The 97th Annual Rose Show and Festival will be held Thursday-Saturday, April 26th-28th in beautiful Thomasville, Georgia. Held annually during the month of April, the Rose Show and Festival is a celebration of Thomasville’s rosy history and heritage.
Vegetables- not roses! - can be given credit for starting the Rose Show in the 1920s. A few industrious local women entered their vegetables for display in the State Fair in Macon in the fall of 1920 and took home the $25 first place prize. This seed money was given to the Garden Club to host the first Rose Show in 1922. So many roses were entered into the show that Neel’s Department Store - the site of the first show - was covered from floor to ceiling in flowers. Needless to say, a Thomasville tradition had been born.
Almost a century later, the Rose Show and Festival remains a popular staple on the Thomasville calendar. The festival itself has grown to include two parades, a car and truck show, Art in the Park, fireworks, a street dance, and several flower shows. Most events are free.
Kicking off the festivities early in the week will be the Annual Thomasville Police Department Inspection on Tuesday, April 24th at 5:30 p.m. Held on Broad Street in Downtown Thomasville, the Inspection is open to the public and showcases the discipline and quality of our local law enforcement. The community is invited to a meet-and-greet following the inspection.
Kids will enjoy the children’s Rose Bud Parade held Thursday, April 26th. Possibly the cutest parade in all of Georgia, this parade features hundreds of children, children’s organizations, and community groups showcasing their love of Thomasville.
The Rose Show officially opens on Friday, April 27th at 1:00 p.m. in downtown Thomasville. Come see some of the south’s most impressive and prolific blooms on display. At 2:00 p.m., head to the Thomasville Garden Center for the grand opening of the Standard Flower Show. This show is filled to the brim with flowers of all shapes and sizes.
Friday night brings the highly anticipated Rose Parade, a community favorite! This parade features nearly 100 entries from colorful floats to high spirited marching bands. This year’s event will include a new theme for the Rose Parade: Helping Hands: A Celebration of Community Volunteers! Entries will feature super-star volunteers and celebrate our community’s amazing ability to give back.
After the parade, don’t miss the street dance featuring the Swingin’ Medallions! The Swingin’ Medallions will get you on your feet to boogie the night away on Broad Street. Closing out the night is a spectacular fireworks show that’s fun for the whole family.
Saturday rounds out the festival weekend with two more flower show openings: Orchids on Parade, featuring dozens of delicate orchids, and the Civic Garden Club Flower Show, highlighting native plants and creative ways to arrange and display them.
While you’re in downtown, enjoy the TPD 16th Annual Show and Shine car show. Categories include best modified, best original, and best overall. Whether you enjoy modern or classic cars, this free-admission event is not-to-be-missed!
Be sure to take a stroll through Art in the Park, held in Paradise Park from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Art in the Park features food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, free children’s activities, the popular Bark in the Park pet show, live music, and more.
New to the Art in the Park event this year will be the BMX Trickstars show. The BMX Trickstars show is led by X-Games medalist Rob Nolli and brings a thrilling display of BMX bike stunts and freestyle tricks to the audience. The Trickstars will perform throughout the day on Saturday, April 28th.
Almost all of downtown is utilized during the festival, including the Park and Amphitheater. The Park and Amphitheater will feature a free concert by the Grains of Sand Band from 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Grab your friends and a tasty lunch and head to the amphitheater for some beach music that is sure to please. While you’re there, have your picture taken with a real live unicorn! Unicorn ponies will be in the amphitheater during the concert to pose for pictures with your little ones.
A free trolley service will circle throughout the downtown and Paradise Park areas on Saturday. Hop on and off at your convenience and don’t miss a moment of the fun!
There’s a whole lot more you won’t want to miss, so mark your calendars for the 97th Annual Rose Show and Festival, Thursday-Saturday, April 26th-28th! Most events are free and fun for everyone. For more information, visit thomasvillega.com or call the Thomasville Visitors Center at 229-228-7977.