VALDOSTA — Azalea Festival returned, stretching to every corner of the 11-acre Drexel Park with vendors and visitors.

Celebrating its 19th year in Valdosta and Lowndes County, the festival took place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and featured more than 200 vendors, including live bands, a community stage, a KidZone, a lumberjack show, an international food court and a mechanical bull ride.

Vendors new and old, they all drew in guests with tasty food, animal shows or live entertainment.

Since its first year in 2001, it has become tradition for Joel Williams to show off his juggling skills at the festival annually.

As long as they’ll have him, he said he’ll continue to come back because there’s nothing better than seeing smiles when he performs.

“I get to see so many people from the community,” Williams said. “I know if I don’t see them but one time a year, it’ll be right here at the Azalea Festival. It’s fun to get out and entertain. I love to perform and have a good time.”

Off to the side of the park sits the popular attraction “Birds of Prey,” where guests can come watch live bird shows and learn about different bird species.

The attraction is on its fourth year of coming to the Azalea Festival, said Kitty Carroll, bird handler.

“It’s only an hour and a half from our house, and they just treat us really well,” Carroll said.

Up on their perches were barn owls, peregrine falcons and macaws chirping as guests stopped by the tent to get a photo.

Newcomer vendors felt welcomed as well, including the Humane Society of Valdosta.

At their booth, visitors could check out the handful of adoptable kittens and cats resting in the organization’s new transport truck.

“Today, it is pre-adoption,” said Tim Hill, transport coordinator. “You can fill out an application for pre-adoption, and they will review it during the week and be in contact with you. It has been a really nice show of interest today.”

The Humane Society bought the transport truck through fundraising efforts and it most recently used it to take approximately 230 dogs from the puppy mill in Berrien County to shelters throughout the state that had available space.

“With our transport program, we can save animals in our shelter that are subject to being euthanized,” Hill said. “We will rescue these pets and network with other places to get them transported to other parts of the state.”

Smokey Moe’s BBQ was a new face to the festival, serving up pulled-pork sandwiches, brisket and barbecue nachos.

After serving lines of people all day Saturday, the pop-up BBQ vendor from Bainbridge said it would definitely be back next year.

“I’ve always heard this is one of the biggest festivals around, and it’s showing it today,” said Ralph Moore, vendor. “It’s one of the best festivals I’ve been to.”

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.