NC Rhododendron Festival

06/05/2026

We are so excited that this year’s festival will feature a collaboration with Kids Markets Organization. Make sure to visit this special section of the Craft Fair on Friday, June 19!

Have a kid who is crafty and wants to earn some extra money? Check out how they can participate! https://kidsmarkets.com/markets/bakersville

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

🌸Boy, a little pink sure gets people excited!🌸

We’ve been getting a lot of questions so here’s the answer!

Every year, Mother Nature writes her own schedule, and this year the rhododendron on Roan Mountain decided to get an early start! While blooms around Carvers Gap are already showing their pink selves, many of the higher-elevation blooms in the world’s largest natural rhododendron gardens are still waiting to open over the coming weeks.

Peak bloom is never an exact science—it depends on sunshine, rain, temperatures, and a little mountain magic. What we do know is that Roan Mountain is beautiful now and will continue to be beautiful throughout festival time.

The 79th Annual NC Rhododendron Festival is happening June 19-20 in Bakersville, and we invite you to come celebrate with us! Enjoy the Crafts Fair, Car Show, Pageant, Street Dances, great food, mountain hospitality, and everything that makes this festival a treasured tradition.

The flowers will bloom when they bloom. The festival will go on. And we'll be here celebrating both! 🌸💜

06/01/2026

🌸 2026 Rhododendron Tournament 🌸

The Rhododendron Tournament is back at Grassy Creek, and we're bringing this legendary event back in a big way. Join us June 19–21 for an unforgettable weekend of golf, great food, cold drinks, live music, and friendly competition on our beautifully renovated course.

Open to both members and non-members, this all-inclusive event features three rounds of golf in a two-person team format, flighted by handicap. Play Captain's Choice on Friday, Best Ball on Saturday, and Modified Alternate Shot on Sunday, with tee times beginning at 7:30 AM each day.

Your entry includes lunch and beverages all three days, cash payouts and side games throughout the weekend, and a Blue Tees Golf gift for every player—choose from a rangefinder, GPS, or GPS speaker. On Saturday night, enjoy a full dinner party with live music from the Johnson Brothers Band, and spouses are invited to join the celebration.

The entry fee is $800 per team and includes all golf, food, beverages, tee gifts, side games, and Saturday night's entertainment. Guest and non-local players must have an active USGA Handicap.

This tournament was once one of the premier events in Western North Carolina golf, and we're excited to bring it back bigger and better than ever. Gather your partner and reserve your spot today—it's going to be a weekend you won't want to miss. ⛳🌿🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♀️

Register your team by contacting us at 828-765-7436 or https://ukg.golf/q?ac=CEJpkPOe

06/01/2026

Quick reminder that pageant contestant applications are due June 10! Please see our website for an application and the alteration of the fitness/swimsuit category. Photos must be received by June 10 to be appear in the pageant program.

05/31/2026

Vendor applications due tomorrow! We have just a few spaces left!

05/29/2026

The NC Rhododendron Festival Craft Fair will once again be on the Bowman football field!

Improvements this year include:
➡️running Mitchell County Transportation shuttles throughout Bakersville that will transport folks to and from the field (check back closer to the Festival for shuttle locations)
➡️providing tents for shade and tables/chairs where folks can sit and eat
➡️including an entrepreneurial kids market (see our website for details)

Why the field?
1️⃣ The Creekwalk does not have a paved walking pathway. The existing gravel path is not accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, etc. Parking is also very limited due to no access to the funeral home parking lot (thanks, Helene!)
2️⃣The street in town cannot be used for vendors for several reasons. The Rhododendron Street Dance on Friday and Saturday nights occupies the entirety of the street, sidewalks, and adjacent parking areas. Vendors would have to set up Friday morning, tear down Friday night and set back up on Saturday morning. We would never ask our wonderful vendors to do the immense work this would entail. Also, Friday is a business day for UCB and the businesses in town. Vendor spaces have to be marked, numbered, and secured on Thursday. We cannot (and would not) block business access on Friday for vendor spaces and keep people from accessing their bank (UCB)! We want the Festival to bring customers TO our local businesses, not block access to these businesses. Last, blocking a state highway for 2-3 entire days takes special permission from NCDOT and because Friday is a business day, this request likely would be denied.
3️⃣The field is the only other space large enough in the town of Bakersville to host an event with over 50 vendor spaces AND include a parking lot and access to power.

We have wonderful vendors and food trucks lined up for this year’s Craft Fair. We hope you join us on June 19 & 20!

05/25/2026

Pageant Announcement:
We have extended the deadline for contestant applications to June 10th for both divisions. Additionally, we will be changing the swimsuit competition for the Queen division to fitness. Please contact us if you have questions.

Join the town of Bakersville for the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, featuring a Craft Fair, Car Show, Street Dance, and more!

05/25/2026

Register now for your child to participate as an entrepreneur at this year’s festival. Registrations must be in by June 18th! More Info at https://kidsmarkets.com/markets/bakersville