North Carolina Azalea Festival Is A Cape Fear Coast Tradition
A springtime tradition since 1948, the 62nd Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival (April 1-5, 2009) celebrates the rich history, arts, and culture of Wilmington & NC’s Cape Fear Coast. Framed by dazzling pink, lavender and white azaleas that dominate the region’s landscape, the time-honored festival ushers in spring with Southern hospitality and fanfare. Festival highlights include Azalea belles dressed in colorful hoop skirts, a 2-hour parade, juried arts and craft shows, contests, visiting ships, a traveling circus, live music, fireworks, and a street fair with exhibits, vendors, live entertainment, kids’ fun, and more.
Signature events include the Azalea Garden Tour (April 3-5), which is among the longest-running and most popular garden tours in the South. The 56th annual Azalea Garden Tour lives up to its theme of “Something Old, Something New” with 12 public and private gardens that offer a mix of established and new landscapes. For garden tour details and tickets: www.azaleagardentour.org The 2009 Azalea Home Tour (April 4-5) showcases 10 private homes of historical and architectural interest. For home tour tickets: www.historicwilmington.org/Home_Tour09.asp A 2-hour parade on Saturday morning (9:00am) features elaborate floats, marching bands, clowns, show animals, and celebrities, including Queen Azalea (TBA), who will be accompanied by winners of statewide beauty pageants. Grand Marshal, General Henry H. Shelton (US Army), will lead the parade along with other celebrity guests.
Music plays a major role in every North Carolina Azalea Festival. This year’s headline performers include two “American Idol” artists: David Cook (reigning “American Idol,” season 7) and Kellie Pickler (Season 5 finalist). North Carolina native Kellie Pickler will perform on Wednesday, April 1st at 8:00 p.m. at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum (tickets $40, plus processing fee for mail tickets). On Thursday evening, April 2nd, David Cook will rock at Trask Coliseum at 8:00 p.m. (tickets $45, plus fee for mail tickets).
Country music darling Kellie Pickler brings her charm, exuberance, and talent to the 2009 N.C. Azalea Festival during the festival’s kick-off concert on April 1st. Since becoming a finalist on the 5th season of “American Idol” (2005), Kellie has barely had time to catch her breath. A native of Albemarle, North Carolina, Kellie toured with “American Idol” and landed a Nashville recording contract. Her debut album “Small Town Girl” was released in 2006 and yielded three top 15 singles. Her self-titled second album was released last year. Hit singles include: “I Wonder”, “My Angel,” “Red High Heels,” and “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.” Between albums Kellie has toured with country music artists Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. This spring she will join fellow country newcomer and dear friend Taylor Swift on the “Fearless” tour.
Thursday night’s headliner showcases David Cook, the rocker who took America by storm during season 7 of “American Idol.” After winning the coveted title of “American Idol,” Cook toured with the company and entered the Billboard charts at #3 with his first album entitled “David Cook.” The album also debuted as the #1 album on the digital album chart and is the best debut from an “American Idol” winner since 2006. Rolling Stone magazine deemed Cook “the most imaginative American Idol talent to date.” Cook’s first single “The Time of My Life” recently went platinum with over one million tracks sold. Cook kicked off 2009 by performing for troops during a USO tour. On February 13, he kicked off “The Declaration Tour – 2009″ and the N.C. Azalea Festival is proud to bring David Cook to Wilmington on April 2nd.
Attending festivals and events, such as the N.C. Azalea Festival, is a fun and affordable way to experience a region’s history and culture. For N.C. Azalea Festival schedule and tickets, visit www.ncazaleafestival.org or call 910-794-4650, or stop by the Festival ticket office (5725 Oleander Dr., Unit B7, Wilmington). Limited edition 2009 N.C. Azalea Festival posters by world-renowned artist George Pocheptsov are also available. For a free Visitors Guide to Wilmington & North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast, call 1-866-266-9690 or visit www.gocapefearcoast.com for more information on accommodations, attractions, and more.
February 17, 2009
Posted in: United States East