WILMINGTON — The official festival to kick off springtime in Wilmington is now underway, with the queen arriving to the Port City Wednesday.
The 78th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival takes place through April 6. It encourages volunteerism and civic participation, as area organizations come together to show off the beauty of Wilmington via events, such as garden and home tours.
The annual festival brings in $50 million to the greater Wilmington area, according to a UNCW report conducted more than a decade ago. The analysis found roughly 100,000 people pour into the county to participate in numerous happenings the first weekend in April.
This year it taps out at more than 20 events, with attendees greeted by numerous celebrity guests and the Azalea Queen court. The 2025 Azalea Queen Bethany Joy Lenz starred in the hit CW show “One Tree Hill,” which filmed in Wilmington from 2003 to 2012.
She was crowned at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Wednesday, as local dignitaries and invited celebrity guests were introduced as well. Thursday, a private celebrity reception took place in her honor at 11:30 a.m. at Cape Fear Country Club.
Joining Lenz is her court of various pageant winners from around the state.
Also, Mia Volety, a junior from John T. Hoggard High School, was crowned the 2025 North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess earlier this month. Her court is made up of Maya Shannon (N. Brunswick High), Lauren Womble (Eugene Ashley), Claire Mearns (Cape Fear Academy), Perry Kim (NC School of Science and Mathematics).
This year’s invited celebrity guests include two-time Tony nominee Laura Osos (“Cinderella,” “Bonnie and Clyde”), Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and lifelong entrepreneur Robert S. Cooley and artist Chip Hemingway.
There are plenty of public events hosted with the opportunity to meet Lenz and others. Here is a rundown of ways to enjoy the 2025 festival:
Airlie Luncheon Garden Party
Airlie Gardens, 5725 Oleander Dr.
Airlie Gardens will be decked out in its bounty of color and welcomes attendees to do the same for the annual N.C. Azalea Festival Luncheon Garden Party. Flowery dresses, seersucker suits, big hats, and more pepper the grounds as folks enjoy cocktails and barbecue for a little day-drinking and hob-knobbing with area residents and officials.
It begins at 11 a.m. and is open to ticketholders only; learn more here.
After the garden party, folks head to Bluewater for a dockside party with Queen Azalea and her court. There is a free party shuttle for those who have VIP packages, which includes an Airlie Luncheon Garden Party ticket, free transportation to Airlie and back to Bluewater and a three-course meal to enjoy at Bluewater during the month of April (check here). However, all are welcome to Bluewater to enjoy the afterparty event, which begins at 2 p.m.
Azalea Garden Tour
10 various locations • Tickets: $50
Annually, the Cape Fear Garden Club hosts the Azalea Festival Garden Tour, which highlights multiple area gardens that are well-kept and colorfully manicured. This year the theme is “A Canopy of Blooms,” presented April 4-6.
The tours take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 10 private gardens (see the preview here). The kick off is Friday, April 4, 9:30 a.m. at the Kenan House, 1705 Market St. In attendance will be Coastal Christian High School Choir, the North Carolina Azalea Festival Queen and celebrity guests, with the queen’s garden party immediately after the ribbon cutting.
Proceeds from ticket sales — $50 each, children under 12 free with adult ticketholder — go back to area nonprofits that work toward beautifying the area, via the garden club grants and committee initiatives. Since 2003, the club has put back into Wilmington roughly $1.4 million from its garden tours.
There are also plein-air artists set up in each stop, capturing the day’s events. The art works will be for sale on April 6 at Garden #4; those who have garden tour tickets are admitted for free, otherwise it’s a $5 admission.
Azalea Festival Parade
Downtown Wilmington • Free
Starting at 9:30 a.m. the annual Azalea Festival parade will move down Third Street from Market to Bladen streets. The main viewing area will be set up along Third, with tickets for sale $8 in advance and $10 the day of.
Parking is accessible at downtown decks, with the deck at 2nd and Princess Street, accessible only via Princess, closing at 8:45 a.m. Cars cannot leave this deck until the parade has concluded. ADA parking will be available at Chestnut and Third streets, accessible via Chestnut until 8:45 a.m.
