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Quick Take:
The Florence Rhododendron Festival, Oregon's second-oldest flower festival, returns May 15-18. This year’s theme is "Rhodies on the River." The four-day celebration showcases the city’s official flower in full spring bloom and features family-friendly activities including a grand floral parade, classic car show, arts festival, and vendor fair.
When May comes around, rhododendrons start blooming.
For the past 118 years, the Florence Rhododendron Festival has celebrated the flowers in a spring tradition as reliable as the blooms themselves. Rhododendrons are Florence’s official flower.
When the festival comes around, “it’s like spring is finally here,” said Bettina Hannigan, president and CEO of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. “We can get out of the house, we can have fun. There are people in town. There’s really something for everybody to do around town and we’re excited to be a part of that.”
The Rhododendron Festival, or Rhody Fest, for short, starts Thursday, May 15, and ends Sunday, May 18, with daily activities and events. This year’s theme is “Rhodies on the River.” Coronation of the royal couple, King of the Coast Joel Sissel and Queen Rhododendra Ashlyn Hart, took place May 10.
The Davis Shows Carnival will set up each day at the Port of Siuslaw property in Old Town, while Saturday marks the annual 5K Florence Habitat for Humanity Rhody Run and Walk, the junior parade, kids’ activities, the Classic Car Show ‘n’ Shine, and the Classic Car Cruise through Old Town starting at 6 p.m. Sunday brings the grand floral parade, beginning at noon, which winds down Highway 101 from 27th Street and into Historic Old Town. A Vendor Fair will be set up on Maple Street between Bay Street and 1st Street in Old Town, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The fair features include food, art, decor and caricaturists.
The Florence Regional Arts Alliance arts festival is set up at the Florence Events Center. Three Rivers Casino Resort will run a shuttle to Old Town every 15 to 20 minutes, May 17 and 18. And, of course, there are myriad rhodies in bloom all over town, as well as the rhododendron show and plant sale.
“It’s always fun to see the families, and the memory making, the tradition,” Hannigan said. “There are people here that come every year. It’s always fun to see the motorcycles come into town. The overall vibe is very exciting.”
The first Rhododendron Festival was held in 1908, the brainchild of Florence’s mayor at the time, Dr. George Edward, to promote visits to the city. The Florence Rhododendron Festival is the second-oldest flower festival in Oregon, second only to the Portland Rose Festival, which celebrates 119 years this year, and third-oldest on the West Coast behind the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California, which began in 1890.
Want to go?
118th Florence Rhododendron Festival
May 15–18
See www.rhodydays.net for the full list of events
Vendor Fair
Bay Street to 1st Street in Old Town Florence
Friday 1–5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Rhododendron Show & Plant Sale
Florence Events Center
Saturday 1–5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Free Admission
10th Annual Rhody Days Arts Festival
Florence Events Center
Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Davis Shows Carnival
Port Of Siuslaw Parking
Thurs. 3 p.m. – closing (10 or 11 p.m.)
Fri. noon – 11 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. – midnight
Sun. noon – 11 p.m.
