Carowinds debuted a new festival this year featuring food, thousands of flowers, bluegrass, and other festivities for people of all ages. Carowinds In Bloom takes place in the Carolina Showplace area of the park daily from now through April 20th. This festival is included with your park admission.
From noon until 5:00 PM, you will experience a variety of activities through a select area of the park (Carolina Showplace) while the festival showcases thousands of flowers across the park. Here’s some of what we got to experience during our recent visit.
It is Carowinds In Bloom, so that’s a good place to start. Even before we enter the park, we’re greeted with brightly colored flowers.
We made it!
We are greeted with more flowers as we enter the park with the iconic Carolina Skytower.
Nearly everywhere you look has brightly colored flowers.
The Easter Beagle is here! Thanks, Theme Park Review for the great Ride Entertainment Group polo shirt.
Jeffrey loved the Easter Beagle.
Of course, the Easter Bunny is here too.
I thought the mural wall was great! People were really enjoying it.
My daughter and the photographer for most of these pictures, Anna, stopped so add something to the wall.
The main reason we’re here – Carowinds In Bloom.
Smile!
They had a convenient map that included a schedule of events.
The events included the Kids Flower Planting Zone.
We liked the festive and bright decorations. Wow, those are some big Petunias!
Vortex is the centerpiece of the Carolina Showplace.
Yes, that is a painter brightening up a canvas with color. Amy spoke with us and does all kinds of paintings although this was her first roller coaster. You can find out more about her at portraitartist.com/queen
Maybe next time she’ll capture this.
We were treated to the strings of West End String Band and some good bluegrass music.
Is that a juggling ladybug on a unicycle?
We were surrounded with more flowers and a giant butterfly.
The living plant is back and showcasing its beautiful spring flowers.
So the ladybug really can juggle.
What is a festival without some wine? Our friends at Treehouse Vineyards were on hand with free samples of their great tasting wines.
This was my favorite. It had a sweet fruity flavor.
I’m in!
Carolina Brewery had their samples ice cold and on hand. I figured I’d start with Copperline, an amber ale. It had a nice bold flavor.
I personally preferred their Sky Blue golden ale.
I doubt it would be hard to go wrong with any of their beers.
Some of the culinary masters were on hand from Johnson and Wales University to give cooking demonstrations throughout the day.
Fortunately they also had samples. Their jalapeno corn bread was to die for!
An inchworm joined us for the demonstration although he didn’t get any cornbread. Hey! I’ll take his!
There was even a real life-sized dragon fly. See? I told you.
Don’t forget about the scavenger hunt for the kids.
I knew sunflowers were tall, but…
And now we have bubbles.
Other members of Johnson and Wales were sending bubbles around the area.
They even let Jeffrey make a bubble.
The ladybug (or #notsoladybug?) caught me! I’m glad it has a net now and didn’t take after me with those bowling pins.
Back in Carowinds Plaza there is an illusionist show every hour on the hour.
He levitated a table. I still haven’t figured out how he did that.
While we’re here, let’s check out some other areas of the park. I love the bright cheerful colors.
Speaking of colors, Ricochet is sporting fresh paint with a new color scheme this year.
Speaking of paint, the North Carolina Plein Air Painters were on hand to capture Carowinds in Bloom.
Bridgette was also painting her first roller coaster. If you are interested in her work, you can contact her at bridgette.pyles at yahoo.com.
When we came back through later, she was making good progress on capturing Ricochet.
The tulips around the park are beautiful.
Everywhere you turn, there seems to be more flowers.
Of course, we can’t complete a trip to Carowinds without a visit to Jeffrey’s favorite ride.
We enjoyed Carowinds In Bloom and hope that the park will make it an annual event. You can check out this link for more details.
Happy camping!
