The North Carolina Azalea Festival would like to inform the citizens of Wilmington of road closures and new changes to the Parade route for the 2015 North Carolina Azalea Festival Presented by Belk.
Please refer to the attached list and map for detailed information on which streets will be closed during the 68th North Carolina Azalea Festival April 8-12, 2015. These closures are required for safety and transportation during the Festival’s Street Fair, Parade, and Concerts.
The North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade Presented by Neuwirth Motors will have some significant changes in the route this year. The new Parade route will travel straight down 3rd Street, with no turnoffs. The Parade will now start on the opposite side of town from last year, at 3rd and Market streets, and continue straight down 3rd Street to the finale on Bladen Street.
NEW ROUTE: Start at Market and 3rd streets, travel north up 3rd street, end at Bladen and 3rd streets. The parade will go straight down 3rd Street, with no turns.
Staging Area for Parade Units and Participants: The staging area will be south of Market Street surrounding South 3rd Street. Main areas being utilized for staging will be Dock and Orange streets between 4th and 2nd streets. As in years’ past, these areas will be closed to public traffic flow.
Parade Date and Time: Saturday April 11, 2015 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Parade Viewing Area: The main viewing area will be in the same location centering around City Hall and the Reviewing Stand on 3rd Street. Other viewing areas extend down 3rd Street to the north, as well as a large bleacher section on 3rd and Market streets. Public Parade viewing is always free, however tickets to bleacher sections are available for sale at the Azalea Festival Ticket Office.
Parking: Access to the Parking decks on 2nd Street will be the same. From 5th Street you will be able to cross 4th and 3rd streets via Chestnut Street to access the 2nd Street parking decks up until 8:30 am on Parade day. ADA Parking will be at the corner of 3rd and Chestnut. Please be advised; once parking in these decks or lots you will not be able to move your car from the deck until after the Parade, around 2 pm once the streets are cleared.
As well as route changes, the Parade committee is excited to announce several new additions to the 2015 North Carolina Azalea Parade Presented by Neuwirth Motors. These changes include inflatable balloons, shortening the length of the parade, more marching bands, and incorporating the four local high school bands as separate marching units.
As the North Carolina Azalea Festival is the largest community event in our city, we want to ensure everyone is aware of these changes and able to enjoy these improvements to the Parade and to our Festival!
To see the full list of Road Closures, CLICK HERE.
To view a map of the road closures during the Azalea Festival, CLICK HERE.
