Queens’s Coronation: The official kickoff to the 2025 North Carolina Azalea Festival

The North Carolina Azalea Festival, kicked off Tuesday evening and continues through April 6th.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) –The Queen’s Coronation kicked off Wednesday night. It is the official kickoff for the 2025 North Carolina Azalea Festival. This Year’s Queen has a unique connection to the Cape Fear.
Bethany Joy Lenz is the 78th Queen Azalea. Wednesday evening, she was crowned in a stunning pink dress, as Queen Azalea.
The coronation kicked off the 2025 North Carolina Azalea Festival – a beloved tradition that marks the start of the celebrations.

“I’m so honored. I’ve loved this community for so long – I’ve poured into it, and it’s poured so much into me. This truly feels like a full-circle moment,” Lenz said.

“There’s this story in my family — when I was five… my mother… who’s here today… asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without hesitation, I told her, the Queen of England.”

Lenz isn’t just a queen for the day – she’s an award-winning actress, director, executive producer, singer, and fine artist. However, if her name still doesn’t ring a bell, you might know her from the hit CW series, ‘One Tree Hill,’ – filmed right here in Wilmington. But, even she never expected to receive this honor.

“My jaw dropped. I never imagined this—I had never even considered it. I was just blown away,” Lenz said.

Making the moment even more special? It’s her birthday!

“When I first arrived here at 21, I was just a kid. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing—I just knew I had a place to show up and say my lines. But Wilmington became a real home,” Lenz said.

As Queen Azalea, Lenz will participate in festival events, make special appearances, and ride in the iconic Azalea Festival parade. The North Carolina Azalea Festival, kicked off Tuesday evening and continues through April 6th.