The North Carolina Azalea Festival’s mission is to be nationally recognized as a showcase for our community’s rich array
of artwork, gardens, history, and culture through recreational, educational and family-oriented events.
The Festival encourages volunteerism and civic participation as it contributes to the region’s economy
and promotes the unique qualities of Wilmington’s river-to-the-sea community.

While the Azalea Festival will continue to showcase the many diverse cultures of our area at every
Azalea Festival, through the new International Blooms program, the Festival will now also specifically
highlight one country each year. This chosen country will be highlighted at various Festival events
through special musical and dance performances, invited guests and groups representing the country,
food and art displays, and more. In efforts to ensure each country is represented authentically, the
Azalea Festival will work with ambassadors and citizens who have that country’s heritage.

The North Carolina Azalea Festival would like to officially announce the Philippines as its honored country for
the 2024 International Blooms program.

About the Philippines

Learn about fiestas in the Philippines! A fiesta is a party everyone is invited to join! Each town, province, or city has their own fiesta to celebrate once a year. These fiestas are usually held to celebrate each area’s designated patron saint or their harvest. Fiestas are always colorful and unique to their own but there is a common denominator for them all – the delicious food! Popular dishes served during fiestas include lechon, adobo, pancit, and fruit salad.

Money from the Philippines

The Philippine peso, also referred to by its Filipino name piso, is the official currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 sentimo, also called centavos. Above is a 20 piso banknote which features Manual Quezon, their 2 nd President and reformer along with the palace (similar to our White House) in Manila.

The reverse of the banknote features the sun (same as their flag), the island layout, an Asian Palm Civet, and the famous Banaue Rice Terraces a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Logo of National Bank of the Philippines (headquarters in Manila and Security Plant Complex in Quezon City) and the National Coat of Arms.

20 Piso Coin

The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, in the western Pacific Ocean. While about 2,000 of its 7,641 islands are inhabited, 83% of its 115MM Filipinos live on the 11 largest islands. The Philippines is the 34th largest economy in the world. With a total land area of 300,000 square kilometers, the country is categorized in three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

UNESCO World Heritage Site – Banaue Rice Terraces

Filipino Representation in the 2024 Azalea Festival

We are thrilled to partner with the Filipino American Association of the Lower Cape Fear, whom have been incredible partners with us!

The Filipino American Association of the Lower Cape Fear will be joining us March 26th in our visit to Raleigh to meet with local, state, and federal legislators, including a meeting with Representative Maria Cervania, the first Filipino elected to office in North Carolina.

Representative Cervania will also be joining us at the Garden Party and for the Parade and Street Fair Performing Arts stage opening (honoring the Philippines).

We have partnered with Cape Fear Community College, whose carpentry and theatre design programs are building a Parade float honoring the Philippines, which will have Filipino representation on it.

We are bringing Filipino performing group, Kultura Filipina Dance Troupe of Carolina, from the Charlotte area to the Festival for the Parade and Performing Arts Stage.

The Filipino American Association of the Lower Cape Fear gave presentations on their culture and representation here in Wilmington to the Festival Operational Committees and to our Azalea Festival Youth Committee.

We had a Filipino fashion designer – AMH Fashion and Design Agnes Higley-Herman in our 2nd Annual Spring Fashion Show – our first time incorporating International Blooms into this event!

Don’t forget to check out the Performing Arts Stage on Saturday and Sunday to catch a wide array of multicultural performances. You can also catch special performances during the “Parade of Nations” a mini-Parade within the larger Festival Parade!