Schedule of Events - Charleston, Missouri's, 55th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival

Race our beautiful, scenic route in the oldest foot-racing event in southeast Missouri on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  Youth & Toddler Race begins at 1:30 p.m.  Check-in opens at 11:00 a.m. and closes at 1:00 p.m.  High quality T-shirts are guaranteed if registered by March 22nd.  Jackson L. Burke and Corse Cup to first male and female, respectively, with 63834 address.  Bill Bullard Trophy to the youngest 5k finisher.  Trophies to overall male and female finishers, awards to top 3 in each 5K age group.

USATF Certified Course MO20001DG. 
Course Records:  Male 14:33  Female 16:47

$500 Cash Prize to an individual who breaks the course record for their sex.

Start/Finish Location: 

Junior Study Club Scout Cabin
Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park
1100 block of East Cypress Street

Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park will be filled with arts and crafts, food booths, and live entertainment.

Park events run Friday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location:

Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park
1100 block of East Commercial Street

For years we've seen the description of the amazing candlelight tour here on this page.  Starting in this new decade of 2020, though, you won't find it on this page anymore.

The logo shown here represents a new part of the Dogwood-Azalea weekend festivities known as Dogwood-Azalea After Dark!  Here's a link to view our new after dark activity page!

Bring the children and enjoy all of the rides and games!  The carnival runs on Thursday and Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Location:

800 East Marshall Street

First Assembly of God is sponsoring a car show!

Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Admission:  Free

Location:

Knights of Columbus Yard
East Marshall between 5th and 6th Streets

Select the flyer image to download the registration form!

Certainly, no proper Dogwood-Azalea Festival would be complete without an official Dogwood-Azalea Dog Show!

What is Fido's finest feature?  You'll find out as Blue Ribbons are awarded to each family pet.

Admission:  Free

Be there Saturday at 4:00 p.m. to witness the most entertaining canine competition to be found anywhere between Poplar Bluff and Paducah!

Location:

On the Tennis Courts
Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park

Please give a bow wow wow and a big ol' wag to Medlin Equipment and the Charleston High School Key Club for co-sponsoring our first-rate Dog Show!

View items and memorabilia from Charleston's native son Missouri Governor Warren E. Hearnes' 22 year tenure in elected office Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Free Admission

Location:

Downtown
109 South Main Street

Built in 1899, the Historical Society's Moore Home is a lovely three story home furnished with pieces authentic to the period.  In 1977 the generous heirs of Joe and Carrie Moore gifted this beautiful Victorian country home to the benefit of the Society.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the seventeen room house contains seven fireplaces, and is fully furnished including the original dining room furniture and gas chandelier.

Learn more by visiting the Society's web site.

Tour the Moore Home and Museum

Tours are available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission:  $5.00

Location:

403 North Main Street

PLEASE NOTE:  The Historical Society Home will be closed on Sunday.

Tour special private homes Thursday or Friday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Included are the Moore Home, Locust Place at 201 North Main Street and the Ragsdale Home at 404 East Commercial Street.  Tickets are available at the Charleston Chamber of Commerce & Tourism office downtown, or at the Moore Home.

Admission:  $15.00 (Price includes the Moore Home listed above and the two private homes!)

Please Note:
The two private homes pictured here will be open this season.

The Dogwood-Azalea Parade is one of the largest in the area!  Find your viewing place downtown or along Commercial Street Saturday morning before the 11:00 a.m. start time.

The Parade begins at City Hall.  It will process southward on Main Street to Commercial Street then turn to march eastward on Commercial Street - all the way to the Bazaar at Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park!

REGISTER TO BE IN THE PARADE:

Please register by Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., to save your place in the parade!

We encourage and appreciate your creative involvement!

CLICK HERE to access the Dogwood-Azalea Parade Registration Form!

This year's Dogwood-Azalea Festival Parade is brought to you by Focus Bank.

Enjoy the sweet sound of music in the park on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

On the Sound Stage at Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park

Music in the Park is generously sponsored by McDonalds Restaurant of Charleston.

Young and old alike will enjoy the petting zoo!  Watch the swine races, and cheer on your favorite to win!

Open Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location:

Across the Street South of Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park

Co-sponsored by the following local firms:
Citizens Bank of Charleston McMikle Funeral Home Coon Insurance Agency Focus Bank H & R Block Terri K's Heartland Florist & Gifts John's Pharmacy Boomland

Since 1952, the Molly French Garden Club has been supplying area gardeners with azalea varieties hardy to the region.  The sale will be held Thursday and Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location:

Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library
Corner of Main and Marshall at the stoplight

St. Henry Parish has occupied its property along Court Street since 1873.  The Parish began construction of the current Romanesque edifice in 1905, replacing a frame structure that had existed earlier.  Archbishop John J. Glennon dedicated the church on June 4, 1907.

Of particular interest are the beautifully life-like stained glass windows, created by the Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, which were installed circa 1910.  Three new bells, cast by Struckstede and Brothers of St. Louis, were positioned in the bell tower during the summer of 1924.  A two-manual pipe organ, built by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois, was installed in 1936 framing the rose window of St. Cecilia.

In 2022 the parish remodeled the interior of the church.  You are invited to come have a good look at the beautiful new interior.

Learn more by visiting St. Henry's web site.

Admission is free.  You may leave a love offering if you choose.

Time:  Thursday and Friday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location:

Downtown
St. Henry Catholic Church
304 East Court Street

Quilt Show

A beautiful selection of hand-stitched quilts will be on display at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library.  Come see what true needlework craftsmanship, symmetry, and enduring beauty are all about!

The Quilt Show runs Thursday and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Book Sale

Have a little book worm in you?  Truth is, books make wonderful companions!  Come hunt your favorite author or genre in this year's sale selections.  You are sure to find great books here at the library.  Help us make room for new adventures!  Prices start as low as 50 cents per book.

Books will be on sale Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where's all this?

Location:  Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library, 105 East Marshall Street

Admission:  Free

This live show of music, magic, mirth & more combines historic narratives, comic chronicals, tall tales, & unabashed balderdash with toe tapping tunes & droll ditties of the 19th century.  A truly unforgettable spectacle which will—most assuredly—astonish audiences of all ages.

Saturday afternoon

Location:  Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park, weather permitting

Admission:  Free

Southside Baptist Church will offer a hearty luncheon on Thursday and Friday. 

Serving Thursday and Friday between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Location:  Southside Baptist Church, 902 School Street (right behind Charleston Middle School off South Main Street via Tom Brown Street)

Price:  $10.00 per person

Tickets are available ahead of time from the church or the Charleston Chamber of Commerce and Tourism office, or you may pay at the door when you arrive.  Bon appétit!

In addition to our wonderful food vendors to be found at the Arts and Crafts Bazaar in Dr. E. Charles Rolwing Park, visitors will find two additional and convenient food courts; each featuring unique and tasty fare.

From crab legs to funnel cakes, ice cream to tacos, loaded potatoes to gyros, these official Dogwood-Azalea Festival food vendors are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

This small hand-selected group of food vendors will offer tasty fare for those wanting something different or something after hours.  Yummy!

Thursday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. until ???

One Location:  At the corner of Third Street and Commercial Street - Citizens Bank Lawn

Another Location:  At the intersection of Thorn (10th) Street and Marshall Street

Tour the lovely tree lined streets in a horse-drawn carriage.  Rides begin at the corner of Cypress and Smith Street.

Saturday Noon 'til 8:00 p.m.

Price:  Adults - $10.00  Children - $5.00