The Most Beautiful Rhododendron Festival In Tennessee You Won't Want To Miss
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Meghan Kraft
Author
If you’ve ever been to Tennessee in the springtime, then you know that there’s no way you can forget it. It’s when the whole state explodes with flowers and greenery when the world remakes itself and after the chill of winter, we all understand exactly why we make our home in Tennessee. This incredible rhododendron festival takes place right on the cusp of spring and early summer, which is one of the best times of the year. Have you been?
The Rhododendron Festival in East Tennessee has been hosted since June of 1947, a tradition that carries on even all these decades later.
The two-day extravaganza is held every year on the third weekend of June, and although it once was hosted at the top of Roan Mountain, it's now located in Roan Mountain State Park.
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Don't worry, though. Even at the foot of the mountain the beauty of the great Tennessee rhododendron is hardly diluted.
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The festival boasts all sorts of handmade crafts and foods, with everything from homemade furniture to decadent Southern eats.
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The traditional music adds an extra country spark to the whole affair, and there are folkway demonstrations throughout the weekend as well. It's like stepping back in time, adorned with floral accents and a whole lot of Tennessee charm.
The festival is appropriate for all ages, and families are encouraged. There's nowhere else in the world you'll find the rhododendron applauded with such local fanfare.
Roan Mountain reaches 6,000 feet towards the sky, and at the very top you'll find the largest natural rhododendron gardens in the world. The Appalachian Trail snakes through the area as well, giving hikers a stunning eyeful.
You can continue to experience the beauty of Tennessee with a visit to its oldest covered bridge. It’s a neat story and a fabulous history.
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