EDITOR’S NOTE: Strangeville explores the curious and unexplained stories that have long defined Asheville and Western North Carolina. The region is full of unanswered questions, from old folklore and local legends to eerie encounters, unsolved moments in history, and the true-crime mysteries that still leave people wondering. Each week, we look back with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, trying to understand why some stories take hold and why some can never be explained.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) – On a June day in old Asheville, a royal float rolled down Haywood Street with a baby king and queen perched on top, waving from a handmade throne. Behind them a line of decorated wagons and carriages turned into a miniature stage, packed with toddlers in costumes and parents walking alongside like proud attendants.
The unique baby parade was one of the most memorable traditions of the Asheville Rhododendron Festival, a pre-World War II celebration created to bring visitors into town during peak bloom. Conceived by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce and supported by civic groups, the Rhododendron Festival was designed as an early-summer showcase…