April 7-11, 2027

COUNTDOWN:

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Top Five Reasons Why We Love The North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, here are FIVE reasons why we love to celebrate the
North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade!

1. We’ve been doing Parades since 1948. That’s 68 Parades we’ve had to practice on, so you know the 2016 Parade is going to be INCREDIBLE.

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2015 Queen Azalea Mallory Hagan

2. Though rain occasionally causes marching bands and our beautiful Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Belles to drop out of the Parade, those who do stay around and travel down the route for Wilmington take it like a champ!

Parade Beth Stovall
Miss NC Beth Stovall waves to the crowd in the 2015 Parade

3. We take the phrase “think outside the box” to the max. And by that we mean 30-foot inflatables traveling down 3rd Street.  The new 2015 Parade route allowed us to invite our friends, Kermit and Elmo. Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here!

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4. Somehow “Clown Golf Cart” just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Clown Car”….but we’ll take it.

Parade Clown Car

5. Our Parade is truly a community effort. The Parade is brought to you by Neuwirth Motors—who not only help provide funding for the Parade, but also provide almost 50 vehicles to pull all of the floats and transport our celebrities and dignitaries down the route.

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Celebrity guest Skai Jackson travels down the Parade route in a Neuwirth Motors vehicle

 

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Upcoming Events
sat, Jan 09

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

thu, Apr 08

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

fri, Apr 09

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

wed, Apr 07
The North Carolina Azalea Festival

80th Festival Patron Sponsorship

thu, Mar 04

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

sat, Apr 10

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

sat, Apr 10

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

sat, Jan 30

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

fri, Apr 09

ON SALE: Nov 9 at 11:00 am

Festival 80 Is Blooming!

Patron Sponsorships ON SALE NOW!

Be part of something extraordinary as we celebrate the 80th North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 7–11, 2027!

ONLY 300 PATRON SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

Patron Sponsorships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and your purchase today secures your sponsorship for this historic celebration.

 

The first 50 Patron Sponsorship Packages purchased will include one reserved parking space for the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party, presented by Truist!

Reserved parking is limited to the first 50 Patron Sponsorship Packages purchased, in the order transactions are completed. Limit one reserved parking space per qualifying package. This benefit is not available for subsequent purchases.

Important Purchase Information

  • Online Sales Only: Our Festival office remains temporarily closed for renovations. All Patron Sponsorships must be purchased online.

  • Tickets Delivered November 6: Your electronic tickets will be emailed to the address used at checkout on November 6, 2026.

  • Exclusive Garden Party Opportunity: On November 6, Patron Sponsors will also receive a link to purchase up to 8 additional Airlie Luncheon Garden Party tickets, presented by Truist, while supplies last.

  • Easy Digital Access: Electronic tickets will be available as PDFs and for mobile wallets.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Be Part of Festival 80

Flowing with Tradition. Blooming with Possibility.