Schedule of Events:

April 3, 2024

3pm: Queen’s Coronation

Kickoff Azalea Festival week with the Queen’s Coronation! Queen Azalea is officially coronated, and our Invited Guests and local dignitaries are introduced.

Special pre-show to begin at 2:30 pm.

Cost: Free

Location: Battleship North Carolina

April 4, 2024

School Visit – Rocky Point Elementary

Each year the Azalea Festival chooses a school to visit, bringing Queen Azalea, the Queen’s Court and Cadets, Invited Guests, and other officials out into the community. The school’s children, teachers, administrators and parents work hard all year long to prepare for this visit.

This truly is a magical part of Festival week where the Festival spirit shines the brightest!

The School Visit is a closed event due to space and safety considerations.

View The Registry Here

11:30am: Celebrity Reception

The Celebrity Reception is a luncheon held at the Cape Fear Country Club on Thursday of the Festival Week. 

The event provides sponsors of the Festival a close and personal opportunity to see and meet Queen Azalea, Invited Guests, and other Festival Dignitaries. 

7pm: T-Pain

We are excited to announce T-Pain for our 2024 North Carolina Azalea Festival Thursday Night Concert! T-Pain is a rapper, songwriter, and record producer. With a string of hit singles, T-Pain has 12 Grammy nominations. He’s won two Grammy Awards: his first with Kanye West for “Good Life” and his second with Jamie Foxx for “Blame It”. In addition, T-Pain was featured as a guest performer on over fifty commercial singles from 2006 to 2010.

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Location: Live Oak Bank Pavilion

April 5, 2024

Azalea Festival Boxing Tournament

Friday, Apr 05 - Sunday, Apr 07

The North Carolina Azalea Festival Boxing Tournament will be held Saturday, April 6 - Sunday, April 7 from 2 pm - 5 pm, with weigh-ins on Friday, April 5. 

The event showcases some of the finest boxers from the National and International level of competition & from the military branches. Boxers age 8-16 and 17-34 and Master Boxers 35-up compete in six divisions from 55lb-201lb+. Participation in the past has come from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and more from around the country. This is a USA Boxing Sanctioned Tournament.

Queen Azalea & VIP Invited Guests have been coming to the event since 1978. The tournament is open to all states and all boxers who would love to come to Wilmington and enjoy the excitement of the North Carolina Azalea Festival.

Boxing Registration Click Here

Cost: Free

Location: Wilmington Convention Center

Beauty And The Beast Presented By Thalian Association

Thalian Association Community Theatre presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!

Purchase Tickets HERE.

Friday April 5, 2024 - Sunday April 14, 2024

Friday - Saturday Time: 7:30 pm
Sunday Time: 2:00 pm

Step into the enchanted world of Broadway’s classic, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, an international sensation that has been produced in 37 countries worldwide. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Azalea Garden Tour

Friday, Apr 05 - Sunday, Apr 07

The Cape Fear Garden Club’s 2024 Azalea Garden Tour, April 5th through 7th, will open at 10am – 5pm each day. The garden tour theme is “Beyond the Garden Gate”. Plein Air Artists will be painting in the 10 private gardens all weekend.

Airlie Gardens will be open on Saturday and Sunday only during the tour. Proceeds from the Azalea Garden Tour will be given away as grants to local nonprofit organizations for beautification, conservation and educational projects in New Hanover County.

11am: Airlie Luncheon Garden Party

The premier event in Wilmington and the largest Festival fundraiser, the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party is one you can’t miss! Join us and 2,500 of our closest friends as we say hello to Spring on the beautiful grounds of Airlie Gardens. Come dressed to impress in your finest Spring fashions and be ready to party!

Location: Airlie Gardens

2pm: After Garden Get Down

The After Garden Get Down at Bluewater is a fun, FREE waterfront party open to the public immediately following the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party. Guests are invited to Bluewater’s waterfront bar & patio to enjoy live music, food and drink specials, and the best view on the Intracoastal.
 
Attendees also receive a special guest appearance by Queen Azalea herself!
 
This event is FREE to attend; drinks and food may be purchased separately.
 
Want to be a Bluewater After Garden Get Down VIP – AND ATTEND THE GARDEN PARTY?!?!
Purchase the After Garden Get Down VIP Package which includes your ticket into the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party, shuttle service to/from the Garden Party from Bluewater, and a full meal at Bluewater good from April 1 through April 30, 2024.

Limited Quantities Available!

Purchase VIP Package Here

Location: Bluewater Grill

5pm: Azalea Fest Pre And Post Chase Rice Concert Party At The Eagle’s Dare

Join us for an outdoor parking lot Honky Tonk at The Eagle’s Dare before the show at Live Oak Amphitheater! Live music, line dancing, and food trucks. Family friendly!

After the show the party keeps going in the Wanda Jackson Room with DJ Ruby!

Admission: FREE with optional donation for wristband to purchase alcohol.

6pm: Queen’s Dance Party

Join us for a night of dancing and mingling with Azalea Festival Royalty!

Tickets include heavy hors d’oeuvres and dancing…and  memories to last a lifetime!

This special celebration of visiting queens and friends will be held Friday, April 5th from 6:00-9:00 pm.

In attendance will be Queen Azalea, Miss North Carolina, the Azalea Festival Queen’s Court and the Azalea Festival Princess and her Court.

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Location: Wilmington Convention Center

7pm: Chase Rice

We are excited to announce Chase Rice for our 2024 NC Azalea Festival Friday Night Concert! With more than 2.4 million albums sold and over 2.5 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. Chase consistently sells out venues, including the recently-wrapped Way Down Yonder Tour in support of his new music, and will join both Jelly Roll and Old Dominion for arena shows later this year. This is a concert you’re not going to want to miss!

