Azalea Festival to kick off with Queen’s Coronation at Battleship North Carolina

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Azalea Festival officially kicks off Wednesday with one of its signature events, the Queen’s Coronation.

The ceremony will take place aboard the Battleship North Carolina, where Queen Azalea Elaine Hendrix will be formally crowned and special guests and local dignitaries will be introduced.

The event is free and open to the public, with entry beginning at 1:30 p.m. A pre-show is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., followed by the coronation ceremony at 3 p.m. Organizers say a meet and greet with the Queen and invited guests is expected to begin around 3:30 p.m., with the event wrapping up around 4 p.m.

If you can’t attend in person, you can watch the coronation live on WWAYTV3.com at 5 p.m.

The coronation takes place on the Battleship’s fantail and serves as the official start of Azalea Festival week. The event will feature local entertainment along with the introduction of the Queen’s Court, cadets and invited guests.

Parking will be available in the Battleship lots, with ADA-accessible parking also offered. Rideshare drop-offs can be made at the main entrance. Organizers note that guests accessing the main deck will use a long ramp with a steep incline.