WEATHER JUST RIGHT FOR AZALEA FESTIVAL

CHARLESTON -- It's beginning to look a lot like springtime, and Charleston residents are putting the final touches on their yards and parks for the 31st annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival.

The pink and white blooms of dogwood trees and azalea bushes are opening just in time for the annual festival, said Charleston Chamber of Commerce president Sophie Dugan. The trees, which only bloom about 20 days each year, are expected to be perfect when the festival begins Thursday. It runs through Sunday.

"They're doing beautifully. We're going to hit it right on the dot," said Dugan.

The late Molly French, an avid gardener, is credited with bringing the azalea to Charleston. French loved the colorful bushes and told all her neighbors to "plant azaleas or move to another street."

Soon, other residents began planting the colorful foliage, and a festival was named in its honor. Now, azalea plantings are an annual event. The festival features a six-mile blooming tour that will be viewed by some 6,000 visitors this weekend.

"People are just taking pride in Charleston," Dugan said. "People still maintain the gardens and yards all year long, but they know the azalea is special, and they plant more every year."

In recent years, blooms have been damaged by hard rains or strong winds just prior to the festival. Although thunderstorms are expected later this week, Dugan said the festival still will have plenty of color.

"We can deal with cool temperatures, we just don't want it to rain," she said. "Even if it does rain, we'll be OK as long as a strong wind doesn't come in with it, because it would blow all the blooms off the trees."

Attendance at the festival is expected to increase this year thanks to an emphasis on advertising. Bus tourism has doubled as has participation in the arts and crafts booths. Advertisements in Missouri Life, Midwest Motorist and Southern Living, among others, also appear to be paying off.

"We already have lots of people coming in; they've been coming for about a week," Dugan said. "We were featured in Missouri Life this year, and they'll also be here this weekend."

Theme for this year's event is "Under the Pink and White Canopy, the Blooming Show Goes On." Visitors can expect a colorful circus-like atmosphere, complete with circus entertainers, carnival rides and a petting zoo, said Dugan.

New to the festival this year will be the opening of the historic Russell Hotel for the first time in 10 years. The Russell, once the largest hotel between St. Louis and Memphis, will be the site of an antique show put on by the River Birch Antique Gallery.

Helicopter rides and skydiving shows also will be offered.

Festival staple events, including the Molly French Club plant sale, quilt show and musical entertainment throughout the weekend, also will be featured.

DOOGWOOD-AZALEA FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Thursday

9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Open house, Governor Warren E. Hearnes Museum.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Quilt show, St. Henry's School; River Birch Antique Gallery Display, Historic Russell Hotel.

7 p.m. -- "Name That Tune" Contest, First Baptist Church.

Friday

All Day -- Arts and Crafts, Rolwing Park.

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. -- Molly French Garden Club plant sale.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Lunch-bake sale on Shelby lot.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Open house, Governor Warren. E. Hearnes Museum.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Art show, First Assembly of God Church.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Quilt show, St. Henry's School; River Birch Antique Gallery Display, Historic Russell Hotel.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Open house, Mississippi County Historical Society.

7 p.m. -- Dogwood Azalea Queen Contest, Clara D. Newnam Auditorium.

Saturday

All Day -- Arts and Crafts, Rolwing Park.

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. -- Molly French Garden Club plant sale.

9 a.m.-noon -- Open house, Governor Warren E. Hearnes Museum.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Art show, First Assembly of God Church.

9 a.m.-7 p.m. -- Open house, Mississippi County Historical Society.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Quilt show, St. Henry's School; River Birch Antique Gallery Display, Historic Russell Hotel.

11 a.m. -- Parade, Downtown Charleston.

Noon-5 p.m. -- Helicopter rides, Former L.D. Davis Lumber Co.

Noon-6 p.m. -- Space Ball rides, Sutherland Oil lot; Exotic petting zoo and pony rides, Rolwing Park; National Guard exhibition, Rolwing Park.

Noon-8:30 p.m. -- Surrey rides.

2 p.m. -- Skydiving show.

2-3 p.m. -- Hampel Family Productions, Mississippi County Historical Society.

4 p.m. -- Kiwanis Club dog show.

3-7 p.m. -- Historical Society fish fry.

4-6 p.m. -- Hampel Family Productions.

4:30-8 p.m. -- Ice cream social.

7 p.m. -- Candlelight tour.

9 p.m.-1 a.m. -- St. Henry's Azalea Dance.

Sunday

All Day -- Arts and Crafts, Rolwing Park.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Quilt show; exotic petting zoo and pony rides; Space Ball rides; National Guard exhibition.

1-4 p.m. -- Open house, Mississippi County Historical Society.

1-5 p.m. -- Art show, First Assembly of God Church; River Birch Antique Gallery Display, Historic Russell Hotel.

2 p.m. -- 5K Run for Fun, Rolwing Park.

5 p.m. -- Piano concert, First Baptist Church.