Valdosta-Lowndes Azalea Festival returns March 14-15 for its 26th year at Drexel Park

VALDOSTA, Ga. – When the azaleas bloom, the celebration follows! This weekend, the 26th Annual Valdosta-Lowndes Azalea Festival returns to Drexel Park for a free, family-friendly two-day event. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors can explore more than 250 arts and crafts vendors from across the country, featuring everything from handmade jewelry and boutique items to homemade candies, soaps, sauces, and jams. Foodies can indulge at the international food court, while kids can enjoy a huge KidZone with interactive games, hands-on activities, and live entertainment. The festival also brings back fan favorites like the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, the Disc-Connected K9 Frisbee Show, and Falconry Forever, showcasing birds of prey in action. Guests will also enjoy music and performances on six stages throughout the park, including Azalea After Dark events sponsored by the Turner Center for the Arts, along with family-friendly attractions from Wild Adventures Entertainment.

The festival kicks off Saturday morning with the VLPRA Azalea 5K, a race that starts at 8 a.m. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. at the Valdosta Early College Academy (VECA), 1605 Azalea Drive, and participants can register in advance for $20 or $25 on race day. Sunday features the classic car and motorcycle show, where participants can register for free between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the corner of Brookwood Drive and Williams Street, with judging beginning at 12:30 p.m. and trophies awarded at 3 p.m. Additionally, a LifeSouth Blood Drive will take place both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering donors a recognition item and free cholesterol and A1C diabetes screenings. Donors must be at least 16 years old, and 16-year-olds require written parental permission.

What started as a small local festival 26 years ago has grown into a major regional event attracting tens of thousands of attendees from across the Southeastern United States. The Valdosta-Lowndes Azalea Festival continues to be an economic booster for the city and surrounding counties while celebrating Valdosta’s nickname as “The Azalea City.”

For more information, including vendor opportunities and event details, festival staff can be reached at 229-269-9381 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or via email at info@azaleafestival.com. Visitors can also view the full schedule and details on the official website at azaleafestival.com.

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