Azalea Festival brings economic boost to Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One week after the 79th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival wrapped up in Wilmington, organizers and community leaders are highlighting the event’s strong turnout and economic impact.
From the Queen’s Coronation and Garden Tour ribbon cutting to the street fair and parade, the festival drew hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area, providing a boost to the local economy. Organizers credited the event’s success to strong community support and its longstanding role in Wilmington’s history.
“Azalea Festival was a grand success, the weather was beautiful, the crowds turned out, I would say overall it was just a beautiful experience,” said Melissa Lasarsky.
This year marked the first festival for Executive Director Melissa Lasarsky, who said planning is already underway for next year’s milestone celebration.
“The biggest learning piece and the thing that’s important for me for catapulting into the 80th year is understanding the historical significance. When Dr. Hugh Morton stood at the first festival, it was to highlight the beauty of Wilmington, and that beauty included the people,” said Lasarsky.
Organizers say they plan to build on that legacy by expanding the festival’s lineup to appeal to a broader and more diverse audience.
City leaders also praised the event’s success. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said the festival delivered both strong attendance and economic benefits.
“Had a phenomenal event, everything went without a glitch, record-breaking attendance in all the things they saw. It was a great weekend, great outcome, a lot of economic development that was generated, a lot of people coming to the community,” said Saffo.
Public safety officials also reported a smooth weekend. Sgt. Ronald Evans with the Wilmington Police Department said there were no major incidents during the festival.
“Thankfully and fortunately, we did not; there were no big major events, and that is a testament to the officers of the agency, and also, again, we’re very thankful for our law enforcement partners across the area. Thankfully, we had a good festival for 2026.”
Organizers are now turning their attention to the 80th annual Azalea Festival, a milestone year expected to bring even more attention to one of Wilmington’s signature events.
