71st Azalea Festival comes to an end

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Another week full of fun for the Azalea Festival has come and gone, but the memories will last a life time. The 2018 Azalea Festival brought lots of colors, fun and people to the Port City to celebrate spring and southern style.

The festival kicked off Wednesday and wrapped up Sunday, but there were a lot of highlights along the way.

“I’m really excited about getting to interact with everybody here. I mean this festival brings in so many people and it’s such a celebration. And it’s so joyful and so full of love and so full of kindness and friendship. So getting to come in and be a part of that and get to really know the people from all over the southeast really who come in to celebrate, that’s a spectacular feeling,” Queen Azalea Beth Troutman said.

This years Queen Azalea Beth Troutman had a busy schedule from visiting schools, the Brigade Boys and Girls Club, the country club and everywhere in between.

“Well, it’s just the social event of the season. Getting together, being able to present all these wonderful girls and the queen and the pageantry of it all. Just the Azalea Festival itself,” Wilmington resident Barbara Iovanna said.

Another fun favorite was the ribbon cutting for the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour. But you can’t forget about all the concerts, parade and the street fair.

“Experience the whole thing. Take in the parade, all the street vendors, stay for the bands, listen to the music and just enjoy our beautiful city,” Wilmington resident Charlotte Buckley said.

With the week full of events it was hard to go to everything, but if you missed out on any of the fun there is always next year. The Azalea Festival Finale will be held Sunday night at Bluewater Grill. This is the last event of the festival!