The Rhododendron Festival

April 12th - May 11th, 2025

Starts at 10:00 AM

Visit the The Rhododendron Festival Website

The Details

The Rhododendron Festival

April 12-May 11, 2025
Open 7 days a week!

Monday–Thursday: 11AM – 3PM

Friday–Sunday: 10AM – 4PM
Admission: $10 requested donation to help support Hamilton Gardens.
Kids 12 & under are FREE!

Daily Special Features include:
Plant Sales
Garden Tours
Featured artwork for sale

Wine Bar & Food Court: Savor local wines and delicious bites at our Wine Bar and Food Court, open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM – 4 PM.
Seminars and Classes on Sundays

Live Music: Kick back and enjoy live performances from talented musicians every Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM – 3 PM.

Saturday, April 12 - Kilough
Sunday, April 13 - Wyatt Espalin

Saturday, April 19 - Anna Shinholster
Easter Sunday, April 20 - Amanda Heinke

Saturday, April 26 - Troy Underwood
Sunday, April 27 - Zach Kilmer

Saturday, May 3 - Cody Marlowe
Sunday, May 4 - Mark Miller

Saturday, May 10 - Brock Lee
Sunday, May 11 - Tom Edwards

Spend a day in the most beautiful part of North Georgia - Hiawassee and the stunning Hamilton Gardens. This magical botanical garden is filled with native wildflowers like trilliums, shooting stars, and trout lilies, and more than 1,500 rhododendrons and native azaleas making it the largest collection in the Southeast! During peak bloom time we will be celebrating our beautiful native flowers with a Rhododendron Festival! The Festival is held in our Courtyard and it will be open 7 days a week for FREE!

Run For The Rhodos

Saturday, April 26th
5k Run & Walk

Run for the Rhodos is a unique, blossoming event presented by Hamilton Gardens of the entertainment rich Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds nestled in exceptionally scenic Hiawassee, Georgia. This runner/walker friendly 5K experience offers racers a woodland trail course that immerses you in our ravishing Rhododendron Garden while in its full bloom splendor! Sign up here!

Top of Georgia Plein Air Festival Festival

Thursday thru Saturday May 8 - 10, 2025

Top of Georgia Plein Air Festival is a 3 day painting event with $2,000 + in prize money. The public is invited to observe the artists as they work in their chosen mediums. Multiple drawings, a gallery of the artists' work and wet paint sale will be held at the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion.

Wet Paint Sale Saturday, May 10, 2025 - All paintings completed at the event and entered for judging will be for sale in the afternoon of May 10, 2025. A percentage of the proceeds will go to help establish a scholarship for a local art student.

Hiawassee Highlands Wine Festival

Saturday, May 10th, 2025
11am-5pm

Tickets:
Advance Tickets: $40.00
At the Gate: $45.00
Age 16-20 $25.00
Age 15 and under free

Enjoy music by Wyatt Espalin & friends on two stages, arts and crafts, food trucks, 30+ Wineries offering Tastings, and tours of the blooming Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens.

Acoustic Sunsets

Spring Series
Thursday Nights 6pm to 9pm
FREE Admission
Donations appreciated

May 8th | May 15th | May 22nd | May 29th

Food Court and Wine Bar open at 5pm

The Acoustic Sunset Series is hosted by Songwriter/Singer/Fiddler Wyatt Espalin
Seating in Pavilion, Food Court or on the Lawn (bring a blanket or a chair!)

Interested in being a vendor? Sign up HERE.