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Blooming Abundant, Highlands Dahlia Festival

The exotic beauty of dahlias takes center stage with Highlands Historical Society’s Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival.

Written by: Jenny King

Issue: 2018, May 2018

Daffodils and Forsythia are blooming, and trees are budding, sure signs that this long snowy, wet, winter will soon be gone for good.  Spring warmth and the abundance of rain we have had this past winter, should produce a season of abundant bloom across the plateau. 

Dahlia tubers are lying in wait for mid-May planting, where they will slowly grow into the “Empress of Flowers” that steal the show from August till first frost.  Dahlias flourish here in the mountains, our cool moist mornings and moderate temperatures allow for a nonstop late summer flower show of extraordinary variety.

Highlands Historical Society celebrates summer with a festival celebrating dahlias; so please put the 8th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival on your calendars.  This year’s festival will be the weekend after Labor Day, September 6-8.  Festivities begin with the patron’s party, “Highlands & Hollywood,” to be held September 6 at Highlands Country Club.  Come enjoy an evening celebrating Highlands place in the movies.

Saturday, September 8, the 8th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival will take place at the Highlands Recreation Center.  This is an amateur festival so there are categories for everyone, even children.  For $15 you may enter eight blooms that will be judged and then displayed for the public.  Entries will be accepted Friday from 4:00 to 6:30 P.M., and Saturday morning from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M.  Saturday afternoon from 1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. the Rec Center will be ablaze with colors and shapes that will delight people of all ages.  Dahlias in every color and shape imaginable will amaze and inspire, there will also be a speaker, and arrangements for sale. 

Come support Highlands Historical Society at Highlands & Hollywood, enter your own “Dazzling Dahlia,” or just come enjoy the show.  Best of Show is featured in the following year’s literature.  Stay tuned for last year’s winner and further details for the 8th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival.

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