2026 FLAME AZALEA FESTIVAL

SAT JUNE 20

10 AM – 6 PM

The annual Flame Azalea Festival is a family friendly, jam-packed day of arts, crafts, live music, food, and more. Shop for native flame azaleas, watch glass blowing, and take in Cherokee demonstrations and more.

Admission is free, though donations to Graham County Fire & Rescue are encouraged and appreciated.

Meet 2026 Poster Artist Dayna Walton

We are very excited to announce that Dayna Walton has been selected as the official artist fo the 2026 Flame Azalea Festival poster. Her artistic voice – rooted in observation, texture, and organic color – makes her a nautural fit to interpret the vibrant azaleas and the unique ecosystem atop Hooper Bald.

BECOME A VENDOR

Join us for one of Western North Carolina’s fastest growing festivals and showcase your work at the 2026 Flame Azalea Fstival. We’re currently accepting vendor applications and invite you to be a part of community and creativity filled day.

Craft Vendors are eligible for cash prize vendor awards.

GLASS BLOWING DEMONSTRATIONS & WORKSHOPS

Get a close up look at the art of glass blowing at this year’s Flame Azalea Festiva, or better yet — sign up for a workshop!

Artist Devan Cole of Hot Glass Academy will discuss the history and science of glass blowing with audiences and answer questions from the crowd. Devan’s demonstrations are interactive, letting audiences choose colors and patterns, and safely feel the heat.

CHATHAM COUNTY LINE

We’re excited to announce the 2026 Flame Azalea Festival Headlining Band – Chatham County Line! Full stage lineup coming soon!

LARGE LISTENING TENT PROVIDED

DON’T FORGET YOUR CHAIR!

STAGE SCHEDULE

10:00 AM OPENING CEREMONY

10:15 AM JACOB GOINS
Jacob Goins is a poet who dresses his words in delicate melody, carefully designed. When he performs with his wife, Lauren, they are a duet whose voices are in harmony with the voices of our mountains as well as each other.
Born and raised in the Appalachians, Jacob fashions folk music that shares in the gentleness, the rise and fall, and the golden peacefulness of the North Carolina mountains. His writing is born of woods, of the emergence and recession of light, and of the silence in which he lingers. In every humble effort, he strives to make art that doesn’t sing over the quiet, but rather sings with it.
11:15 PM WARRIORS OF ANIKITUHWA

Don’t miss this family friendly, interactive performance by this wonderful cohort of Cherokee Dancers dedicated to revitalizing Cherokee dance culture.

They are painted red and wear clothing and jewelry that are accurate reproductions of 18th century Cherokee styles. Their program includes the War Dance and Eagle Tail Dance as described in 1762 along with a discussion of the significance of these dances. In addition to these historical dances, they perform Cherokee 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 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 Positive Force funk keeps audiences anticipating the next song. All members hail from Western North Carolina – Don O’Dell (keys/vocals), Rick Trammell (acoustic guitar/lead vocals), Jamie Nichols (vocals/lead guitar), Greg Bauman (lead guitar/vocals), Kemmy Garrett (bass), and Wayne Barter (drums).

1:30 PICKERS ANONYMOUS

Pickers Anonymousis an old timey trio consisting of multi-instrumentalists Nicholas Edward Williams (American Songcatcher/The New Quintet), Owen Grooms (Travis Book String Band/Pretty Little Goat/Jenn and Owen) and John Benjamin Davis (John Hartford Fiddle Project/Susto String Band).

Collecting traditional material and presenting it with their own eclectic filter, Pickers Anonymous layers high lonesome harmonies on Appalachian sounds from Old-Time, Bluegrass, Early Country and Hillbilly Blues. Their debut record, Patchwork, is slated for release in late 2025 via EarthTone Records.

2:45 FOREIGN LANDERS

Rooted in bluegrass and Celtic tradition, the band creates their own sound with reflective songwriting and enchanting singing shaped by lives lived across borders.

Led by vocalist and banjoist Tabitha Agnew Benedict of Northern Ireland and mandolinist David Benedict of South Carolina, The Foreign Landers have built a reputation for music that feels deeply personal. Their work grows out of shared experience, shaped by distance, home, and the steady work of learning how to live faithfully in changing seasons.

4:30 PM CHATHAM COUNTY LINE

Known for their rich harmonies, masterful musicianship, and heartfelt songwriting, the Raleigh-based group blends bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll to create a sound that is both timeless and fresh.

Since forming in 1999, Chatham County Line has built a devoted following with their warm acoustic style, featuring guitar, banjo, fiddle, upright bass, and three-part harmonies. Their songs range from high-energy picking tunes to reflective ballads, all delivered with the authenticity and craftsmanship that have made them a standout in the Americana music scene.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

ALL DAY ACTIVITIES

Food Truck Court
Antique Tractors
Community Jam Tent
Free Face Painting
Barrell Train
Glass Blowing
Nature Printing
Natural Dyes
Sensory Play
Critters in the Creek
Live Animals
Cherokee Pottery
Outdoor Educational Activities

GET INVOLVED

WE APPRECIATE OUR FESTIVAL SPONSORS

GET INVOLVED

THANK YOU PARNTERS