Enjoy A Weekend Filled with Rhododendrons and Yard Sales

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - April 30, 2015 - PRLog -- Presented by the Mentone Area Preservation Association, the Rhododendron Festival features an array of arts and crafts, two stages of live music from local musicians, scenic boat rides, a pageant, and a children’s area with the highlight of the festival the beautiful bursts of rhododendron blooms covering the mountaintop town. This year’s event is set for May 15-17, 2015, and in addition to the free family event, festivalgoers can shop for treasures during the annual US 11 Antique Alley Yard Sale set for May 14-17, 2015.

The Rhododendron Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday with a fish fry hosted by One World Adventure at the Mentone Inn Pavilion and the Miss Rhododendron Pageant follows at 6 p.m. at the Mentone Community Church Family Life Center. Music also gets underway at the Mentone Inn Pavilion at 6 p.m. with a performance featuring the unique sounds of Will Dooley and the Tatum Brothers.

On Saturday and Sunday, Brow Park will be filled with over 50 talented artists and craftsmen offering their handmade creations. Festivalgoers can peruse the works of art from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Beginning at 10 p.m. on Saturday, local musicians will perform throughout the day on the Brow Park Stage and slated to perform at this year’s event are Josie Bruno from Chattanooga, Fort Payne’s Ryan Keefe, Mentone native Daniel Hughes, Mentone’s Lisa Crow, Amy Snider of Albertville, seasoned singer, songwriter, guitarist Marsha Morgan, and Mentone native David Lusk. Beginning at 11 a.m., Sunday’s lineup includes Silvia Costantino originally from Argentina; Matty Croxton, co-frontman of the Pioneer Chicken Stand Band; Collinsville’s Marc Womack; Curtis Strange; and Chris Hale.

Plenty of activities are lined up for children. Located in the parking lot of Kamama’s Art Gallery, the Children’s Festival includes a dunking booth, pony rides, face painting, opportunities for kids to create their own piece of art and a second music stage. Beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, the Children’s Festival Stage, located under a tent, will offer performances by Taylor Henderson, Terry Hutcheon, Dakota Hulgan, The Fowler Girls, Boci Virili (men’s a capella quartet), Kenny Finlayson & Friends, Jess McClendon and Tom George, Clare Donohue, Curtis Strange, and Shades of Gray. On Sunday, the entertainment gets underway at 11 a.m. and includes Glenda Nunnally and the Tibetan Mastiffs (Westminster Dog Show winners), Avery Smith, John Lathim, The Cloggers, Felipe Paccagnella, The Campfire Girls, and Dancers @ Heart.

There will also be horse drawn carriage rides beginning in the parking lot of the Mentone Springs Hotel and the Mentone Area Preservation Association will be selling rhododendrons for festivalgoers to purchase and enjoy at home. Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m. festivalgoers can enjoy a feast at the Low Country Boil while enjoying the mountain folk-rock sounds of the Pioneer Chicken Stand Band on the Children’s Festival Stage.

Scenic boat rides will be offered on Little River. The boat will leave from DeSoto Falls and travel up river before returning. Hours are 1 p.m. to dusk on Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Boats will depart approximately every 45 minutes, weather permitting. Cost is $10 per person.

In addition to the Rhododendron Festival, visitors can take the scenic back roads through the Appalachia region for a shop ‘til you drop experience. Set for May 14-17, 2015, the US 11 Antique Alley Yard Sale offers 502 miles of roadside sales from Meridian, Miss. through DeKalb County, and ending in Bristol, Va. Hundreds of yard sales offering treasures, unique finds and southern hospitality can be found along U.S. Highway 11 through Hammondville, Sulphur Springs, Valley Head, Fort Payne, Colbran, Portersville, and Collinsville all located in DeKalb County near the Rhododendron Festival. For more information, visit www.discoverlookoutmountain.com/antique-alley.shtml.

For more information and a list of attractions, restaurants, and accommodations, visit www.discoverlookoutmountain.com or call DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740.