Azalea Royalty

Saturday, March 10th was an exciting evening for several young women as they competed for the title of 2012 North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess.  This event is rich in tradition and has been part of the Festival since 1949.  Every year the Azalea Festival Youth Committee raises an excess of $28,000 to produce the North Carolina Azalea Festival Scholarship Pageant and the winner receives the Beverly Anne Jurgensen Scholarship Award.  The scholarship award is equivalent to one full year’s tuition at an in-state university and the court receives scholarship awards as well.  The scholarship award namesake was a beloved Festival volunteer whom was also the Festival’s first female President in 1992.  This year, the Azalea Festival Youth Committee raised over $10,000 in advertising sales alone and we are certainly proud of their commitment and dedication in making this year’s event a success.


The North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess is a year round representative of the Festival.  The Princess and her court attend all of the events surrounding the Festival, travel with the Official Party and have a float in the Parade on Saturday.  

Our 2012 North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess is Julia Lovett!  She is a senior at Cape Fear Academy.

2012 Princess Court Members

Holland McGraw of New Hanover High School, 1^st Runner Up

Emily Wilson of New Hanover High School, 2^nd Runner Up

Olivia Robertson of Hoggard High School, 3^rd Runner Up

Jessica Ellington of Laney High School, 4^th Runner Up

Congratulations to the 2012 North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess and Court!