Summer Festivals in North Carolina

Flowers and the artists both bloom into life during North Carolina's summer festival season. Whether it's a day at the famous Biltmore Mansion or a weekend on the streets of one of North Carolina's many beautiful cities, expect to be impressed with sights and color this summer on the east coast.

The Festival of Flowers takes place at the Biltmore, located in the town of Asheville through May 20^th. Over one hundred thousand blossoms dot the Walled Garden, with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. In the Azalea Garden, over one thousand azaleas bloom during May, and inside the largest home in the United States, paintings and floral arrangements complete the effect. You can visit the Biltmore during the Festival of Flowers, and tour the house and grounds, for $39. Get more information and directions at http://www.biltmore.com

Raleigh pays tribute to artist from all disciplines at Artsplosure, one of North Carolina's biggest outdoor festivals, drawing nearly one hundred thousand visitors to the city. The Moore Square Park area comes to life May 19^th and 20^th with over two-hundred and fifty artists. The Art Market in the Streets brings select artists from around the country to show and sell their artworks. The Music Stages are packed with jazz and blues, with performers both locally and nationally known. Kidsplosure is an interactive world for children, with plenty of opportunity to create their own works of art to take home with them, including drawing and sculpture. Kidsplosure also comes complete with its own stage, with entertainment picked specifically with kids in mind. Sandy Feat, a sculpting team that works in sand, creates a new sculpture each festival out of two tons of the stuff. And just in case that isn't enough to bring in the people, there is also a high wire, juggling, and improve. Find out more about this amazing art festival at http://www.artsplosure.org/