North Carolina Azalea Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Carolina Azalea Festival |
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Southern Charm In Full Bloom
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| Genre | Festival |
| Date(s) | April |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Wilmington, NC |
| Coordinates | 34°12′36″N 77°50′57″W / 34.20991°N 77.84906°W |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1948 |
| Founder | Hugh Morton |
| Previous event | April 2025 |
| Next event | April 2026 |
| Participants | Over 1,000 Volunteers |
| Attendance | 300,000 |
The North Carolina Azalea Festival is a big community celebration held every April in Wilmington, North Carolina. It started in 1948 and is the largest festival of its kind in the state. The festival celebrates the beautiful azalea flowers that bloom in the spring.
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History of the Festival
The idea for the Azalea Festival came from Dr. W. Houston Moore in 1947. He wanted to create an event to show off the beautiful local gardens, like Airlie Gardens and Greenfield Gardens. He gathered leaders from local clubs to help plan the first festival.
The very first festival was held in April 1948. It was a huge success! The weather was perfect, and the gardens were in full bloom. The first Azalea Queen was actress Jacqueline White. The governor of North Carolina at the time, R. Gregg Cherry, even came to crown her.
Over the years, the festival has included many different events. In 1953, the first sidewalk art show was held, and it has been a tradition ever since. In 1957, famous golfer Arnold Palmer won a golf tournament called the Azalea Open Invitational, which was part of the festival.
Like many events around the world, the 2020 festival was canceled to keep everyone safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Festival Traditions
The Azalea Festival is known for its special customs and events that happen every year.
Airlie Gardens
Airlie Gardens is a beautiful 67-acre public garden in Wilmington. It was created in 1901 and is less than a mile from the ocean. The land was originally a huge 640-acre piece of property given by King George II of Great Britain in 1735.
Today, you can take tours of the gardens. You can see a butterfly garden, a "BottleChapel" made of glass bottles, and sculptures. The gardens also offer educational programs and summer camps for kids.
The Azalea Belles
For many years, a special tradition of the festival was the "Azalea Belles." These were young women dressed in big, colorful dresses, like the ones worn in the 1800s. They acted as hostesses in the gardens, welcoming visitors.
The tradition started in 1969. To become a Belle, young women from the area had to apply. This tradition was a part of the festival until 2020.
The Azalea Queen
Every year, a special guest is chosen to be the Azalea Queen. The Queen is crowned on the first day of the festival. Many famous actresses and public figures have been chosen as Queen over the years.
The first African-American Azalea Queen was actress Phylicia Rashad in 1985. In 1997, Lauren Roman became the first Queen who was born in Wilmington.
Here are some of the famous women who have been crowned Queen:
- 1958 - Esther Williams
- 1961 - Shelley Fabares
- 1974 - Sharon Gless
- 1985 - Phylicia Rashad
- 1993 - Kelly Ripa
- 2008 - Barbara Alyn Woods
- 2015 - Mallory Hagan
- 2017 - Kira Kazantsev
- 2022 - Nia Franklin
- 2025 - Bethany Joy Lenz
Famous Visitors
Many celebrities have visited Wilmington for the Azalea Festival. They have come as special guests, performers, or even as the Queen.
Some famous visitors include:
- Ronald Reagan - He was a host for the festival in 1959, long before he became president.
- Michael Jordan - The basketball legend visited in 1982.
- Andy Griffith - The famous actor was a festival host in 1958.
- David Cook - The singer performed at the festival in 2009.
- Duran Duran - The popular band performed in 2017.