Bleacher seats are available for $8 here.
Battleship Boom and Bloom / Fireworks
Over the Battleship North Carolina and Cape Fear River • Free
The annual fireworks display returns at 9 p.m. over the Cape Fear River on Saturday, April 5. It’s free for all to view.
However, to amp up the watch party, tickets are available to the Battleship Boom and Bloom. This gives attendees an opportunity to view the display from aboard the Battleship North Carolina. Tickets include a folding chair, bag of popcorn, music and dancing.
Snacks and drinks are available for purchase as well, including from food trucks Wheelz Pizza, Glizzies On The Go Hot Dogs, and Pepe’s Taco Truck. Kids under 5 are allowed free entry. The event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Learn more here.
Boxing Competition
Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt St.
The annual competition returns both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; weigh-ins are Friday.
Interested participants must register here and boxers are welcome from a national and international level of competition and from the military branches. Boxers ages 8-16 and 17-34 and Master Boxers 35 and up compete in six divisions. The event is a USA Boxing Sanctioned Tournament and welcomes people from Jersey, Maryland and D.C. to South Carolina and Florida.
Lower Cape Fear Coin Club’s Azalea Festival Coin Show
Elks Lodge 5102 Oleander Drive • Free
Presented by the Lower Cape Fear Coin Club, the annual free coin show will take place at the Elks Lodge, 5102 Oleander Drive, on Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be coin collectors offering currency on display and for sale and trade; children will learn about currency and foreign countries, and there will be a Kids Korner. More than 30 dealers from multiple states will be on hand to appraise, buy, sell and trade coins, currency, and other numismatic items.
A Celebration of African American Arts & Culture
Union Missionary Baptist Church, 2711 Princess Place Dr. • Free
On Saturday, April 5, at 4 p.m. at Union Missionary Baptist Church, The Delta Foundation of the Cape Fear — a nonprofit entity of the Wilmington (NC) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. — presents A Celebration of African American Arts & Culture. The event, co-sponsored by the Arts Council of New Hanover County and Wilmington, celebrates diverse culture of African Americans in the Cape Fear, with various events, including:
- The Pinelands Creative Workshop from St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies (Wilmington’s Sister City)
- Tina Greene, local storyteller and spoken word artist
- UNC-W’s Jazz Band
- Techmoja Dance Company
- Elizabeth City State University’s Choral Ensemble
The event also will honor the late “Madafo” Lloyd Wilson, a community educator, musician, storyteller and artist, with drummers from Mr. Michael Hanson’s Pamoja! Drummers Troupe. Visual art will also be on display from high school students in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties, as well as glassworks artist, Denise Barnett, and filmmaker, Travis Corpening.
Flo Rida
Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St. • Tickets: $69 and up
Hip-hop will turn up Riverfront Park for the annual Azalea Festival, as Flo Rida hits the stage.
The 45-year-old hip-hop artist is best known for his 2007 breakout single “Low,” featuring T-Pain, released on the debut album “Mail on Sunday.”
Flo Rida has sold 80-million records worldwide, with other hits including “Right Round,” “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Wild Ones,” “Whistle,” and “My House.” The Miami artist has collaborated with Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, will.i.am and Sia, among others in the industry.
His last album was “Wild Ones,” released in 2012.
Tickets start at $55 for lawn and go up to $170.
Historic Wilmington Foundation Home Tour
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheatre Dr. • Tickets: $40
Aside from the garden tour, the historic home tour is another revered event for the North Carolina Azalea Festival, which takes place takes place Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 and the foundation is spotlighting the Oleander neighborhood.
Originally dubbed “The Suburb Beautiful.” It showcases new and old architectural styles — from Colonial Revival to Tudor, Cape Cod to 1950s Ranch. Homes were first built in the midtown area in 1914 along Wilmington’s trolley line and architects of yore included Frank Mead, James Gause, and James Lynch.
