Azalea Festival History 

Spring, with its warming days encouraging trees to bud and

flowers to grace the landscape, is always a reason to

celebrate, and Pickens takes full advantage of the opportunity. 

A 1989 brochure promoting the city’s annual festival said it best

with the words “When the Azaleas are blooming in Pickens,

South Carolina, the little town celebrates!” 

And having fun in a family-oriented atmosphere is exactly what

they do during the Azalea Festival, which occurs each year in

April. 

Hosted by local and area civic-minded organizations, the Azalea

Festival resembles a large family reunion for Pickens County

residents, and it gives people who have been away far too long

the chance to return for a visit with old friends while strolling

the streets of Pickens that are filled with artists offering a variety

of their work and crafts, local organizations handing out

information on a series of topics, and an assortment of foods

that will entice even the pickiest of eaters. 

The Azalea Festival also calls to people who have never been

fortunate enough to actually live in Pickens County, beckoning

them to share for a moment the pleasures local people enjoy

each day. 

The Azalea Festival had its beginnings in the spring of 1983 as a

small, juried show called the Mountain Arts & Crafts Show and

organized by the Pickens Civitan Club was held in the north end

of Pickens. 

Later, in 1983, the then current Chamber of Commerce President

snd Pickens Civitan Club founder, Ruth Swayngham Hinkle, had

the vision to convince the Civitians to move the show to downtown

and invite other non-profit groups to participate.  Hinkle told of

her vision at the annual Chamber banquet, “I see many

different organizations having activities on closed off streets

and parking lots all over town,” she said.

By enlisting the support of the Chamber as sponsor, the first Pickens

Festival was held in 1984 with the Civitan Arts & Crafts Show, the

Junior Assemble providing lemonade, the Jaycees, donuts and the

Chamber giving out information. 

Over the next few years the event attracted many more organizations

and greatly expanded the gourmet choices to feet the hungry public

and some ingenious attractions.  For those first years, it was held in

May, the Saturday before Mother’s Day, and at the same time as the

springtime Pickin’ in Pickens Bluegrass Festival, which was held in a

pasture north of town. 

The Azalea Festival was able to not only borrow entertainers from  the

Bluegrass festival, it was also able to bring in other forms of local

entertainment. 

In 1987,  Jerrie Hixon, who served as the festival coordinator for

the event’s first nine years, compiled the first self-guided historical

tour with about 20 locations.  The next year, and every year after,

the guide was published in The Pickens Sentinel’s Special Section. 

As the years passed, more research was done by area historians to

add new sites and old photos to the annually published tour.  By

following the map in the printed tour guide, festival goers can read

about each place as they walk by.  Open for tours each year are the

Hagood-Mauldin House, the Pickens County Art & History Museum

and the Hagood Mill. 

Cynthia Boney, another long-time festival coordinator led the festival

into the century, worked lovingly at preserving the history by adding to

the tour until it included over 50 locations. 

Many are grateful for the support of area businesses in faithfully

advertising in the section which comes out each year the Wednesday

before the festival to provide the Historical Tour and all the festival

highlights for the current year. 

In 1988, the Festival date was moved to the third Saturday in April, the

peak of the azalea blooming season, and by 1989 the new name was

officially changed to the Pickens Azalea Festival.  Fun activities were

planned each year, including parades, stage coach rides, a petting zoo,

puppet and magic shows, clowns and organ grinders.  Some attractions

were brief lived while other became traditions.

In 1990, a very special cake was made to celebrate the 250^th

Birthday of General Andrew Pickens.  Connie and June Bowers

graciously excepted the challenge to play the parts of the General

and his lovely wife, Rebecca, at the party.  Anna Simon, a local

newspaper reporter, played the part of Brenda Starr who “interviewed”

the historic couple at the party, thus starting a favorite tradition.

Since then, many different local couples have accepted the honor to

put on the period clothing and be the official greeters of the festival

by playing the part of the Revolutionary War hero and his wife. 

