DSD Events

April 2025 Deep South Events

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Georgia – The Thomasville 104th Annual Rose Show & Festival! THEME: ‘Where Roses Reign…Heritage Blooms’

DATES: Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, 2025.
Remington Avenue at Broad Street, Under the Tent, Downtown Thomasville
Held in historic Downtown Thomasville, the Rose Show has been a Southwest Georgia tradition since 1922. Hundreds of heirloom and hybrid rose varieties will be on exhibit from growers throughout the Southeast. Open to the public. Friday from 1:00 Until 5:00 and on Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00. Friday is the big day for the roses to debut under the totally enclosed, air-conditioned tent Rose Tent. Literally, hundreds of hand-cut stunning roses are on display, each one more perfect than the one before.

Thomasville’s 104th Annual Rose Show & Festival, happening April 25-26, will feature stunning rose and flower shows, a lively parade, concerts, a car and truck show, artisan market, and more. This year’s theme has just been announced, and applications are now open for many of the exciting activities planned for this beloved community celebration.

One of the festival’s highlights, the Rose Parade, will march through Downtown Thomasville on April 25 at 7:00 PM, bringing floats, performances, and community fun. Awards will be given to the best entries including the Queen’s Award ($300) for best overall entry, the King’s Award ($200) for most creative use of this year’s theme, and the Rose Bud Award ($200) for the best children’s entry. Parade applications are due by April 4.

Anyone in the community can participate in this year’s parade, including bands, floats, walking units, vehicles, or performers.

“We hope this year’s theme of ‘Where Roses Reign…Heritage Blooms’ encourages you to think of the Rose Festival traditions you love in new and creative ways,” said Cassidee Brooks, City of Thomasville Special Events Coordinator. “The Rose Parade is always a highlight of our Rose Festival, so we encourage your organization to get involved and have fun this year.”

Interested in entering a rose into the show? Entries should be brought to the back of the Rose Tent on Friday between 7:00am – 10:00am. Display items to showcase your entry will be provided. Simply cut your stem as long as possible and the rose specialists at the tent will assist you with the rest. Entry categories will be Horticulture, Arrangements, and Photography.

Want to learn more about entering a rose?  Click here to view information regarding that process.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2pm with the Thomasville Rose Queen and Court and local dignitaries. This is the one event where the Queen trumps the King when it comes to awards. Get there for the ribbon cutting and see Miss Georgia, the local Rose Queen, and the Mayor cut the ribbon that signals the start of the show. Special performance by the Thomasville High School Band.

SEE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE THOMASVILLE ROSE SHOW HERE: https://exploregeorgia.org/events/blog/savor-something-different-during-the-thomasville-rose-show

And sign up! Follow the link below for a Rose Fest Market Food Truck Application or 2025 Rose Parade Application at: https://downtownthomasville.com/attractions/events/thomasville-rose-show-and-festival

May 2025 Deep South Events

Alabama – 2025 Wiregrass Rose Show

DATES: SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025
The Wiregrass Rose Society in Dothan, AL, will sponsor their 2025 Rose Show on Saturday, May 3 at the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens.  

Entries will be accepted in Rickett’s Hall at DABG from 8:00-10:00 a.m. on the 3rd.  Judging will begin at 12 noon.  The entries will open to the public from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

WRS invites all rosarians to come to Dothan, visit the Rose Garden at DABG and compete for awards.  For information, contact co-chairs – Rita Moore (334)618-2103 or Susan Kinney (334)714-4968.

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Alabama – Birmingham Rose Society’s Annual Rose Show on Mother’s Day weekend

Website: http://www.birminghamrose.org/

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Georgia – The Magic of Roses: A Spellbinding Rose Show (Greater Atlanta Rose Society)

The public can view the roses after judging Saturday May 10th at 1pm, as well as Sunday 9am-5pm. If you would like to enter a rose in the show – the roses will need to be placed by 9am on Saturday.

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Florida – Tampa Rose Society’s Annual Rose Show

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Georgia – South Metro Society’s Annual Rose Show

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Georgia – ARS Horticulture and Arrangement Judging School

DATES: May 30 and 31, 2025
The Deep South Judging School will be held at Dawson Street Baptist Church located at 1025 N. Dawson Street, Thomasville, GA 31792. We will have the Horticulture Judge portion on Friday and the Arrangement Judges portion on Saturday.

The Registration fee is $30.00 per person (required). Fee includes rental of facility, maintenance fees, insurance, and snacks. Lunch will also be served. Fee for test materials is $10 per person.

All students taking the test(s) should have access to the most current ARS Guidelines for Judging Roses and/or Guidelines for Judging Rose Arrangements. Written tests will be open book, but familiarity with guidelines is expected. School begins at 8:00 AM on Friday and Saturday.

It is important that current judges attend as well as those wishing to become a judge. Current judges will receive four years credit before having to take another school. Those wishing to become judges must have been a member of ARS for three years prior to taking the test.

Contact Joanne Maxheimer at iamjomax42@gmail.com for more information.

June 2025 Deep South Events

July 2025 Deep South Events

Florida – Deep South District Exhibitor’s Forum

DATE: July 12, 2025 (Saturday) – SAVE THE DATE
Location: Goodwood Plantation, 1600 Miccosukee Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Nestled in a grove of live oak trees in the heart of Tallahassee, Goodwood is a historic gardens, museum and event venue. Whenever the gates are open, take a stroll in our heirloom gardens and check tour times to visit the Goodwood Main House Museum. Goodwood Plantation was a mid-sized slave plantation that grew cotton on about 1,675 acres in central Leon County, Florida. The plantation was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 30, 1972.

Full day of A to Z Rose Show Preparation instruction. Cost: TBD. Everything from how to prep roses, open them up, how to do tags, staging for floral arrangements, photo entries and more! Snacks and lunch provided. Hosted by the Tallahassee Rose Society.

August 2025 Deep South Events

September 2025 Deep South Events

October 2025 Deep South Events

Florida – Deep South District Fall Rose Show and Convention

DATES: October 31 – November 1, 2025 (Friday and Saturday) – SAVE THE DATES
Location: Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel and Convention Center
4200 NW 97th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606

There will be speakers, the banquet, awards and the Rose Show! Hosted by the Thomasville Rose Society.

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November 2025 Deep South Events

Florida – Deep South District Fall Rose Show and Convention

DATES: October 31 – November 1, 2025 (Friday and Saturday) – SAVE THE DATES
Location: Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel and Convention Center
4200 NW 97th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32606

There will be speakers, the banquet, awards and the Rose Show! Hosted by the Thomasville Rose Society.

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Attention Local Societies: Take advantage of The Bulletin and the Deep South website to list your rose shows, events and workshops.  Contact Bet Sobon, Editor, to include your news and events in the next issues of the DSD Bulletin at bet.sobon@outlook.com.