Azalea Festival Parade

For the grand public kickoff of The North Carolina Azalea Festival, watch Queen Azalea, Invited Guests, giant balloons, and all the wonderful floats and marching groups in one of the largest street parades in the Southeast. Be sure to grab a spot! This is a FREE event!

Guests who are attending the Parade can expect to be met with over 50 one-of-a-kind groups and floats marching down 3rd Street! The Parade is roughly 2 hours long, and is full of entertainment, musical groups, balloons, charities and non-profit organizations, local Wilmington public figures, and Azalea Festival Invited Guests and crowned Royalty. 

Pre-Parade entertainment will begin at 8:45am in front of Thalian Hall and the Parade Reviewing Stand. Guests can expect to see performances and dancing by local cultural groups representing our International Blooms country, as well as the presentation of the American flag during the National Anthem. Guests will not be able to cross 3rd Street on foot during the Parade for any reason. Parents must monitor their children for the duration of the Parade to ensure that they remain on the sidewalk.