79th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival kicks off this week in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The 79th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival begins Wednesday, April 8, with a full slate of events celebrating spring in the Port City.

Festivities open with the Queen’s Coronation at 3 p.m. aboard the Battleship North Carolina, where Queen Azalea and this year’s invited guests will be officially introduced. A private Celebrity Reception for festival partners and sponsors follows Thursday morning at Cape Fear Country Club.

Music takes center stage Thursday night with a 7 p.m. concert headlined by Lil Jon. Country artist Dustin Lynch will perform Friday evening as part of the festival’s live entertainment lineup.

From Friday through Sunday, visitors can explore the Azalea Garden Tour hosted by the Cape Fear Garden Club, with select access to Airlie Gardens. Friday also features the popular Airlie Luncheon Garden Party, known for its festive spring attire and social atmosphere.

The Azalea Festival Street Fair runs April 10–12 in downtown Wilmington, alongside food vendors, arts and crafts, and live entertainment. One of the weekend’s highlights, the Azalea Festival Parade presented by the U.S. Army, steps off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning and is free to attend.

Additional events include a one-day exhibition on North Carolina’s constitutional history at the Cape Fear Museum and nightly festivities throughout the city. The celebration continues with the Battleship Boom and Bloom Bonanza on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m.

A full schedule of events is available on the festival’s website.