Invited Guest Information & Schedule 79th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival April 8-12, 2026
You are cordially invited to be an Official Invited Guest of the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina! Invited Guests may bring one guest with them. The Azalea Festival will pay for travel to Wilmington for both people, and provide one hotel room at the Hotel
Ballast, the official host hotel of the Festival. All event tickets and meals will be provided for our guests.
The Invited Guest and their guest will escorted by personal escorts whose only role is to make sure their Invited Guest is taken care of. These escorts will drive the Invited Guest and their guest in the Official Party Motorcade, which is escorted by law enforcement with flashing lights.
The Official Party Motorcade consists of 100 people and includes:
Invited Guests and their Personal Escorts
Queen Azalea
Festival Photographer
A Queen’s Court (Eight Preliminary Miss NC Titleholders)
VMI Escorts for the Queens Court
Festival Princess and her Court
Law Enforcement
Festival Board of Directors
Support Staff
Invited Guests will be given media interview opportunities throughout the week and will be promoted as an Official Invited Guest on the Festival website and in publicity. Other than a brief 2-minute question response at the podium at the Celebrity Reception, their only role is to relax, enjoy the festivities, and mingle with Festival guests and sponsors.
GREETINGS!
We are so excited you are considering joining us for the BEST week in Wilmington of the
year! Below is a brief outline of our schedule for the week, with tips on attire.
We hope you will join us!
April 8, 2026–Wednesday
Queen’s Coronation – Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Two hours; approximately 300 in attendance. The Coronation is where Queen
Azalea and Invited Guests along with City and County officials are introduced
(stand and wave). Queen Azalea is officially crowned. A Meet and Greet will take
place after the Coronation. This event is televised on our local WWAY (ABC/CBS)
station.
ATTIRE:
Ladies: Dressy Suit/Dress/Pantsuit
Gentlemen: Coat and Tie
Past Presidents’ Party – Live Oak Estates
Two hours; 150 in attendance. A “thank you event” for Past Presidents
(volunteers) of the Festival. Queen Azalea and Invited Guests will be introduced
(stand and wave) and mingle with guests.
ATTIRE:
Ladies: Cocktail
Gentlemen: Coat and Tie
April 9, 2026 – Thursday
Helpful Hint: You should plan to dress in the same outfit for the School
Visit, Celebrity Reception, Hospital Visit, and Brigade Boys & Girls Club
Visit as we will not be going back to the hotel in between these events.
School Visit – Cape Fear Academy
One hour; approximately 300 in attendance. Queen Azalea and Invited Guests
will watch performances by the children and be introduced (stand and wave) and
mingle with them.
Ladies: Dressy Suit/Dress/Pantsuit
Gentlemen: Coat and Tie
Celebrity Reception – Cape Fear Country Club
Two hours; 600 in attendance. A chance for Festival cash sponsors to mingle
with Queen Azalea and Invited Guests. Queen Azalea and Invited Guests will
answer a pre-determined question about their life in a short, 2-minute intro
speech and mingle with guests.
Hospital Visit – Novant Health
One hour; 50 in attendance. The Official Party will be greeted by hospital
officials, then Queen Azalea and the Festival President will visit children in the
Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Community Visit – Brigade Boys & Girls Club
One hour; approximately 300 in attendance. The Official Party will be greeted by
Brigade Club students and officials and have time to interact and play games with
the children before a brief presentation.
*OPTIONAL: Thursday Night Concert, TBD
Three hours; 7,000 in attendance. This is not an official visit; Invited Guests will
be given tickets to the show and access to the VIP areas IF REQUESTED should
you choose to attend the show on your own (with your escorts) and at your
leisure. No transportation will be provided.
ATTIRE:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Concert Casual/Outdoor Venue
Helpful Hint: This venue is on the river; temperatures can get quite
cool at night and windy so please dress accordingly.
April 10, 2026 – Friday
Helpful Hint: You should plan to dress in the same outfit for the Ribbon
Cutting and Airlie Luncheon Garden Party as we will not be going back to
the hotel in between these events.
Cape Fear Garden Tour Ribbon Cutting – Cameron Art Museum
One hour; televised; 300 in attendance. Official Ribbon Cutting of the Azalea
Garden Tour.
ATTIRE:
Ladies: Sunday Dress or Suit, Hats Encouraged
Gentlemen: Spring/Seersucker Suit or Coat and Tie
Airlie Luncheon Garden Party – Airlie Gardens
Four hour (leave at will); 3,000 in attendance. Queen Azalea and Invited Guests
will mingle with guests.
ATTIRE:
Ladies: Sunday Dress or Suit (No slacks please) Hat Preferred
Gentlemen: Spring/Seersucker Suit or Coat and Tie
Helpful Hint: This is a fashion-forward event…dress to impress!
Also, this venue is a large, historical garden; heels (while
fashionable!) are not always the easiest option. Flats/wedges will
make you much happier.
*OPTIONAL: Friday Night Concert, TBD
Three hours; 7,000 in attendance. This is not an official visit; Invited Guests will
be given tickets to the show and access to the VIP areas IF REQUESTED should
you choose to attend the show on your own and at your leisure. No transportation
will be provided.
ATTIRE:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Concert Casual/Outdoor Venue
Helpful Hint: This venue is on the river; temperatures can get quite
cool at night and windy so please dress accordingly.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Queen Azalea, Miss North Carolina,
the Queens and Princess Courts will be attending the
Queen’s Dinner & Dance Party Friday night instead.
April 11, 2026 – Saturday
Helpful Hint: Invited Guests (excluding Queen’s Court Performance
participants below and Queen Azalea) should plan to dress in the same
outfit or be ready for a super quick change between the Parade and
Royalty Performances as there will not be much time to change in between
events.
Parade – Historic Downtown Wilmington
Two hours; televised; 100,000+ in attendance. Invited Guests will ride through
the Parade Route and afterwards join the Parade Reviewing Stand to watch the
remainder of the Parade.
ATTIRE:
Ladies: Dressy Suit/Dress/Pantsuit
Gentlemen: Coat and Tie
Helpful Hint: Temperatures can be cool in the mornings and get
warm towards the end of the Parade; we suggest layers.
Royalty Performances – Performance Stage at the Street Fair
One hour; 100 in attendance. Performances by the Queen’s Court and Miss North
Carolina, MC’d by the Festival Princess and her Court.
Boxing Competition – Wilmington Convention Center
One hour; 100 in attendance. Queen Azalea and Invited Guests will be
introduced (stand and wave). Queen Azalea will present boxing belts to winners.
Patrons’ Party Gala – Cape Fear Country Club
Four hours; 700 in attendance. A “thank you” to all cash sponsors of the Festival.
Queen Azalea and Invited Guests will mingle with guests.
ATTIRE:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Black-tie Formalwear