Excitement is building, there is a buzz around town, the 12th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival, presented by the Highlands Historical Society is Sept. 10-11.
This year there is a mysterious new lady in town and she is making her debut Thursday Sept. 8 at the Bascom.
She will make her entrance at a reception in her honor between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Do not miss “Dahlia’s Debut!”
On Saturday and Sunday, the Dazzling Dahlia Festival will drape Highlands in 40 dahlia/floral interpretations of “The Gilded Age.”
The dahlia trail will guide you from the Bascom, to the Main Street shopping district, to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park where 19 local nonprofits will be featured; and finally to the historical village.
Expect to be wowed as 40 different stories are told through florals.
The public can vote on their favorites by going to highlandshistory.com.
Voting closes Saturday at 5 p.m.
People’s Choice winners and the secret judges winners will be announced Saturday evening during the “Rockabilly’s” concert in the park.
There is also entertainment at the historical village on Saturday and Sunday. There will be storytelling, featuring our beloved Isabelle Chambers, Grandma Gatewood, and a host of other local characters.
Silly Ridge will entertain with bluegrass music under a tent behind the Prince house. There is a dance floor, and rumor has it that there will be some serious clogging going on. So cloggers, bring your shoes! Music starts around 2 p.m. on both days.
Brent Martin will present a talk on Sunday at 1 p.m. about his new Masa book, “Wild Visions.” There will be popcorn, and children’s activities also.
For children ages 3-6 and 6-12, there will be a fabulous self-guided scavenger hunt available from 11-5 on Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday.
Click HERE for more information, or stop by the Visitor’s Center or the historical village.
Don’t forget the single bloom amateur competition held at the Bascom on Sept. 10 (Saturday).
It’s $20 to enter up to 8 single dahlias into the show.
Garden club of America judges award ribbons in 17 categories.
To enter bring blooms to Bascom Saturday between 8-10 a.m. The show is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
On Saturday at 2 p.m., Drew English will give a talk on dahlias.
Entry into the show and dahlia talk are free of charge.
Limited edition signed posters will be available at Dahlia’s Debut, at the Bascom today (Sept. 8) from 5-6:30 p.m.
There will be posters, notecards, and mason jar arrangements for sale in the park and at the historical village Saturday and Sunday.
All events are free, maps will be available Friday 9/9 at the Visitor’s Center, the Bascom, and historical village. Scavenger hunt info at visitors center & historical village only.
These events go on rain or shine. For more info on schedule and to vote on vignettes, go to highlandshistory.com.