The 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival

Dates: April 6-10, 2011

Ever since 1948, Wilmington, NC has been home to the Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival which currently attracts over 300,000 people to our area each year. While various events take place as part of the Azalea Festival prior to the actual festival, the first big event of the Azalea Festival week is the Azalea Queen’s Coronation on April 6th from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM at Riverfront Park in Downtown Wilmington. Country music star Darius Rucker will continue the events with his concert at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum starting at 8PM. Tickets for his show are still on sale for $52.50 each.

On April 7th from 1:00 PM-3:30 PM the Queen will participate in the Battleship Salute, a free event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Battleship arriving in Wilmington, NC. Later that day the Cole Bros. Circus will have two shows located at the ILM Airport. The first show will be from 4:30 PM-6:30 PM and the second show from 7:30 PM-9:30 PM. Tickets are $25 for VIP, $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. Children 2 and under are free but will not have their own seat. Each night of the Azalea Festival the Cole Bros. Circus will perform at 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM with an additional show on Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 PM-3:30 PM. Sunday there will be no 7:30 PM show.

Friday, April 8th kicks off the Juried Spring Art Sale & Show in Perry Hall at St. James Episcopal Church. This free event runs Friday & Saturday from 10:00 AM-5:30 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM-4:00 PM. The Garden Tour Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Queen’s Garden Party take place on Friday as well. This event held at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. The Garden Tour takes place at 12 various gardens in Wilmington from Friday through Sunday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM all three days. Tickets for the event last the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are free with an adult. The Street Fair also kicks off on Friday, April 8th at 6:00 PM. This runs all weekend and is a free event with live shows, a kid play area and various vendors. Arts and crafts booths will not open until Saturday morning at 10:00 AM. The headlining concert of the Azalea Festival is the sold-out Avett Brothers. This concert will be held at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum at 8:00 PM.

Saturday, April 9th starts off with the annual Azalea Festival Parade at 9:00 AM and runs until 12:00 PM. The Street Fair, Juried Art Show & Sale, Coin Show, and Garden Tour will all open at 10:00 AM. There will be Shag Contest held at 1:00 PM in the Schwartz Center of Cape Fear Community College, a self-guided Historic Home Tour starting at 1:00 PM both Saturday & Sunday and a Boxing Competition held at Williston Middle School at 2:00 PM both Saturday & Sunday. The day ends with the Fireworks Show downtown at 9:00 PM.

Sunday, April 10th concludes this year’s Azalea Festival with 2nd Annual Azalea Cake Challenge held at the Schwartz Center of Cape Fear Community College from 12:00 PM-4:00 PM. The 1st ever Azalea Festival Tennis Challenge will be held at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM. The match will be between John McEnroe & Todd Martin. Box Seats are $125 each. Bleacher seats are $52 each. Balcony seats are $38 each and a special West Balcony section for $12 each.

We hope you enjoy this year’s 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington, NC! Visit http://www.ncazaleafestival.org/ for more information on this year's Festival and events!