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The Florida Azalea Festival is a two-day event held annually in Palatka, Florida, on the first weekend of March. The festival celebrates the seasonal arrival of the azalea blossom to the northeast Florida region.
The first official Florida Azalea Festival was held in 1938. Originating as Jaycees Day, the local chapter of the Jaycees organization transformed the event into the festival celebrated today. In the early years the festival was centered at the Ravine Gardens. As its popularity grew, most of the activities were moved to the riverfront in downtown Palatka.
The modern event is conducted by the Palatka Main Street program. The Ravine Gardens still joins in the celebration with what it calls Azalea Days. Its diverse collection and high concentration of the flower makes it a staple for those who want to get a good look at the celebrated annual blooms. [1]
Azalea Festival events open to the public generally include:
Putnam County is a county located in the northeastern part of the state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 74,364. Its county seat is Palatka.
Mount Dora is a city in Lake County, Florida, US. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 12,370, and in 2019 the population was estimated to be 14,516. It is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee, FL, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Founded in 1880, Mount Dora is known for its small-town southern charm. It has many antique shops in the downtown area. The downtown area overlooks Lake Dora. Mount Dora is home to one of three freshwater lighthouses in Florida. It hosts many monthly festivals and is known as the "Festival City".
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,558 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Putnam County. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 72,893 residents. The city is also home to St. Johns River State College, St. Johns River Water Management District Headquarters, and Ravine Gardens State Park. The area is well known for its local festivals, most notably the Florida Azalea Festival and the Blue Crab Festival.
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, particularly the former sections Tsutsuji (evergreen) and Pentanthera (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees. They are part of the family Ericaceae.
Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando or simply "Universal," formerly Universal Studios Escape, is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Universal Orlando is the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando, after the Walt Disney World Resort which is nearby, covering 541 acres of land.
Mashramani, often abbreviated to "Mash", is an annual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic in 1970.
Fantasy Fest is a street party held annually in the last week of October in Key West, Florida.
Ocean Center is a convention center located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the fifth largest convention center in Florida.
Sayen Park Botanical Garden, also known as Sayen House and Gardens, is a municipal park and botanical garden located at 155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton Square, an area within Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The garden is open year-round from dawn to dusk without charge, though park activity is at its peak in the spring.
Ravine Gardens State Park is a 59-acre (240,000 m2) Florida State Park located in Palatka, Florida. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Callaway Gardens is a 2,500-acre (1,000 ha) resort complex located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, just outside LaGrange, Georgia. The destination draws over 750,000 visitors annually.
The Come-See-Me festival is an annual Spring festival hosted in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
The North Carolina Azalea Festival is an annual community festival in Wilmington, North Carolina. The largest festival of its kind in the state, it was founded in 1948, and takes place in April.
The Palatka Azaleas were a minor league baseball team, based in Palatka, Florida, that existed from 1936 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1953. The Azaleas were members of the Florida State League. In 1936, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, in 1937 they were affiliated with the New York Yankees, and in 1949 they were affiliated with the Tampa Smokers. In 1956, a Palatka team began play again and evolved into the Palatka Redlegs.
The azalea is a flowering shrub.
The Azalea Trail Maids are a group of fifty high school seniors chosen yearly to serve as "Official Ambassadors" for the city of Mobile, Alabama. The Maids, wearing dresses meant to look like flowers, make appearances at many local, state, and national events. They often serve as greeters when foreigners and dignitaries visit the city, and are required to be knowledgeable about the city landmarks and history. In addition, they must have a good grade point average to be accepted and have great interview skills. The Maids are selected through a dual interview process, interviewing at the school and county level. Hundreds of girls initially try out, but only fifty become Azalea Trail Maids. The Maids are meant to embody the ideals of "Southern hospitality", and appeared at the inauguration of United States President Barack Obama.
Palatka Heights is a neighborhood southwest of downtown Palatka, Florida in the United States. The area is bordered by St. Johns Avenue to the north, Westover Drive to the west, and the Ravine Gardens State Park to the south. The neighborhood houses the Palatka Water Works, which provided citizens with water from 1886 until the end of the 1980s. The City of Palatka Heights was incorporated July 23, 1886 and existed until its annexation by Palatka in 1921.
Palatka Water Works is a former water pumping facility in Palatka, Florida. Built in 1886, this building provided residents with fresh water for more than 100 years. Today the building houses the Water Works Environmental Education Center. The center is used for educational school programs and community events. Trained volunteers from the St. Johns River Water Management District's Watershed Action Volunteer Program conduct programs for school children and adults to educate them about water resources, focusing on water conservation and protecting the St. Johns River.
Downtown Palatka is the central business district of Palatka, Florida. According to the Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency, the district is bounded by Main Street to the north, Laural Street to the south, the St. Johns River to the east, and Eleventh Street to the west, Historical Fort Shannon was located at the east end of downtown on the river, near what is today City Hall. Area transportation is conducted by Ride Solution and connects downtown passengers to other core areas in Putnam County.
The Palatka Redlegs were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1956 to 1962 as members of the Florida State League, as descendants from the Palatka Azaleas.
Coordinates: 29°38′46″N81°37′44″W / 29.64616°N 81.62889°W
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