NC Azalea Festival Parade draws big crowd

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The past several days have been all about the North Carolina Azalea Festival and festivities continued into the weekend with the parade Saturday morning.

Thousands were lined up along 3rd street to see all the floats cruise through downtown Wilmington.

From law enforcement to community organizations to clowns to large blow up figures like Elmo and the Cookie Monster, there were lots of smiles from the young and old.

Sandra Baldwin traveled in from Elizabethtown and said she didn’t want to miss this tradition.

“I like seeing the veterans and the ladies in the beautiful dresses,” Baldwin said. “I’m just enjoying it and having a good time with the family.”

Marching bands, dancers, and princesses of all sorts were a part of this well known parade. The queen and her court finished the event on a float full of flowers.

Organizers say the parade is one of southeastern North Carolina’s largest annual event with over 100,000 viewers each year.