78th Annual Azalea Festival Parade draws crowds to Downtown

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Hundreds of spectators filled the streets of downtown Wilmington on Saturday for the 78th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade and Street Fair.

The popular and annual event featured a lively mix of floats, balloons, marching bands, and public officials, creating a festive atmosphere that attracted locals and visitors alike.

WWAY Evening Anchors Jessica Kiesling and Jeff Rivenbark emceed the parade, providing commentary and insights as each float passed by.

Once the parade wrapped up, many attendees explored the Street Fair, which offered a variety of vendors and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Lynette Lester, who moved to Wilmington in 2021, attended the parade for the first time this year. She shared her excitement about the event and the fun her family had:

“We started coming to the street fair the year that we got here, and it’s annual for us at this point. Then this is our first year doing the parade, and my kids—they loved it so much.”

The day concluded with a fireworks display over the Cape Fear River.