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North Carolina Azalea Festival Wins Top Pinnacle Awards at the International Festival and Events Association

NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL RACKS UP INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 FOURTH DAY ADVERTISING
sandy@fourthdayadv.com

WILMINGTON, North Carolina—The 2013 North Carolina Azalea Festival received six
prestigious awards from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) along with the likes of the Kentucky Derby and the Indy 500. The Azalea Festival brought home a gold medal for its innovative Facebook page as well as a gold for its locally designed Freaker drink insulator, or “koozie.”

Wilmington’s spring festival of southern style also brought home a silver medal for its
captivating video by locally-based Blueberry Creative and bronze awards for two of the festival’s printed materials, produced as part of the Festival-wide rebranding effort carried out with Tayloe Gray Kristof, a local marketing firm.  The commemorative poster featuring a paper collage by Wilmington artist Elizabeth Singletary also scored a bronze medal.

“We are thrilled to win such prestigious awards. It goes to show that all the hard work our
volunteers are doing to expand and modernize the festival is paying off,” says the 2014 North
Carolina Azalea Festival President Stephen E. Coble. “We have grown from a small festival to a premier can’t-miss event.  We are excited about what’s to come for the Azalea Festival in the years ahead.”

The awards were presented at IFEA’s 58th Annual Convention & Expo in Pittsburgh, PA, on
September 16.

The Azalea Festival received:
Best Social Media Site | Gold Medal | NC Azalea Festival Facebook Page
Best New Merchandise | Gold Medal | NC Azalea Festival “Freaker”
Best Miscellaneous Multimedia | Silver Medal | NC Azalea Festival Video, Part 2
Best Commemorative Poster | Bronze Medal | 2013 NC Azalea Festival Poster
Best Miscellaneous Printed Materials (Single Page) | Bronze Medal | “Facebookmark”
Best Event Program | Bronze Medal-Tie | NC Azalea Festival Souvenir Book

The 66th North Carolina Azalea Festival competed alongside some of the country’s most well known events such as the Kentucky Derby Festival, Memphis in May International Festival,
Indianapolis 500 Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Seattle Seafair, and Pasadena
Tournament of Roses. As well as international events such as the Seoul Lantern Festival (South Korea), World Gourmet Summit (Singapore), Grolsch Artboom Festival (Poland) and Stichting Rotterdam Festivals (Netherlands).

Since its inception in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people and generates more than $51 million for the local economy. The North Carolina Azalea Festival at Wilmington, NC is a non-profit 501(c) civic organization.

The major sponsors of the North Carolina Azalea Festival include Coastal Beverage, Hilton
Wilmington Riverside, Neuwirth Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Trucks, Duke Energy and
Wells Fargo.

For a complete list of winners and more information on the IFEA, go to www.ifea.com. For more information on the upcoming 67th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival, visit www.ncazaleafestival.org or contact Fourth Day Advertising at sandy@fourthdayadv.com.

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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

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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.