Dahlias that Dazzle

Written By: Kim Daughtery | Issue: August 2024

Summer is in full swing on the Plateau, people are everywhere, and we are being blessed with our sumptuous bounty of natural beauty, as the plateau is in glorious full bloom.

Our summertime star, Dahlia, is beginning her showy reign in all her beguiling sizes and colors. Did you know dahlias come in every color except blue? Yes, there are even black dahlias, and if you come to Highlands Historical Society’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival on September 6 and 7, you may spot some!

This September 6 and 7 marks the 14th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival, our whole town celebration of the best of summer. Highlands Historical Society, Visit Highlands, The Bascom and the Dahliabolicals are very proud to host an event for the entire town that is free of charge.

All of the incredible beauty and talent you will see on display at the dahlia festival is created by our whole town’s (area’s) shared generosity.

Everybody can participate in some way. We need your talent to create a vignette in this year’s theme, “Flower Power.” We need your flowers on 9/6 to create these vignettes, we want you to enter your specimen dahlias in the Single Bloom on September 6, and we want you to come September 6-7 to take in the beauty, creativity, history and great music. Groovy baby!

This year HHS is having an “Elevated Woodstock” patron’s party on Tuesday August 27. Highlands Smokehouse, High Country Wine & Provisions, the Mountain home of Davis Family Wines will cohost the grooviest costume party in Highlands. Tickets are $150 per person or $1000 for a VIP experience for two. Visit highlandshistory.com for info and tickets.

The festivities officially begin Thursday September 5, with a kick off dahlia poster party at the Bascom from 5:00-6:30 P.M. Marina Tsatch, the artist who painted this year’s beautiful Dahlia Festival poster will receive her $500 check; there will be appetizers, wine, and a surprise offering as well. There is no charge for this party.

On Friday, September 6, the Single Bloom competition will accept flowers at The Bascom from 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. (There is a $20 charge to enter up to eight flowers, this is the only charge all weekend.) The amateur single bloom, professionally-judged show is free and open to the public at The Bascom, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. Friday and 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday. There are amateur and professional categories, with Best of Show in each category winning $100.

On Saturday, the Dazzling Dahlia/Native Plant Vignettes will be available throughout town for viewing all day. A map with the vignette locations will be available at the chamber, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, the Historical Village and The Bascom.

The Historical Village will have an entire day of storytelling, music, clogging, food and docent guided tours of the Prince house and museum. Make Saturday your day to experience Flower Power.

The Vignette Festival Competition awards a $500 prize to the Best of Show winner, as selected by a secret panel of qualified judges. The public can vote for their favorites for “People’s Choice” online. The festivities will culminate with an elevated Saturday concert in KHFP, as a generous group of sponsors, the Dahliabolicals are sponsoring the 10-piece dance band Steel Toe Stiletto.

Festival winners will be announced during intermission. Get your groove on, and be young, be foolish and be happy!

It takes all the dahlias, native flowers and plants we can find to drape Highlands in florals! Friday, September 6, Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park will become the Dahlia Depot – please drop off any flowers, especially dahlias, and greenery as well, between 8:00 A.M. to Noon. We use all the flowers for vignettes and make 200 Mason jar arrangements to offer for sale.

Nonprofits will be featured in the park. If you want to be proud of Highlands, walk through and see the nonprofits that support every aspect of life on the Plateau. A great example of the astounding level of generosity found here.