Azalea Festival 2024: Here’s What You Need To Know.

Published on April 02, 2024

The 77th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival is happening this week and organizers are expecting about 65,000 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.

Street Fair

The Street Fair will take place Friday, April 5, through Sunday, April 7. (Specific times are noted below).

Street Fair event times:

• Friday, 4/5 – 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
• Saturday, 4/6 – 10:00 am to 10:00 pm (some food vendors until 2 am)
• Sunday, 4/7 – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm 

A map of the street fair, which includes specific vendor and activity staging areas, can be found here.

The follow streets will be closed beginning 7 am Friday, April 5, and lasting until 6 pm Sunday, April 7:

• 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

Azalea Festival Parade

The Azalea Festival Parade will take place from 9:30 am to 11:30 am Saturday, April 6. The parade will begin at the intersection of Third and Market streets and move north 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 meters are free from Friday 4/5 6:30 pm – Monday 4/8 9:00 am (all weekend)
• All parking decks will be $10 flat rate Saturday and Sunday, presold at entry (exception at Riverplace, which will have daily rates)
• Convention Center and 929/Skyline parking decks will also be $10 for the Thurs/Friday concerts (+all weekend)
• 2nd St parking lot will be closed for festival use
• Hannah Block parking lot will be posted daily rates

Wave Transit Parade Shuttle

The Wave Transit shuttle runs from Independence Mall near Dillard’s to 4th St. between Princess Street and Market Street 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 one-way or $4 roundtrip for regular tickets. $1 one-way or $2 roundtrip for reduced tickets (available for adults 65 and old and children ages 5-17) Children under 5 and UNCW students ride free. Tickets must be purchased with cash at the shuttle pick-up site prior to boarding. 

Tips/Reminders 

• Stay hydrated
• No pets are allowed downtown during festivals
• Make a plan 
• Have a good time!