Tickets on sale NOW!

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Location: Live Oak Bank Pavilion

Street Fair

Friday, Apr 05 - Sunday, Apr 07

The Street Fair provides an array of shopping and food opportunities with over 250 Vendors along the streets of historic downtown. The Street Fair will also feature plenty of entertainment with special areas such as the Children’s Area and a Performing Arts Stage featuring multicultural and children's performances!

Friday 6 pm -10 pm
Saturday 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday 10 am – 6 pm

Performing Arts Stage

FREE family-friendly multicultural and children’s performances.  This takes place Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2024.

Street Fair Children’s Area

The Street Fair Children’s Area is a family-friendly part of the Street Fair made just for kids! Guests enjoy family-friendly vendors, and hands-on activities. This is a FREE event that takes place Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2024.

April 6, 2024

9:30am: Azalea Festival Parade

Viewing:

Main viewing areas will be all along 3rd Street, from Market Street to Bladen Street. Viewing along the route is always free, though reserved Festival bleacher tickets are available for purchase at the North Carolina Azalea Festival Ticket Office for $8 in advance, $10 on the day of.

Staging/Start Location: Independence Mall near Dillard’s

Drop-off/Parade Location: 4th St. between Princess and Market St.

Time: 7:00am – 2:00pm with the last shuttle leaving from downtown at 1:45pm

Coin Show

Saturday, April 6th at 10am - 5pm
Sunday, April 7th at 10am - 4pm

A fun-filled, family event! Children are given free foreign coins to learn about currency and foreign countries, and more than 30 dealers from several surrounding states are on hand to appraise, buy, sell and trade coins, currency, and other numismatic items. If you have a special coin, medal, gold, silver, or paper money that you want to know more about, or you just want to see some of the beautiful coins on display, come visit the coin show, have fun and find out!

-The dealers there provide free estimates on any coins and paper money brought in.
-Kids play games and can make their own penny album in our Kids Korner.

The Coin Show is presented by the Lower Cape Fear Coin Club.

For more information please visit their webpage www.lcfcc.org

Location: Elks Lodge

12pm: Tunes and Blooms Presented By Wilmington Grill

The Tunes & Blooms Music Festival is the “must be” place to catch great LOCAL AND REGIONAL music all day.

Entry is FREE!

Beverages are available for purchase and outdoor games are on site. Listen to your favorite local and regional musicians playing a variety of rock, blues, and folk.

Location: Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Historic Wilmington Foundation Azalea Home Tour

April 6th and 7th

Tickets on Sale Soon at the Azalea Festival Ticket Office!

Let’s Get It Started

Think of your Azalea Festival Home Tour ticket as a key, unlocking and welcoming you inside homes you’ve long admired, as well as some stunning hidden gems! From the quaint to the grand, step inside to explore our community’s past. As you wander through Wilmington’s charming Westbrook-Ardmore National Register Historic District, surprise awaits: the complement of new and old, the charming interplay of architectural styles. Expect the unexpected and delight in pristinely preserved architectural treasures as well as uniquely repurposed and upcycled elements. Get inspired and get excited: The only home tour special enough to be part of the legendary Azalea Festival is coming soon!

2024 Azalea Festival Home Tour

Hours | Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th at 1:00pm - 5:00pm

4pm: Delta Foundation Of The Cape Fear Fundraiser

We are so excited about the Delta Foundation‘s Celebration of African American Arts and culture. There will be multiple different acts that will be performing throughout the event. This will be an event that will honor the legacy of the African American experience through the arts…Groit, Gospel, Classical, Dance, Spirituals, and Jazz.  Tickets on sale now!

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7pm: Patrons’ Party Gala

The Patrons’ Party Gala is the grand finale for sponsors of the Azalea Festival.  A black-tie event filled with wonderful food displays and dancing to the sounds of the hottest national party bands, this is our chance to thank all of our sponsors for their continued support.

NEW THEME in 2024: A Masquerade Ball!
Please come in your finest masks to make the party more memorable!

7:30pm: Battleship Boom & Bloom Fireworks Bonanza!

Come enjoy the 2024 Azalea Festival Fireworks Presented by the Battleship North Carolina ON the Battleship fantail!

Ticket Price includes a take-home pink folding chair for your seat, bag of popcorn, music and dancing, a self-guided deck tour, and the premiere firework viewing spot!

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.
No outside food or drink permitted.

Kids 5 and Under are Free!

Location: Battleship North Carolina

9pm: Fireworks Presented By Battleship North Carolina

Come out and join us for the Fireworks Presented by Battleship North Carolina. Fireworks will be displayed over the Cape Fear River downtown Wilmington.

Cost: Free

Apil 7, 2024

Mini Golf Party With Alex Highsmith Presented By Perry’s Emporium At Jungle Rapids

Attend a Mini Golf Party with NFL Pittsburgh Steeler and Wilmington hometown celebrity, Alex Highsmith!

Each player receives 18 holes of mini golf at Jungle Rapids; at one of the holes Alex Highsmith will be available to take photographs, sign autographs, and putt around with you! You also will receive a $5 Jungle Rapids Arcade Card and fun swag! Ticket price is the same for adults or children; children must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times.

Only individuals with paid tickets will have access to the course. Adults must purchase a ticket to chaperone their children.

Participants will sign up in advance for a specific time slot to play:

9 am – 10 am
10:30 am – 11:30 am
12 noon – 1 pm

Participants must complete the course in their time slot. There will be four participants on a hole at a time; individual ticket holders will be paired with others. In order for a party of four to play together, please register all tickets under one name.

This is a rain or shine event.

Fifty percent of this event’s proceeds will be donated to the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation.

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Date: April 3-7, 2024

Click Here for More Information