The Historic Wilmington Foundation will kick off the tour at Azalea Station (1502 Castle St.) in the Cargo District at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. Ticketholders are welcome to the event to hear HWF Executive Director Bill Stolz talk about the Oleander neighborhood’s history and its ties to the region.
Justin Moore
Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan St. • Tickets: $57 and up
Justin Moore has built a loyal following over the past decade with his traditional country sound and captivating live shows. His latest single “This Is My Dirt” just earned him his 13th No. 1 hit; it follows the RIAA Platinum-certified “You, Me, and Whiskey,” a duet with Priscilla Block.
Over his decade-long career, Moore’s No. 1 hits have included “Point at You,” “Lettin’ The Night Roll,” “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” “Small Town USA,” and “Till My Last Day,” as well as Platinum-certified albums and singles. Moore also has earned multiple ACM, ACA, CMT, People’s Choice, and ACC Awards nominations, as well as an ACM Award win.
Opening for him will be Nashville country artist Kameron Marlowe, who was born and raised in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Marlowe’s hit “Giving You Up” led to his deal with Sony Music, on which he released his Gold album “We Were Cowboy” and his recent 16-track hit “Keepin’ the Lights On.” Marlowe has since toured with Thomas Rhett, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
Mini Golf Party
Jungle Rapids, 5320 Oleander Dr. • Tickets: $50
Taking place at Jungle Rapids, the annual Mini Golf Party will have NFL Pittsburgh Steeler Alex Highsmith, a Wilmington hometown celebrity, set up at one of 18 holes to sign autographs, take photos and do a meet-and-greet with players.
Participants must register for one of three slots — 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and noon to 1 p.m. — and complete the course during its duration. The event takes place rain or shine and players are grouped into parties of four.
Half of the proceeds benefit the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation, to provide physical fitness, nutrition, athletic preparation, family involvement, academic, emotional, and social support for underserved youth.
Queen’s Dance Party
Wilmington Convention Center, 10 Convention Center Dr. • Tickets: $61 and up
The dance is geared toward youth, ages 7 to 17, and will welcome Queen Bethany Joy Lenz and her court in a dance party for the ages. It also welcomes Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, with former Miss NC Carli Batson emceeing the event.
There will be hors d’ouevres served, and attendees will have opportunities for autographs and photograph opportunities. It takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Street Fair
Downtown Wilmington • Free
The street fair will close off Front Street from Red Cross to Orange streets, welcoming food and arts and crafts vendors, selling wares and grub to the public. It’s open Friday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, there will be free multicultural events and children’s performances. A children’s area will feature family-friendly vendors and hands-on activities. Plus on April 5 at 1 p.m. the Azalea Queen’s Court, the Azalea Festival Princess and Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett will take the stage.
There also will be an Azalea Alley Beer Garden open and presenting refreshments and live entertainment.
See the schedules for the street fair here.
Tunes and Blooms
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheatre Dr. • Free
If local, live music has piqued your interest more than the big names playing at Live Oak Bank Pavilion, then the line up of bands for Tunes and Blooms is where it’s at.
Kicking off at noon, concert-goers can expect to hear Audiomelt, The Hot Flashes, Sometimes Fun, Frank and the Feelin’, The Losers, La Veta Pass, and acoustic sets from Delia Stanley Duo, Ian Daviz, and Caroline Lemley.
Arts and crafts vendors will be set up and there will be refreshments sold.
Wilmington Art Association’s Juried Art Show and Sale
Hannah Block USO/Community Arts Center, 120 S. Second St. • Free
Celebrating 43 years of bringing together local artists for a show and sale, WIlmington Art Association will open its event at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Center, 120 S. Second St.; it runs through April 6. The show opens on March 28.
More than 200 artists and 300 pieces of work will be featured in an array of both 2D and 3D media. It’s free and open to the public, with artwork available for sale. The event is juried, with cash prizes given to artists in multiple categories, from Best In Show to Best 2D and Best 3D.
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