Don’t miss Wilmington’s 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival to be held April 6-10, 2011 in the greater Wilmington area. The Azalea Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s outstanding artwork, gardens, culture and rich history during its five days of entertainment including: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.
Since its inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its five (5) major sponsors: Progress Energy, Velocity Solutions, Inc., Wachovia Bank, the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, and Coastal Beverage.
For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you’re invited! There’s something for everyone among our community’s rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture. Come join the fun!
Events Include:
March 27, 2011: Azalea Festival Children’s Tea
—————————————–
April 2, 2011: Azalea 5K/10K Fun Run/Walk
—————————————–
April 6, 2011: Queen’s Coronation
—————————————–
April 7, 2011: Cole Bros. Circus
4/7/2011 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
4/7/2011 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Wilmington International Airport Grounds:
Come see the thrills of the Cole Bros. Circus in this 2-hour performance!
Ticket prices: VIP – $25; Reserved Adult – $20; Reserved Child/Senior – $15. Children 2 and under are free but will not have their own seat.
—————————————–
April 8, 2011: Garden Tour
4/8/2011 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Various Gardens: Enjoy Southern hospitality amid the glorious color of azaleas and other spring flowers during the 58th Annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour©, April 8, 9, and 10, 2011, in the beautiful coastal region of Wilmington, North Carolina. Sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc., the tour has been featured in SOUTHERN LIVING and is one of the longest running and most popular garden tours in the South. Garden Tour tickets come with a map of Wilmington and the gardens and may be used anytime during the three-day tour. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
April 8, 2011: Garden Tour Ribbon Cutting
4/8/2011 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony opening the 12-garden tour will take place in our “special garden” on the stage at the 900-seat Greenfield Lake Amphitheater at 1941 Amphitheater Drive. Greenfield Lake offers the perfect backdrop for Queen Azalea LXIV and her court to preside over the ceremony. Summerall Guards, the Citadel’s elite senior drill team, escort 125 Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles© dressed in authentic antebellum gowns. Local and national celebrities are also present to celebrate the event.
April 8, 2011: Home of Kyle McIntyre: The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour© opens Friday, April 8 with the colorful Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Queen’s Garden Party at Greenfield Lake where the idea of the NC Azalea Festival began.
April 8, 2011: Juried Spring Art Show & Sale
4/8/2011 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Over 100 regional and national artists present their fine artwork in the Wilmington Art Association’s 29th Annual Juried Spring Art Show and Sale. Admission is FREE.
April 8, 2011: Cole Bros. Circus
4/8/2011 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
4/8/2011 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Wilmington International Airport Grounds:
Come see the thrills of the Cole Bros. Circus in this 2-hour performance!
Ticket prices: VIP – $25; Reserved Adult – $20; Reserved Child/Senior – $15. Children 2 and under are free but will not have their own seat.
April 8, 2011: The Avett Brothers Concert
4/8/2011 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Trask Coliseum
The Avett Brothers in concert!
Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 11th at 10 am through the Festival Website. Tickets are reserved seating at $47.50 each.
—————————————–
April 9, 2011: Parade
4/9/2011 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Downtown Wilmington:
Come see the Azalea Queen and Celebrities in our Street Parade! The Parade travels down Third Street to Market, Second, and Front.
April 9, 2011: Garden Tour
4/9/2011 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Various Gardens:
Enjoy Southern hospitality amid the glorious color of azaleas and other spring flowers during the 58th Annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour©, April 8, 9, and 10, 2011, in the beautiful coastal region of Wilmington, North Carolina. Sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc., the tour has been featured in SOUTHERN LIVING and is one of the longest running and most popular garden tours in the South. Garden Tour tickets come with a map of Wilmington and the gardens and may be used anytime during the three-day tour. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
April 9, 2011: Juried Spring Art Show and Sale
4/9/2011 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Over 100 regional and national artists present their fine artwork in the Wilmington Art Association’s 29th Annual Juried Spring Art Show and Sale. Admission is FREE.
April 9, 2011: Coin Show
4/9/2011 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
American Legion Hall, 702 Pine Grove Drive, (Wilmington, opp Muni Golf course)
A fun filled family event. Children are given free foreign coins to learn about currency and foreign countries. More than 30 dealers from several surrounding states will be on hand to appraise, buy, sell and trade coins, currency and other numismatic items.
April 9, 2011: Historic Home Tour
4/9/2011 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wilmington Homes:
A Historic Home Tour put on by the Historic Wilmington Foundation. Self-guided tour throughout some of Wilmington’s finest homes. Saturday, April 9 from 1 pm – 6 pm and Sunday, April 10 from 1 pm to 5 pm.
April 9, 2011: Cole Bros. Circus
4/9/2011 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
4/7/2011 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
4/7/2011 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Wilmington International Airport
Come see the thrills of the Cole Bros. Circus in this 2-hour performance!
Ticket prices: VIP – $25; Reserved Adult – $20; Reserved Child/Senior – $15. Children 2 and under are free but will not have their own seat.
April 9, 2011: Fireworks
4/9/2011 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Riverfront, Downtown Wilmington
Come enjoy the fireworks Saturday night…
best viewing right on the riverside! FREE event! Weather permitting.
—————————————–
April 10, 2011: Coin Show
4/10/2011 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
American Legion
American Legion Hall, 702 Pine Grove Drive, (Wilmington, opp Muni Golf course)
A fun filled family event. Children are given free foreign coins to learn about currency and foreign countries. More than 30 dealers from several surrounding states will be on hand to appraise, buy, sell and trade coins, currency and other numismatic items.
$1.00 Donation is suggested for admission.
April 10, 2011: Garden Tour
4/10/2011 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Various Gardens
Enjoy Southern hospitality amid the glorious color of azaleas and other spring flowers during the 58th Annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour©, April 8, 9, and 10, 2011, in the beautiful coastal region of Wilmington, North Carolina. Sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc., the tour has been featured in SOUTHERN LIVING and is one of the longest running and most popular garden tours in the South. Garden Tour tickets come with a map of Wilmington and the gardens and may be used anytime during the three-day tour. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
April 10, 2011: Juried Art Show and Sale
4/10/2011 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Perry Hall @ St. James Episcopal Church
Over 100 regional and national artists present their fine artwork in the Wilmington Art Association’s 29th Annual Juried Spring Art Show and Sale. Admission is FREE.
April 10, 2011: Azalea Cake Challenge
4/10/2011 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center
The North Carolina Azalea Festival proudly brings back the Azalea Cake Challenge! Local bakeries and amateur cake decorators will be showing their Azalea-themed cakes…come help judge in various “people’s choice” categories, and have the opportunity to sample cakes in the professional category. The event will take place on Sunday, April 10, from noon to 4 pm at Cape Fear Community College’s Schwartz Center.
April 10, 2011: Historic Home Tour
4/10/2011 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wilmington Homes
A Historic Home Tour put on by the Historic Wilmington Foundation. Self-guided tour throughout some of Wilmington’s finest homes. Saturday, April 9 from 1 pm – 6 pm and Sunday, April 10 from 1 pm to 5 pm. Tickets are $25 each. Groups of 10 are available for $22 each. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.
April 10, 2011: Cole Bros. Circus
4/10/2011 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
4/10/2011 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Wilmington International Airport Grounds
Come see the thrills of the Cole Bros. Circus in this 2-hour performance!
Ticket prices: VIP – $25; Reserved Adult – $20; Reserved Child/Senior – $15. Children 2 and under are free but will not have their own seat.


















