Festival History
The Beginning of the Azalea-Dogwood Festival
The Azalea-Dogwood Festival began in 1964 under the leadership of the Dothan Federation of Garden Clubs. Mr. Charles Taylor was instrumental in beginning the tradition of celebrating the coming of Spring. Prior to the actual celebration, a pageant was held to select a queen and court to grace the lawn of his home at 115 Girard Avenue. An area in the Garden District of Dothan was mapped off and girls of all ages were asked to dress up in Antebellum dresses. They sat on their lawns to wave to those riding through the Trail. The newly elected Queen and her court began the parade with a ribbon cutting ceremony and rode atop Corvettes throughout the pink-lined streets. Mr. Taylor’s grand, white Antebellum-style home signified the end of the trail. It is still the finale of Dothan’s historical Azalea-Dogwood Trail and is currently owned by Mr. Brent Cook.
The Growth of the Festival
As the Festival grew, the City of Dothan became the sponsor of the pageant and other activities that were a part of the Festival. There was a 5K run, softball and soccer tournaments, and activities at Solomon Park. However, interest began waning in the events, including the pageant. As a result, the City decided to cancel the pageant and Trail. This decision resulted in many citizens expressing their disappointment. Therefore, a Trail was held, and the previous year’s queen presided over the festivities for a second time, since there was not a pageant. 2017 is the only year that the same Queen served twice.
Afterwards, the City sought assistance in revamping the pageant so that it would appeal to the current generation of contestants. This resulted in the formation of the Azalea-Dogwood Festival Board which was established in January 2018. It is a non-profit organization made up of citizens who desire to keep the tradition of the Trail and to honor deserving young women with recognition and scholarships.
The Festival & Pageant Today
The pageant is now a scholarship pageant open to high school junior girls in the Wiregrass area. Antebellum-style dresses are no longer required. There are new activities to celebrate this beautiful time of year, such as a Tea Party for Junior Belles, and Poundcake and Lemonade Contests. The Board’s goal is to promote the festival to honor the past and to promote hometown pride. It also aims to beautify Dothan as more Azaleas and Dogwoods are planted throughout the city for everyone to enjoy.