North Carolina Azalea Festival

The 2026 North Carolina Azalea Festival Street Fair will take place April 10th - April 12th in Historic Downtown Wilmington!

The North Carolina Azalea Festival is Wilmington's premier annual event and the largest festival of its kind in the state. Established in 1948, it serves as a massive "rite of passage into spring," drawing over 200,000 visitors to the area each year.

The 2026 festival is scheduled to take place from April 8–12, 2026.

Key Highlights:

• The Garden Tour: Hosted by the Cape Fear Garden Club, this is one of the longest-running garden tours in the South. Visitors can tour private gardens and see over 75,000 azaleas in bloom at spots like Airlie Gardens.
• The Street Fair: A three-day free event (April 10–12) in historic downtown Wilmington featuring hundreds of craft and food vendors, live music stages, and an "Azalea Alley" beer garden.
• The Festival Parade: Taking place on Saturday morning (April 11), the parade features elaborate floats, marching bands, and the newly crowned Queen Azalea and her court of "Azalea Belles."
• Big-Name Entertainment: The festival hosts a concert series at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion. For 2026, Lil Jon has already been announced as the headliner for Thursday, April 9.
• Historic Home Tour: Beyond the gardens, visitors can explore the interiors of historic homes and churches that showcase centuries of local architecture.
• The Garden Party: Officially the "Queen’s Luncheon," this is a high-fashion, high-society event at Airlie Gardens where attendees often wear elaborate hats and spring attire.

Whether you are interested in horticulture, live concerts, or family-friendly street performances, the festival transforms the entire city into a vibrant celebration of Southern hospitality and coastal heritage.