It’s said that Lookout Mountain in northeastern Alabama offers an ideal climate for growing rhododendrons. In celebration of the arrival of spring, Mentone, Alabama, hosts an annual Rhododendron Festival on the third weekend of May.

This year’s fest, hosted by the Mentone Area Preservation Association, is set for May 16 through 18, 2014, and includes not only the peak of the blooming season, but a variety of music featuring local musicians, boat rides on the DeSoto River, a pageant, children’s festival area and special offerings from Mentone’s restaurants and bistros.

It all kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with a catfish fry at the Mentone Pavilion. Saturday’s highlight is music in the Brow Park Pavilion.

On both Saturday and Sunday, Brow Park host more than 70 artists and craftsmen offering their handmade creations and “Taste of Mentone” participants will have their staple dishes and new creations for festival-goers to taste.

Rhododendron are typically at their peak around the third weekend in May, and the best place to view the blooms is around the lake on Little River above DeSoto Falls as well as around the mountaintop town.

There’s more information about the festival and the region online.

(Photo courtesy of Grethe Boe)