Parades to Porches
What do Mardi Gras and the North Carolina Azalea Festival have in common? Well, more than you would think! Both festivals, although founded almost 250 years apart, were created to celebrate the beautiful cities in which they occur. Mardi Gras is known for its numerous elaborate street parades which are scheduled throughout the festival. People […]
Main Stage Concert Tickets On Sale Date Delayed
Ticket ON SALE DATE for All New Customers Due to an overwhelming number of ticket upgrade requests from current Main Stage ticket holders, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has decided to delay the on sale date for its rescheduled shows in August. The new on sale date will be Saturday, March 6th, at 10 am […]
North Carolina Azalea Festival to Celebrate Spring All Year Long
The North Carolina Azalea Festival has announced it will be celebrating Spring during Festival dates of April 7-11, 2021….and continuing throughout the year. The Festival team – made up of over 120 volunteers in leadership positions and Festival staff – have been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to plan a springtime celebration for the community […]
Board of Directors for the 2021 North Carolina Azalea Festival Announced
The North Carolina Azalea Festival announced its 2021 Board of Directors last night at its Annual Meeting. For the 74th North Carolina Azalea Festival, to be held April 7-11, 2021, the Board of Directors will be as follows: President: Deirdre McGlone-Webb President- Elect: John E. Russ, III Vice- President: Denise Szaloky Treasurer: Andrew Nettleman Secretary: […]
Fun Facts Looking Back… 1970-1979
1970 Concerts in 1970 were the big news: Country star George Hamilton IV, Yackety Sax instrumentalist Boots Randolph, the Dells and former Miss America Vonda Kay Van Dyke all preformed. 1971 The excitement was focused around the military in 1971. The Army’s Golden Knights parachute into the festival and the U.S. Navy had made appearances […]
Fun Facts Looking back 1960-1969….
1960 Merv Griffin is emcee. Ronald Reagan and Andy Griffith are back, along with British character actor Charles Laughton. A local kid named Charlie Daniels plays the Ocean Plaza Ballroom at Carolina Beach. 1961 Shelly Fabares, teen co-star of TV’s Donna Reed Show reigns as queen, and a year later records Johnny Angel which becomes […]
CLOWNING AROUND IN 1968
CLOWNING AROUND IN 1968 Emmett Kelly Jr completed his 4-year apprenticeship in 1964. He was then hired by Kodak to be apart of New York City Worlds’ Fair Kodak Pavilion from1964-1965. For the following four years, Kelly toured as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Kodak. In 1968 Hugh Morton the founder and organizer of the […]
Fun Facts Looking back… 1950-1959
1952 Janet Leigh drops out as Azalea queen (reportedly at the insistence of husband Tony Curtis) and is hastily replaced by actress Cathy Downs (My Darling Clementine), whose husband – actor Joe Kirkwood Jr. – happens to be playing in the Azalea Open. 1954 It was reported that Azalea Queen Ella Raines wore a crown […]
2020 North Carolina Azalea Festival Concert Lineup
The Azalea Festival is proud to be presenting four amazing bands to the Main Stage for the 73rd North Carolina Azalea Festival. April 2 @ 7:00 pm Aaron Lewis Aaron has more than two-decade career, topping the charts as the frontman of Hard Rock Heroes and now his second act as a hit artist on […]
Show Us Your Blossoms!!
The North Carolina Azalea Festival Announces Second Annual Downtown Window Decorating Competition Each year the North Carolina Azalea Festival bring hundreds of thousands of guests to our downtown business neighborhoods. We want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure these guests cross through YOUR DOORS. The Window Decorating Competition celebrates what makes […]
