Festivals

No major tourist destination located on the ocean would be worth its salt (pun intended) without festivals, and the Wilmington area is blessed with so many that sometimes it seems like our festivals have festivals. With such an abundance, we have room only to highlight the major festivals and make mention of some of the rest. Naturally, most festivals take place during the warmer tourist season months.

Airport Expansion Helps    back to top

The expansion of Wilmington Airport, known as ILM, has made it much easier for visitors to reach Wilmington. Coupled with the hospitality we extend to our visitors, the festivals have seen staggering growth since they began. With non-stop flights to and from three major cities each day, those traveling to or from New York, Philadelphia or Atlanta can do so easily and connections to other major cities are relatively painless. The airport serves more passengers each year, a reflection of the inviting atmosphere as well as ample and moderately priced parking available there.

The Oldest Event    back to top

Visitors descend by the thousands for the granddaddy of all our festive events, the North Carolina Azalea Festival, held in April at the height of azalea blooming. The event in 2007 marks the 60th annual celebration of the city’s favorite flower.

From its beginning in 1948, the festival has blossomed into a five-day event showcasing exquisite gardens, great artwork and our rich cultural history and heritage. Driving through the city during festival time, it seems like the city is ablaze with azaleas blooming everywhere - and it is!

Attracting more than 300,000 people, the Azalea Festival includes a parade complete with Azalea Queen, street fair, circus, concerts, horse show, major entertainment, home and garden tours, pageantry from a bygone era and much of the charm and culture that makes us Southern.

The festival officially kicks off with the arrival of Queen Azalea, usually a noted entertainer, followed by the parade and two-day street fair. In all, more than 125 events are included. Naturally, the Queen has a court, made up of gorgeous young ladies escorted by the Summerall Guards, handsome military cadets in full dress uniform from the Citadel’s senior elite drill team. In addition, the Azalea Princesses, a group of outstanding local high school students who have participated in the Princess Scholarship Pageant, are present.

In 1969, the tradition of the Azalea Belles was introduced, and since then has grown to more than 100 young ladies, all dressed in authentic antebellum gowns. Azalea Belles primarily serve as hostesses at the garden tours, adding a note of gracious beauty and heritage from bygone days.

Riverfest Expands    back to top

At the other end of the festival season, Wilmington’s Riverfest arrives in October. With a purpose of providing scholarships for marine related studies at Cape Fear Community College, the event includes a half-mile of fun events along the riverfront.

Currently drawing over a quarter-million people, Riverfest began in 1979 as a modest three-day event and has expanded to include about 200 craft and food vendors, fireworks, entertainment on two stages, the Great Waiters Wine Race, Run the River, various exhibits and a children’s area.

Other activities associated with Riverfest have included exhibits by the Cape Fear Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Sun Coast Cruisers car club, a film festival, and Art in the Garden tours of gorgeous private and public gardens enhanced by art and music. Additional activities include the Invasion of the Pirates (an evening flotilla on the river), skateboard competition, treasure hunt, wakeboard competition and a musical Battle on the River by ten bands on two stages.

Lots of Music    back to top

Speaking of music, Wilmington also hosts the Cape Fear Blues Festival, an extravaganza of authentic blues music featuring three days of local, regional and national blues group performances, all-day blues jam, kickoff party, and blues workshops. A highlight of the event is the famous Blues Cruise on the Henrietta III riverboat offering three blues bands on three decks with three bars plus local cuisine, all in an exciting evening sunset cruise on the beautiful Cape Fear River.

Another popular festival, currently in its 27th year in 2007, is the North Carolina Jazz Festival. This three-day event, held at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel, features nationally known and local jazz musicians including the Coastal Carolina Jazz Ensemble, who perform cabaret style in the hotel ballroom.

Film Festival Too    back to top

The Cucalorus Film Festival will present its 13th annual festival of independent films in November. This four-day, non-competitive event showcases over 100 independently produced films from all over the world and has been cited by the Southeastern Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event.

Other annual festivals include Festival Latino held in Hugh MacRae Park, celebrating the music, dance, arts, crafts and food of the Latin-American community; the Greek Festival held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church; Fourth of July Riverfront Celebration featuring a street fair along the riverfront and culminating with spectacular fireworks over the river from Battleship Park; and the Port of Wilmington Maritime Day Festival featuring entertainment and tours of the port.

Many additional festivals take place in the beach communities and other areas surrounding Wilmington. Some of these are described in our coverage of those areas.