It’s time once again for those flashy, showstopping dahlias to take center stage at the 16th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival on the beautiful campus of The Bascom at 323 Franklin Road in Highlands, held this year on September 10–12.
This celebration of botanical design and visual art is a weekend of public events including a reception, floral installations, a juried single‑bloom competition, studio pottery offerings, hands‑on workshops, and educational presentations.
The festival kicks off on September 10 with an opening reception at 5:00 P.M. Visitors will enjoy light bites and preview the weekend’s floral events as well as meet the winner of this year’s poster contest, Michelle Radford.
The Bascom’s galleries will be open as well, and visitors will enjoy moving among The Bascom’s stunning displays. Petals and Perspectives is this weekend’s most anticipated floral design showcase. Participating floral designers create arrangements in direct response to works of art on view in The Bascom’s galleries, so a viewer moves between the work of art and its floral answer.
Another visitor favorite is the opportunity to view and purchase works from Bascom Studio Members, who will present a collection of wall pockets and vases, all adorned with fresh dahlias.
The festival’s signature event, the Single Bloom Competition, begins Friday, September 11, from 3:30 until 5:00 P.M., and continues Saturday, September 12, from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Dahlia growers of all ages proudly enter their carefully cultivated blooms, hoping their prized flower will capture the judges’ attention. It’s easy to understand why the dahlia deserves its moment in the spotlight.
A favorite among Highlands’ gardeners, dahlias are treasured for their adaptability, dazzling colors, and astonishing variety of sizes, with blooms ranging from a petite two inches to nearly a foot across.
With more than 42 recognized species and each plant producing its spectacular blooms one stem at a time, every entry represents patience, care, and gardening expertise. With hundreds of beautiful blooms on display, being chosen for that one perfect flower is indeed a special honor for any gardener.
This festival is free, open to the public, and parking is available. For more information, visit thebascom.org or follow @TheBascom on social media.ollow @TheBascom on social media.
Favorites Count: 0