The 76th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival is happening this week and organizers are expecting about 100,000 people to descend on downtown Wilmington to take part in a full slate of events, including the street fair and parade (and fireworks!).
Here’s what you need to know before you head out.
Click here for a full list of events.
DGX Street Fair
The DGX Street Fair will take place Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16. (Specific times are noted below).
Street Fair event times:
- Friday, 4/14 – 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (some food vendors until 2am)
- Saturday, 4/15 – 10:00 am to 10:00 pm (some food vendors until 2am)
- Sunday, 4/16 – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
A map of the street fair, which includes vendor and activity staging areas, can be found here.
The follow streets will be closed beginning 7am Friday and lasting until 6pm Sunday:
- North Front Street between Red Cross & Orange streets
- Walnut Street @ intersection with N. Front Street
- Grace Street @ intersection with N. Front Street
- Chestnut Street @ intersection with N. Front Street
- Princess Street @ intersection with N. Front Street
- Market Street between N. Front & Water streets
- Second Street between Market and N. Front streets
- Dock Street between Second Street and most of Water Street
Dollar General Parade
The Dollar General Parade will take place from 9:30 am to 11:30 am Saturday, April 15. The parade will begin at the intersection of Third and Market streets and move along Third Street, ending at Bladen Street.
A map of the parade route can be found here.
Road closures for the parade are as follows:
- Front Street (Between Orange Street & Castle Street)
- North Front Street (Between North Third Street/ Davis and Walnut streets) **Late closure 9 am to noon.
- Second Street (Between Orange Street & Castle Street)
- Third Street (Between Davis Street, North Front Street, & Castle Street)
- Fourth Street (Between Red Cross Street & Castle Street)
- Harnett Street (Between Fourth Street and North Front Street)
- Bladen Street (Between Fourth Street and Second Street)
- Brunswick Street (Between Fourth Street and Second Street)
- Hanover Street (Between Fourth Street and Second Street)
- Campbell Street (Between Fourth Street and Second Street)
- Red Cross Street (Between Fourth Street and Second Street)
- Walnut Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Grace Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Chestnut Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Princess Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street) **Late closure 9 am to noon.
- Market Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Dock Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Orange Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Second Street)
- Ann Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Water Street)
- Nun Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Water Street)
- Church Street ((Between Fifth Avenue and Surry Street)
- Surry Street (Between Church Street and Castle Street)
Parking for the weekend events
- On-street parking is free from 6:30 pm Friday – Sunday
- $10 flat event rate for Market and 2nd St decks each day – Saturday and Sunday, posted daily rates on Friday
- $12 flat rate at Hannah Block Lot – Saturday and Sunday, posted daily rates on Friday
- $15 event rate at Convention Ctr. for concerts – Thursday and Friday, $10 flat rate on Saturday and Sunday
- River Place Deck, posted daily rates
- 2nd St / Ligon Flynn lot will be closed for the festival’s use
Wave Transit Parade Shuttle
The Wave Transit shuttle will run from Independence Mall (in the parking lot located behind Firehouse Subs and Wells Fargo) to 4th St. between Chestnut St. and Princess St. in downtown Wilmington.
Shuttle service will begin on Saturday at 7:00 am. Shuttles will run approximately every fifteen minutes. Following the Parade, express shuttle service will return passengers to Independence Mall until 2:00 pm. The last shuttle will leave the downtown location at 1:45 pm and return to Independence Mall at 2:00 pm.
Fares are $2.00 per way ($4.00 round trip) and change will be available. Tickets must be purchased with cash and children under the age of five rides free with a fare-paying adult. If you need additional Azalea Shuttle information, give Wave Transit a call at (910) 343-0106 or send an email to wavetransit@wavetransit.com.
Tips/Reminders
- Stay hydrated
- No pets are allowed downtown during festivals
- Do not bring any weapons downtown
- Make a plan
- Have a good time!