Visiting North Carolina’s Upcoming Azalea Festival In Wilmington Is A Great Spring Activity

It's about flowers, food, parades, dogs, and queens: Don't miss out on the fun at this year's 76th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival with events from March 18-April 16, 2023. At least 25 scheduled events will offer creative ways to welcome in the spring. See why you should be one of the hundreds of people who attend the exciting, upcoming Azalea Festival.

The azaleas alone are the reason many tourists visit North Carolina in March and April to see the hundreds of varieties blooming.

And Wilmington takes it further creating an unforgettable event.

The first North Carolina Azalea Festival was in 1948.

This magical moment in 1958 features some celebrities, including a pre-Mayberry Andy Griffith who was emcee, and glamorous movie-star swimmer Esther Williams who reigned as Azalea Queen.

Come out and support the new royalty.

Get a spot early on Saturday, April 15, to watch the Dollar General Parade go by starting at 9:30 a.m.

You can see everything along Third Street from Market to Bladen streets.

And at every turn throughout the festival, you will surely find some scrumptious food.

We go for the dogs and art, as the Azalea Festival Youth Art Show takes place in April, with the schedule to be announced.

The festival also partners with paws4people to host Paws on Parade, the Official Dog Garden Paw-ty of the Azalea Festival. It takes place on Saturday, March 18 at the Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre.

You may find the biggest crowd at DGX Street Fair April 14-16.

This fun-for-all event provides lots of entertainment, shopping, and eating with more than 250 vendors along the streets of historic downtown.

Check out the events of the upcoming Azalea Festival. Some of them require tickets, so be sure to purchase them before they sell out. And while you're there, feast on handmade pierogi at Joe’s Oasis Bar & Grill.