
The Rhododendron Classic Car Show with the Rhododendron Cruisers is also set to return on Saturday and will feature the usual awards, including Top-25 and the People’s Choice Best of Show.
The annual Rhododendron 10K run also returns on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and a 1-mile walk begins at 8 a.m.
The race begins at Gouge Elementary School. Runners can register from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on race day for $30.
There are several age divisions and cash prizes and awards will be presented.
Finally, the Rhododendron Festival will return one of the largest street square dance events in the state, both nights from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Live music will be provided and concessions will be available, sold by Bakersville Ruritan.
Admission to the street dance is $5 for adults and $3 for children.