Just Dazzlin’

The Dazzling Dahlia Festival, set for September 9 throughout downtown Highlands, recounts the history of the Plateau through the kaleidoscopic permutations of this most astonishing blossom.

This September 9, Highlands Historical Society will proudly present the 13th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival. Highlands will be draped in florals, serenaded by the sweet stories of times gone by, awed by “A Sense of Place,” and treated to some mighty fine music! Dahlias of every color and shape, as well as equally fabulous native plants will be placed around town as talented folks present their floral interpretations of “Seasons of Highlands.”

The Bascom, Highlands Historical Village, and KelseyHutchinson Founders Park will be the hubs of the festival, but Main Street and all around town will be a feast for the eyes as you experience florals in ways you didn’t expect. Look for interactive vignettes, historical vignettes, edible vignettes, and creations that will delight all your senses.

Highlands Historical Society realized during the Pandemic that our non-native dahlias are more than just pretty blooms to be judged for their individual perfection. The stunning dahlia can be combined with native plants to tell stories and create fascinating vignettes that share Highlands’s history. The Highlands Historical Society wants to highlight the parts of Highlands that are oftentimes overlooked; the history of this place, the incredible generosity of its people, and that the best things in life are indeed free!

The festival kicks off Thursday, September 7, at the Bascom with a kickoff party from 5:00-6:30 P.M., where Megan Gaillour, the winner of the Dahlia Festival poster competition will be recognized. Her creative poster has been the face of the festival this year and a few limited-edition posters will be available for purchase.

On Saturday, September 9, The Bascom will host the Garden Club of America-judged Amateur Dahlia Single Bloom Competition. Growers will enter their blooms from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. at The Bascom patio. Judging will be done, ribbons placed, and then the single bloom show will open to the public from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.

That same day all around town including Main Street, Kelsey-

Hutchinson Founders Park and the Historical Village will be full of floral delights. Plan the whole day and night because the historical village will have a full day of events. Meanwhile, in KHFP our nonprofits will be featured, those little-recognized entities that support everything on the Plateau.

The finale of this exciting day will be when Steel Toe Stiletto, a fantastic 10-piece dance band takes the stage at 6:00 P.M. at the park. A group of very generous people, the Dahliabolicals, sponsored Steel Toe Stiletto so the Dahlia Festival would have an epic band to wrap up Dazzling Dahlia.

Highlands Historical Society, Visit Highlands NC, and The Bascom are proud to present all Dazzling Dahlia Festival events at no charge. For more info and to enter the vignette competition go to highlandshistory.com.

by Mary Jane McCall