Big crowd turns out for Azalea Festival Parade

WILMINGTON — Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo called it “Chamber of Commerce weather.” Around here it may better be called Azalea Festival weather. What started off as a cool morning with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s turned out to be the perfect day for an estimated 100,000 people to line 3rd Street in Downtown Wilmington for the Azalea Festival Parade.

New Hanover County native Kim Munley, the police officer who helped end a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, TX, last fall, returned home to serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. More than 150 entries, including school and civic groups, sponsors and celebrity guests, followed and kept spectators captivated. The grand finale was the arrival of Queen Azalea Lindsey Shaw and her court. Shaw, who says she’s been amazed by the hospitality she’s received during her first visit to the east coast, showed off her regal wave for WWAY’s John Rendleman.

“Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, touch your heart, blow a kiss,” Shaw said and demonstrated as her float approached the reviewing stand set up on the steps to Wilmington City Hall.

If you missed the parade, you have another chance to watch it Sunday at 8 p.m. on RTV 3-2. That’s cable channel 903 on TimeWarner and ATMC.

For more information on Azalea Festival events, visit http://www.NCAzaleaFestival.org.