The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts will host the 15th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival from September 4–6, 2025. This community-centered program brings horticulture into dialogue with the visual arts through a weekend of public events, including a fall reception, floral installations, a juried single bloom competition, studio pottery offerings, and educational presentations.
In advance of the festival, The Bascom will present an educational talk by longtime grower Peggy Boruchow Arnette on Saturday, August 30, at 11 a.m. Designed for both new and experienced enthusiasts, the session will clarify what makes a bloom competition-ready and prepare participants to present their dahlias for judging in the Single Bloom Competition.
The festival opens with The Bascom’s Fall Reception on Thursday, September 4, at 5 p.m. The evening will mark the start of the fall exhibition season, recognize Shannon Woodford the winner of the 2025 Dahlia Poster Contest, and formally launch the Dazzling Dahlia Festival. Guests are invited to view the exhibitions, enjoy light refreshments, and preview the weekend’s floral-themed programs.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can experience Petals and Perspectives, a special floral design showcase on view September 4–6. Participating nonprofit organizations will create arrangements in direct response to works of art on view in The Bascom’s galleries, fostering a thoughtful exchange between botanical design and visual art.
Pictured | First row: Kim Daugherty, Mayor Pat Taylor, and Bianca Mitchell. Second row: Zach Rogers, Billy Love, Peggy Boruchow Arnette, and Lisa Dailey.
Fall Exhibitions
The Bascom’s fall exhibitions remain on view beyond the festival weekend:
• Community Call: History of Highlands — through November 29.
• Chatov: A Retrospective of Works by Roman, Constantin, and Marc Chatov —through January 3, 2026.
• Forms of Inspiration: Ceramic Artists of the Bascom Clay Symposium — through November 29.
Single Bloom Competition
The festival’s signature event invites dahlia growers of all ages and experience levels to present their finest blooms. The juried show will be on view Friday, September 5, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Studio Member Pottery Show
Running concurrently on September 5 and 6 in The Bascom’s Studio Barn, this sale features handcrafted wall pockets and vases created by Studio Members. Each work will be adorned with fresh dahlias and available for purchase.
Town of Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor has proclaimed the week of September 1st as Dahlia Week.
The Dahlia Dialogue with Drew English
Renowned gardener and dahlia expert Drew English will present The Dahlia Dialogue on Saturday, September 6, at 11 a.m. at The Bascom. This accessible talk traces the history of dahlias with particular attention to their legacy on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. The session will include an extended Q&A. Attendees are encouraged to bring dahlia specimens for individualized diagnostics and practical growing advice.
Emerging Designer Collaboration
This year’s festival and exhibition collateral were developed in collaboration with the inaugural cohort of The Bascom’s Emerging Designer Program: Seth Baker and Parks Felton, graphic design students at Western Carolina University. Felton contributed design for the Dazzling Dahlia Festival, while Baker developed materials for Chatov: A Retrospective. The internship provides hands-on experience in arts marketing, design strategy, and visual communication.
All events are free and open to the public. For details, visit thebascom.org or follow @TheBascom on social media.
Favorites Count: 0