Cheoah River Release
2026-04-18 - 2026-04-19 | Cheoah River, Joyce Kilmer Rd, Robbinsville, NC, 28771, United States
The annual Flame Azalea Festival is a family-friendly, jam-packed day of arts, crafts, live music, food, and more. Held each June in Robbinsville, the festival celebrates the rare stand of native flame azaleas that bloom atop Hooper Bald, just off the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County, North Carolina — one of the highest points in the county, where elevation keeps these vivid orange blooms flowering long after the season has faded elsewhere in the mountains.
This is an outdoor walking festival held along the greenway at Robbinsville High School, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Bring strollers for little ones — and don't forget a wagon for shopping, especially if you're planning to take home native flame azaleas, which will be available for sale throughout the day.
Spend the day shopping for native flame azaleas, watching live glass blowing demonstrations with Devan Cole of Hot Glass Academy, and taking in Cherokee arts and culture. All-day activities include a food truck court, antique tractors, community jam tent, free face painting, a barrel train, pollinator parade, nature crafts, natural dyes, sensory play, fly fishing demonstrations, and hands-on outdoor educational activities — plenty to keep every member of the family engaged.
Meet 2026 Featured Artist Dayna Walton
Don't miss the chance to meet Dayna Walton of Solstice Handmade, the official artist behind the 2026 Flame Azalea Festival poster! Stop by to say hello and browse her work. Her artistic voice — rooted in observation, texture, and organic color — beautifully captures the vibrant azaleas and the unique ecosystem atop Hooper Bald, making her a natural fit to interpret this year's festival.
Flame Azalea Festival Stage Schedule
A large, shaded listening tent is provided — but don't forget your chair! The day opens with a ceremony at 10:00 AM, followed by a full lineup of regional and touring talent.
10:15 AM — Jacob Goins. Jacob Goins is a poet who dresses his words in delicate melody. Born and raised in the Appalachians, he writes and records folk music that reflects the gentleness, the rise and fall, and the golden peacefulness of the North Carolina mountains. When he performs with his wife, Lauren, the two form a duet whose voices harmonize with the mountains as well as each other.
11:15 AM — Warriors of AniKituhwa. Don't miss this family-friendly, interactive performance by a cohort of Cherokee dancers dedicated to revitalizing Cherokee dance culture. Wearing accurate reproductions of 18th-century Cherokee styles, they perform the War Dance and Eagle Tail Dance as described in 1762, along with social dances that include the audience. The Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has designated the Warriors of AniKituhwa official Cultural Ambassadors.
12:15 PM — The Sundown Band. The Sundown Band livens things up with an eclectic mix of country, soft rock, and Motown covers from the '70s, '80s, and '90s — Americana at its best. A blend of Alabama harmonies with a bit of funk keeps audiences anticipating the next song, with all members hailing from Western North Carolina.
1:30 PM — Pickers Anonymous. This old-timey trio of multi-instrumentalists led by Nicholas Edward Williams collects traditional material and presents it through their own eclectic filter, layering high, lonesome harmonies over Appalachian sounds drawn from old-time, bluegrass, early country, and hillbilly blues. Williams records the American Songcatcher Podcast and fournded a nonprofit ReString Appalachia which has restored thousands of instruments back into the hands of musicians affected by natural disasters like Helene.
2:45 PM — Foreign Landers. Rooted in bluegrass and Celtic tradition, Foreign Landers create their own sound with reflective songwriting and enchanting singing. Led by vocalist and banjoist Tabitha Agnew Benedict of Northern Ireland and mandolinist David Benedict of South Carolina, the band has built a reputation for music that feels deeply personal, shaped by distance, home, and changing seasons.
4:30 PM — Chatham County Line. This year's headliner, Raleigh's own Chatham County Line, is known for rich harmonies, masterful musicianship, and heartfelt songwriting. Since forming in 1999, the group has blended bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll into a sound that is both timeless and fresh, delivered with guitar, banjo, fiddle, upright bass, and three-part harmonies.
Know Before You Go
Admission is free, though donations to Graham County Fire & Rescue are encouraged and appreciated. Remember that this is an outdoor walking festival along the greenway — bring a chair for the listening tent, a stroller for the kids, and a wagon for hauling your azaleas and other finds.
