Sponsored Content
Culture

There’s a lot blooming at the Pickens Azalea Festival

The Pickens Azalea Festival has been drawing crowds for over 40 years as one of the largest festivals celebrating local artisans in the Southeast.

April 18, 2024 • 
Germaine Foo, Pickens Azalea Festival
Sponsored by
A GIF showcasing images of the Pickens Azalea Festival, a muscle car, and an art vendor.

When the azaleas are blooming in Pickens, the small town celebrates.

Photos provided by Pickens Azalea Festival

Spring will be in full bloom at the Pickens Azalea Festival, happening April 26-27 in downtown Pickens.

Bring the whole family and immerse yourself in a weekend filled with blooming azaleas, over 300 local artisans, 35+ food trucks, live music, amusement rides, and more.

This year, the festival will kick off on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. with the annual cruise-in showcasing hundreds of jeeps, muscle cars, and classics from all eras. On Saturday, don’t miss a lineup of fun activities, including:

Fun fact: This year’s contest has been expanded to offer local restaurants a chance to win the title of “Best Pie in the Carolinas”. Both home bakers and restaurants are welcome to enter.

Start planning your Pickens weekend

More from GVLtoday
GVL_Jianna_Cookbook_SEPT2024
Culture
Editor’s Pick: Celebrating Jianna’s James Beard Semifinalist
We spoke with Andrea Ciavardini-Royko minutes after she found out she was a James Beard Award semifinalist.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
A frozen fountain
Weather
What makes an ice storm so dangerous?
Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.
January 21, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Bon_Secours_Wellness_Arena_Rendering_JAN2026
City
A look at Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s $282 million expansion
The updated plans were presented to Greenville County Council as the arena requests funding to make the renovations possible.
January 20, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Danielle_Giraffe_OCT2025
City
Giving Campaign Recap: What we learned from readers
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
January 20, 2026
 · 
STAFF
GVL_Embassy_2016_view_JAN2026
City
2016 in Greenville, SC through the eyes of @gvltoday
We’re hopping on the latest social trend and reminiscing on some of 2016’s biggest moments, including our very own launch.
January 16, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
woodruff-traffic
Just how bad is the traffic in Greenville, SC?
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
January 15, 2026
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
The Cook's Station | Photo by GVLtoday Team
Small Business

Local love: GVLtoday’s growing guide to reader-recommended small businesses
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
January 15, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Zillow_Gone_Wild_JAN2026
Real Estate
The Paris Mountain estate that caught the attention of Zillow Gone Wild
“WHEN I think about Greenville, South Carolina architecture this is exactly what comes to mind,” the post said.
January 14, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
GVL_Meals_on_Wheels_JAN2026
Nonprofits
Editor’s Pick: Meals on Wheels’ new facility will triple its impact
The new Meals on Wheels building features a 15,000-sqft kitchen with 5,000 sqft of storage for food.
January 13, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson
This photo shows a cozy and modern café interior. A hand in the foreground is holding an iced coffee in a clear plastic cup with a lid and straw. The background features a seating area with white chairs, soft-toned furniture, and large windows letting in natural light. The décor includes potted plants, a patterned rug, a glass-top coffee table, and wall art. Outside, it appears to be a rainy day, adding to the cozy ambiance.
Food
A new Coffee Crawl is taking over Greenville for the month of February
The event, which also took place in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Nashville in January, urges participants to explore new coffee shops in their city.
January 12, 2026
 · 
Danielle Johnson