North Carolina Azalea Festival

Azalea Festival Draws 300,000

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 2008 marks the 62nd 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.