High atop Roan Mountain on the Tennessee-North Carolina border are the largest natural rhododendron gardens in the world. Each year since 1947, the village of Roan Mountain has thrown a party to celebrate the beauty. I remember attending as a boy, and my dad was very involved for a long time. In recent years the annual Rhododendron Festival takes place at Roan Mountain State Park, and this year my sister, Ann, and I decided to sponsor a booth. She is a gifted watercolor artist, and I took a few books. My grandson, Elijah, went with me. About 10,000 people showed up, we listened to a lot of mountain music, ate taters and Amish donuts, and had a lot of fun. The flaming azaleas were also blooming on the balds. If you want to attend next year, we still have rooms available at Roan Mountain Bed and Breakfast, but they fill up fast. The dates are June 22-23, 2019. Here are some pictures.
