Getting Closer!

As the 65^th North Carolina Azalea Festival soon approaches we are now able to offer tickets to some of the events that have been announced.  The North Carolina Azalea Festival Ticket Office is located at 5725 Oleander Drive, Suite B-7 in the Oleander Oaks Shopping Center.  Ticket processing is handled on a first come, first serve basis and we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.  Tickets that are currently available include the Cape Fear Garden Club’s 59^th Annual Azalea Garden Tour, the Azalea Children’s Tea hosted by the Cape Fear Volunteer Center and the Azalea 5K/10K/1-Mile Fun Walk hosted by the Cape Fear Volunteer Center benefitting the Big Buddy Program. 

The Cape Fear Garden Club’s 59^th Annual Azalea Garden Tour this year features 11 private gardens along with two public gardens highlighting the majesty of springtime here in the Cape Fear region.  The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony officially opens the tour on Friday, April 13^th at the private residence of Ronnie and Cyndi McNeill at 10:00 AM presenting over 100 beautiful Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles^©, the Citadel Summeral Guards, the official committee members of the North Carolina Azalea Festival and celebrity guests.  Tickets are available through the North Carolina Azalea Festival Ticket Office and are $20 for individual tickets and $18 for groups of 20 or more.  Check the North Carolina Azalea Festival website for more information or go to Cape Fear Garden Club.

Below are pictures from last year’s Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour.

The Azalea Children’s Tea hosted by the Cape Fear Volunteer Center is sure to be a fun time for children and adults alike!  This year’s theme is The Princess and the Pea and is held at a secret location.  A family tea party with special guests including Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles^©, the Azalea Festival Princess and her Court and other wonderful guests! The Azalea Children’s Tea is Sunday, March 25^th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.  Tickets are available through the North Carolina Azalea Festival Ticket Office and are $30 for individual tickets.    

Below are pictures from last year’s Azalea Children’s Tea.

Y’all get your running shoes ready for Saturday, April 7^th at 8:00 AM when the Azalea 5K/10K/1-Mile Fun Walk starts!  All the proceeds benefit the Cape Fear Volunteer Center’s Big Buddy Program.  Not only is this a chance to support a wonderful organization but also an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather Wilmington offers in the spring and get excited about the North Carolina Azalea Festival.

 

In other exciting Intern News, we are all working hard towards releasing the 65^th Queen Azalea, Celebrity Guests and Concerts.  We have been flooded with new arts and craft vendors and food vendors this year and look forward to bringing back Festival favorites and also introducing something new to the mix.  We are updating the website and Facebook every day so keep an eye on the updates for information being released and also the start of our Giveaway Contests.  Starting Wednesday, February 8^th we will announce our first Giveaway Contest leading up to the Festival and are excited to be featuring NCAF Souvenirs!  Later this week we will be out and about Wilmington delivering prints of the Official 2012 Artwork beautifully painted by Terry Sellers Harrison to local businesses and organizations around the Cape Fear Area.  Also, if you have any pictures, souvenir books or memorabilia from any of the North Carolina Azalea Festivals that you think may be of interest to the historian please let us know!  You can email me, intern@ncazaleafestival.org with any questions or call our office at (910) 794 4650.  

Only 70 days until the 65^th North Carolina Azalea Festival, get excited and Join the Tradition!



What A Night!

If you didn’t make it to the Pre-Festival Kick Off Party then you certainly missed out on a great time!  The Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel was alive with excitement when I arrived at 6:00pm and the party didn’t even start for another hour.  Everyone was in high spirits to celebrate and to enjoy the fantastic evening that was planned; numerous people told me that it was the best Pre-Festival Party they had ever attended and we are so glad that everyone had such a good time!  The food and libations were amazing as always thanks to the Hilton’s talented chefs and I especially loved the coconut shrimp!  Sleeping Booty had the crowd dancing the night away as soon as they took the stage at 8:00pm and had everyone moving and shaking on the dance floor for the rest of the evening.  I am certain that everyone had a great night and I would highly recommend if you did not get to join us this year for the Pre-Festival Kick Off Party that you mark your calendars for next year’s!  It also goes without saying that the night would not have been as amazing as it was without our amazing sponsors.  A sincere thank you to Neuwirth Motors, Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel, Wells Fargo, Coastal Beverage Company, and Progress Energy for their generous support of the North Carolina Azalea Festival!  R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Co. and Coastal Beverage Company also provided generous donations of product for the Pre-Festival Kick Off Party. 

In other exciting news the North Carolina Azalea Festival is working night and day in preparation for the announcement of the 65^th Queen Azalea!  Hopefully this will be released soon and I promise to share as soon as I can.  

Again, don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook!  Starting in February we will begin fun Facebook contests leading up to the Festival featuring North Carolina Azalea Festival Souvenirs.  The link for our NCAF Facebook page is located above.

Let's Get This Party Started!

Tomorrow evening supporters of the North Carolina Azalea Festival will gather and help celebrate its 65^th year in Wilmington!  As guests have phoned, e-mailed and visited our office to purchase tickets I have been witness to the spirit and excitement that truly fuels the Festival every year.  The Pre-Festival Kick Off Party is the official shindig that starts all of the charm and festivities that surround the Azalea Festival and this year we are proud to welcome again the band Sleeping Booty!  Performing their iconic and memorable 70’s Disco and Funk, Sleeping Booty also plays Beach Music, 80’s and 90’s Dance Music and Hip Hop.  Sleeping Booty has always been a crowd favorite and we are certain they will not disappoint this year!  With almost 1,000 guests attending, it will surely be a night filled with fun and dancing!  The Pre-Festival Kick Off party is being hosted at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel and will feature beer, wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres as well as a cash liquor bar.  The event starts at 7:00pm and the evening of music and dancing ends at 12:00am, Sleeping Booty will join us with their musical entertainment at 8:00pm and play through the night!  We are so excited and hope that y’all will be joining us to kick off the North Carolina Azalea Festival!  I will be at the Hilton taking pictures of the event and then sharing them to our Facebook page so make sure you go and “Like” us so you can keep up with the Festival’s information, releases and announcements for the upcoming events!  The link for our NCAF Facebook page is featured at the top of this page.  You may even see a picture of yourself if you are joining us for the Pre-Festival Kick Off Party!  I am certainly excited, can’t wait to see you!   

Also, if you have any questions about the North Carolina Azalea Festival’s History please let me know!  I love learning about the Festival from its humble beginnings in 1948 to the remarkable event it is today!  I certainly will try my hardest to find you answers!  E-mail me at intern@ncazaleafestival.org!

It's Almost Here!

Southern hospitality at its finest and the South’s grandest celebration!  In 91 days Wilmington will welcome back local residents and visitors alike to enjoy the festivities and events that surround the North Carolina Azalea Festival.  This year the festival will take place April 11-15 and we cannot wait!  Excitement and curiosity surround all of the events from the announcement of the Queen Azalea to the reveal of the musical artists and celebrity guests.  Once again, Wilmington will transform into a spring time Eden filled with bright sunshine, cool breezes and azaleas bursting with color to proudly showcase their beauty to everyone.   As a proud Wilmingtonian, I remember the excitement and element of regalia that surrounded the Azalea Festival and as an adult I now appreciate the long standing tradition and the beauty surrounding all of the events.   Walking in the North Carolina Azalea Festival parade as a child, I never thought I would have the privilege of helping with the continuous development and day to day functions.  As the North Carolina Azalea Festival’s first intern, I hope to share my experiences as a Wilmington native and also a behind the scenes look at all the hard work and excitement that goes into making the Azalea Festival such a memorable event for everyone!