azalea fair parade car winner 1925

Acres of pink, orange, and purple azaleas in Pickens

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This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Azalea Festival in Pickens, SC. Last year about 15,000 people swelled the streets of this town of 5,000 in search of classic cars, a pet pageant, hot air balloon rides, and of course, acres and acres of pink, orange, and purple azaleas.

The extravagant use of floral flourishes in public celebration isn’t exactly a recent development in Pickens. Here are two photos from the Pickens County Library System, shot a year apart, labeled simply ‘Pickens Fair (1910),’ and ‘Fair and Parade (1911)’ below.

Pickens Azalea fairgoers in decorated car, 1910
couple waves from florally decorated car at Pickens Azalea Fair, 1911

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