Through the years, several other traditions have remained strong,

including the annual Azalea Festival tee-shirt.  Starting in 1987, every

year the Pickens Civitan Club has chosen the artwork depicting a Pickens

area landmark.  The first shift was pale yellow with brown ink, featuring

the Hagood Mill drawn by local artist, Mary McDaniel. 

Throughout the festival’s history, many different colors of shirts have been

added and local artist have donated their talents for these shirts that

help the community.  Most featured places are on the historical tour,

Such as, historic homes, museums, Chapman’s Bridge, the old Pickens

School house, the Pickens “Doodle”  train engine and even natural

landmarks, such as Glassy Mountain and Table Rock Mountain. 

Each year, Pickens High School art students are invited to enter original

drawings of an azalea flower and one drawing is selected to become the

official artwork of the festival.  Since 1989, an official U.S. cancellation stamp

has been made for the Pickens Azalea Festival Station from the artwork. 

letters are received every year from all over the United States requesting the

cancellation stamp.  In addition, many people visit the post office station

at the festival to mail friends and even themselves a card of letter with the

collector’s stamp.  This drawing is also featured on the tee-shirt and in

publicity fliers and information. 

Many longtime visitors to the festival have tee-shirt collections including

all 27 shirts and also the 18 cards with the annual one-day cancellation

stamp.  In addition, some collectors have compiled posters advertising

the event and wonder if they may someday be displayed in the county

Art museum.   

Planning for a festival of this size takes all year to plan.  The few that

have assumed the task of leadership are greatly appreciated.  Although

the sponsorship has gone from Chamber to Civitans to the Greater

Pickens Chamber Of Commerce, the two groups have always worked

together to get the fun day accomplished.

In 1992, when Hizon left the lead, the Chamber passed the

sponsorship back to the Civitan Club where the energetic work of

festival coordinators, Chalma Drake, Michael Chastain and Cynthia Boney

brought new and creative ideas. 

In 2002 the Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce was asked to re-adapt

sponsorship of the Azalea Festival.  Jerri Hixon was asked to lead and revive

the structure of the community wide representation of the Azalea

Festival Planning Committee.  In the summer of 2003, the role

of festival coordinator was taken over by the long time community

leader and former Pickens Jaycee, Russ Gantt. 

Under Gantt’s leadership, the Festival added Friday evening

entertainment and carnival rides in 2004 and was billed for the first

time in 2005 as a two-day event, including Friday evening and all

day Saturday. 

In 2005, the first annual Classic Car Cruise-Inn was added as a Friday night

attraction to the weekend festivities.   Now in it’s 8^th year, the Cruise-Inn

has grown to over 300 entries. 

In 2009, to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Azalea Festival, the event

Went to three days and for the first time the festival history expanded out to

Include West Main Street. 

Also in 2009, the annual Azalea Festival program book will be published in both

Local newspaper – The Pickens Sentinel and The Pickens County Courier. 

In addition, a third musical stage will be added to the venue for Saturday’s festivities. 

As the years have progressed, the arts and crafts booths have increased to more than

100 participants, and many more civic groups have brought their talents and endless

Volunteer hours to the event. 

The festival has spread out through downtown Pickens – down Main Street,

Onto Court Street and Lewis Street, on Legacy Square and business parking

Lots – just as Ruth had envisioned so many years earlier. 

Separate areas are set aside for children’s activities, entertainment

stages, historical tours, displays, such as remote controlled model

airplanes, and of course, the great variety of food to be enjoyed

while dining in the street at tables decorated with bouquets of

Azaleas. 

As the Azalea Festival begins its 28^th year as a family event, the tradition

continues as a way for more than 40 civic non-profit community

organizations to raise funds for various worthwhile causes. 

Added to the festivals activities is the Pickens Women’s Associations

5K walk/run, now in its 6^th year 

It has been estimated that approximately $100,000 has been raised over

the years to go to local charities through the sale of food and souvenirs. 

Yet, as always, no admission fees are charged to anyone wanting to attend

The Pickens Azalea Festival and share in an annual tradition that is

anticipated year-round by area residents as a way to celebration

Spring in Pickens.