CHARLESTON'S AZALEA FESTIVAL BLOSSOMS FOR 23 COLORFUL YEARS

It's a celebration that's getting bigger each year, in part because of the growth of the town's many dogwood trees.

The 23rd annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival is this weekend at Charleston, the town that's become known throughout the region as the best place to be during late April.

Thousands of people visit the small town of about 5,000 during the festival and the weeks before to see what started as a garden tour at one of the town's historical homes.

"The flowers and dogwood trees were planted in the late 1950s," said Rick Reed, chairman of the festival's parade. "Now it's almost a carnival-type atmosphere. You have to drive on the back streets to get anywhere because of all the traffic."

In 1969, Molly French decided to hold a small garden tour at her home. People who took the tour liked what they saw. They joined the Molly French Garden Club, and the blossoms became a Charleston tradition.

"The trees are in beautiful bloom right now," said Dorothy Schott of the Chamber of Commerce. "It's just breathtaking."

Nearly 25 tours a week venture through the town during the azalea season. Many come from around St. Louis. In addition to busses, Reed said people often drive to town and just walk around to get the best view.

"People will wander up to a house and ask to see the back yard or the inside," he said. "We've go some beautiful historical homes here, and most of the owners don't mind showing people around."

Reed said the festival is the busiest time of the year for the Chamber of Commerce, which sends notices of the festival to as far away as Florida.

"Some people who winter there and live in Wisconsin or Chicago wait to leave Florida until they can drive through Charleston on their way home," he said.

The two-day festival kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. Several local veterans of the Persian Gulf War are this year's honorary parade marshals, Reed said.

The Big River Volunteer Civil War re-enactors will perform throughout the day. A re-enactment of the 1861 robbery of the Bank of Charleston which has been approved by the bank's board of directors will take place at 11 a.m.

In addition, a Civil War artillery demonstration is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at the encampment.

Art and antique shows are scheduled throughout the day, along with musical entertainment by the Charleston High School jazz band and swing choir and the Community Choir.

A candlelight walk from 7 to 8:30 p.m. down North Main Road concludes the day's activities.

On Sunday are more historical events, including a quilt show, more Civil War re-enactments, a dog show and a five-mile Run-for-Fun.

But everything is tied into the Azalea Festival, Reed said.

"It just gets prettier every year," he said. "And people keep telling their friends, so it just gets bigger."

Group tours can be arranged by calling the chamber office at 683-6509.