The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival will be held Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Waynesville’s Historic Frog Level.

Local growers will furnish plenty of herbs, flowers, and trees, while artisans will provide a plethora of nature-related items. Birdhouses to baskets, pottery to plants, this is the best way to jump-start the growing season. The Haywood County Master Gardeners will be there to answer your gardening questions.

Musical groups including the Frog Level Philharmonic, Tarnished Rose, Round the Fire, and Bohemian Jean will perform all day. Wonderful food vendors will provide a variety of dishes. Parking is available at the nearby public garage on Branner Ave, the VFW, and Haywood Builders.

Here’s a little history to add to your appreciation of the festival. In 1884, the railroad came to Waynesville. The tracks were laid in a low-lying area alongside Richland Creek. Up until then the area had little development, being mostly swampland with only a few scattered buildings. All that changed with the advent of tourism brought in by the new railway. Liveries lined up and down Commerce St. to take the visitors to their destinations as boarding houses and inns grew. Since the creek occasionally flooded when the heavy rains came, townsfolk started calling the area “Frog Level.”

The first train depot burned in 1900, but was soon replaced with another that remained standing until 1987. Up until the early 40s, Frog Level remained the commercial center of town, and folks walked up the hill to what was then called Pleasant Hill, now downtown Waynesville. The focus changed to Main Street when automobiles became popular and the train was no longer the main source of transportation. The last passenger train arrived in Waynesville in 1949; however, freight trains pass through Frog Level twice daily, with most trains continuing on to Sylva.

Even though the waterways were rerouted and Richland Creek no longer flooded the area, Frog Level declined for several decades as businesses came and went. However, there is one store at 244 Depot St. that has been in business since it was built in 1900. The Waynesville Candy Company has been owned by the Stovall family since 1925. It served as the main distributor for the Stovalls’ 5 and 10 stores in western NC and northern Georgia in the prosperous 30s and 40s. It is still run by descendant, Dewey Stovall today.

In 2003, Frog Level was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its contribution to the history of Haywood County and the architectural features of its buildings. It is now known for being home to Panacea, a popular coffeehouse/roaster, Frog Level Brewing Company, and many art and antique businesses.

The Historic Frog Level Merchant’s Association began the annual tradition of The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival in 2002. More than 8,000 people attend the festival which marks the beginning of the season for many locals.

Frog Level business owner and artist at the mahogany house art gallery & studios, t.e. siewert says, “It will be the first time many people will see what Frog Level has to offer. I believe they will want to return many times. There’s a nostalgic feel to the buildings and an ambiance you can’t find everywhere – it definitely leaves an impression.”

Her gallery, which opened in October 2013, is located in a building built in 1925, with Art Deco window glass trim, fall-away brick walls, original tin ceilings, and wood plank floors. It is the perfect backdrop for the art that graces its walls.

Make plans to attend The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival and see for yourself what makes Frog Level so special!

The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival takes place Saturday, May 10, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Waynesville’s Historic Frog Level. For more information, visit www.visitncsmokies.com.