The 32nd Annual Pickens Azalea Festival took place with two days of good weather and started Friday night in full swing.
I would personally like to extend my gratitude to Pickens Mayor David Owens, City Council, Pickens Police Department, and Streets and Sanitation Department crews for their assistance in making the festival a safe environment for everyone.
Thanks to the several volunteer groups and individuals who assisted the Azalea festival board/committee, Pickens Senior Citizens, PHS Science Club and Danielle Yother for performing the national anthem.
I am grateful to Pickens High School artist Hanna Jones, winner of the azalea artwork competition for this year, which appeared on official references to the festival. Thank you to Pickens Rotary Club for serving as sponsors of the azalea art contest.
The 10th Annual 5K Walk/Run hosted by the Pickens Women’s Association saw a very successful event Saturday morning raising money to benefit the Beverly M. Smith scholarship.
Thank you to the Pickens Sentinel & Pickens County Courier for publishing the annual Azalea Festival insert. I would also like to thank IWANNA for the festival booklet, Grace Methodist Church and Bowers Transportation Services for donating the use of shuttle buses for the Hagood Mill tours and parking Saturday during the festival and to TD Bank of Pickens for sponsoring Friday’s Appreciation Luncheon.
A big thank you to Amy Hawley and the Burning Brick for hosting the vendor drop in breakfast on Saturday Morning and to Upstate Jeep Legends Club and Lake Keowee Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep for sponsoring the Friday night cruise in dash plaque.
The festival board extends our deepest gratitude to our sponsors: The City of Pickens, Hendricks Honda of Easley, IWANNA, Pickens County Courier, Pickens Chamber of Commerce, Pickens Sentinel, SC Education Lottery, Domino’s of Pickens, Totman-signs, Stockade n’Stuff, Pickens Dental Associates, South State Bank, Senator Larry Martin, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, TD Bank of Pickens, Home Depot of Easley, Cornell Dubilier, Burning Brick, Grace United Methodist Church, Bowers Transportation Services, Cannon /AnMed Health, Wendy’s of Pickens, Cassell/Hendricks CPA,PA, Mike Holcombe’s Tire & Auto, Bojangles of Pickens, Pickens Family Dentistry, Hardee’s of Pickens, Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County, Pizza Inn of Pickens, TTI of Anderson, Cherokee Foothills Realty, Pickens Dental Association, R. Carl Byars Ins. Agency, General Ins. Agency, Gym Life, The Life FM radio, and Pickens County Council.
I personally what to thank a very dedicated group of people who volunteer their time and energy to make this festival a success each year, the Azalea Festival Board & Committee. It takes months of planning to put on an event of this magnitude.
Russ Gantt
Executive Director, Pickens Azalea Festival