2019: Azalea & Spring Flower Trail brings visitors, special events to Tyler

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, March 21, 2018

By Staff Reports

Azaleas bloom along the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail in this file photo from the Tyler Morning Telegraph. 

Visitors can see more than 100 home gardens with beautiful flowers along the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail that continues through April 1

The trail is made up of two self-guided driving routes through the Azalea District, an area around Bergfeld Park. Street signs showing the routes begin on North Broadway Avenue at Line Street. The trail continues south on Broadway Avenue and splits into two routes — the Dobbs Trail and the Lindsey Trail — which sometimes overlap as they wind through neighborhoods near Bergfeld Park. 

McC Rider’s Shuttle Service offers guided tours of the Azalea District in an open-air shuttle from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each Friday through Sunday of the trail. The shuttles depart on Dobbs near Broadway. The cost is $10.

Tours of Tyler offers guided tours in an air-conditioned van on each Friday and Saturday. The tours are by reservation only. Reservations can be made by calling 214-612-6071.

Many events take place each year to coincide with Azalea & Spring Flower Trail. 



East Texas Embroiderer’s Guild’s Needleart Show is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 at Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive. Guild members will display many types of hand embroidery. Admission will be $3.

Tyler Quilt Show is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 23 and 24 at Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front St. The show will display more than 100 quilts and have demonstrations and vendors. Admission will be $7 for adults and $6 for seniors older than 65 and children younger than 13. 

The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House, a home built in 1878 at 806 W. Houston, will be open for tours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Friday and Saturday of the trail. Admission will be $7. 

Historic Tyler, a nonprofit group that promotes historic preservation, will offer tours of five homes in the Azalea District on its Historic Tyler on Tour. The homes will be on view from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 24 and 1 to 5 p.m. on March 25. Tickets cost $20 and can be bought at any of the homes. On view will be homes at 806 S. Broadway Ave., 324 W. 8th St., 520 E. Third St., 925 Shepherd Lane, and 1018 E. Watkins St.

Historic Tyler also will hold its Candlelight Party from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on March 23. The event includes tours of the homes and a bonus home at 116 Lindsey Lane that serves as the site of the candlelight party. Tickets to this cost $125 and are available from Historic Tyler at historictyler.org or by calling 903-595-1960.

Roseland Plantation, 2591 Texas Highway 64, west of Tyler, will hold its Historic Tour & Afternoon Tea at 2 p.m. on March 26, 28 and 30. Tickets to the tea and tour cost $30. Tickets for only the tour cost $10. Both require reservations which can be made at roselandplantation.com or by calling 903-849-0205.

Tyler Azalea 5k & 10k will take place on March 24 with participants gathering at Bergfeld Park for an 8 a.m. start to the first run. Some roads in the Azalea District are closed during the runs. 

Smith County Historical Society Museum & Archives, 125 S. College Ave., will host the Smith County Art & History Show noon to 4 p.m. on March 24. Artists will display art relating to Smith County with historical context added. 

The “Spirits of Oakwood” cemetery living history tour is set from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on March 24 at the cemetery on the corner of Oakwood at Palace streets. Historians in period clothing will portray some of those who are buried there. Admission is $10.

More than 80 vendors will offer goods for sale at the Azalea Arts & Crafts Fair set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25. The event also includes a kids’ play zone and concessions. 

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