Wilmington NC - Azalea Fest Schedule

Azalea Fest starts this week. It is the biggest festival in Wilmington and the one most attended.

I have included the schedule of events so you don't miss out on anything:

Official site of the N.C. Azalea Festival
Azalea Festival dates are April 7-11 (Wed.-Sun.). For complete schedule, or tickets, visit http://www.ncazaleafestival.org

Wednesday, April 7
Queen's Coronation: 5-6 p.m. April 7, Riverfront Park. Free.

Thursday, April 8
Cole Bros. Circus: 4:30, 7:30 p.m. April 8-10; 1:30 p.m. April 10-11; 4:30 p.m. April 11 on the grounds of Wilmington International Airport. Activities include elephants, fearless flyers, camels, clowns, motorcycles, animals, acrobats and The Human Cannonball. Tickets: $17, $12 children and seniors, $25 VIP; available through April 7 at the Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 794-4650. Circus information: (800) 796-5672.

Goo Goo Dolls w/ Collective Soul: 8 p.m. April 8, Trask Coliseum, UNCW, 601 S. College Road. Tickets: $45, available at Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday 794-4650; or online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.

Friday, April 9
Cole Bros. Circus: 4:30, 7:30 p.m. See April 8.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 9-11. Tickets good for all days and includes admission to Airlie Gardens on April 10. Tickets: $20, free for ages 12 and under with a paying adult, available from Cape Fear Garden Club (www.capefeargardenclub.org), Belk, Sterling House, The Fisherman's Wife, and local garden centers. Details: 228-2175; www.azaleagardentour.org.

Juried Art Show: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 9 and 10, noon-4 p.m. April 11, St. James Episcopal Church, Perry Hall, 25 S. Third St. Free admission. Details: mmsmith@ec.rr.com.

seniors, $25 VIP; available through April 7 at the Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 794-4650. Circus information: (800) 796-5672.
Goo Goo Dolls w/ Collective Soul: 8 p.m. April 8, Trask Coliseum, UNCW, 601 S. College Road. Tickets: $45, available at Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday 794-4650; or online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.
Friday, April 9
Cole Bros. Circus: 4:30, 7:30 p.m. See April 8.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 9-11. Tickets good for all days and includes admission to Airlie Gardens on April 10. Tickets: $20, free for ages 12 and under with a paying adult, available from Cape Fear Garden Club (www.capefeargardenclub.org), Belk, Sterling House, The Fisherman's Wife, and local garden centers. Details: 228-2175; www.azaleagardentour.org.
Juried Art Show: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 9 and 10, noon-4 p.m. April 11, St. James Episcopal Church, Perry Hall, 25 S. Third St. Free admission. Details: mmsmith@ec.rr.com.
Street Fair: Hours: 6-11 p.m. April 9, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. April 10 with fireworks at 9 p.m., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 11. Main Stage is at Market and Second streets. No pets allowed.
Montgomery Gentry: 8 p.m. April 9, Trask Coliseum, UNCW, 601 S. College Road. Tickets: $45, available at Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday 794-4650; or online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.
Saturday, April 10
Amateur Boxing Tournament: 2:30-6 p.m. April 10, 2-6 p.m. April 11, at Williston Middle School, 401 S. 10th St. Five age groups include boys and girls, ages 8-16, and men and women, ages 17-34. Free admission.
Coin Show: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 10 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 11 at American Legion Post 10, 702 Pine Grove Drive. Children of all ages can pan for gold, and dealers will be available to buy, sell or trade. Free admission. Details: 297-5860.
Cole Bros. Circus: 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 p.m. See April 8.
Fireworks: 9-9:30 p.m. April 10 along the riverfront in downtown Wilmington. Free.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See April 9.
Home Tour: 1-6 p.m. April 10, 1-5 p.m. April 11. Tickets: $25, available at Harris Teeter and other area outlets; the Azalea Festival Office; the Historic Wilmington Foundation, 516 N Fourth St.; and at each home site the days of the tour. $22 for groups of 10 or more. Details: Historic Wilmington Foundation, 762-2511; Azalea Festival Ticket Office, 794-4650; or www.historicwilmington.org.
Horse Show: Noon April 10 and 11, Shingleton Farms in Hampstead, 12919 U.S. 17 South. Rain dates are April 17 and 18 respectively. Free admission, $5 for parking. Details: (910) 619-7104; ShingletonFarms.com.
Juried Art Show: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. See April 9.

Parade: 9 a.m. April 10. See map, page 10. Free. Details: 794-4650.

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Azalea Festival dates are April 7-11 (Wed.-Sun.). For complete schedule, or tickets, visit http://www.ncazaleafestival.org
Wednesday, April 7
Queen's Coronation: 5-6 p.m. April 7, Riverfront Park. Free.
Thursday, April 8
Cole Bros. Circus: 4:30, 7:30 p.m. April 8-10; 1:30 p.m. April 10-11; 4:30 p.m. April 11 on the grounds of Wilmington International Airport. Activities include elephants, fearless flyers, camels, clowns, motorcycles, animals, acrobats and The Human Cannonball. Tickets: $17, $12 children and seniors, $25 VIP; available through April 7 at the Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 794-4650. Circus information: (800) 796-5672.
Goo Goo Dolls w/ Collective Soul: 8 p.m. April 8, Trask Coliseum, UNCW, 601 S. College Road. Tickets: $45, available at Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday 794-4650; or online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.
Friday, April 9
Cole Bros. Circus: 4:30, 7:30 p.m. See April 8.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 9-11. Tickets good for all days and includes admission to Airlie Gardens on April 10. Tickets: $20, free for ages 12 and under with a paying adult, available from Cape Fear Garden Club (www.capefeargardenclub.org), Belk, Sterling House, The Fisherman's Wife, and local garden centers. Details: 228-2175; www.azaleagardentour.org.
Juried Art Show: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 9 and 10, noon-4 p.m. April 11, St. James Episcopal Church, Perry Hall, 25 S. Third St. Free admission. Details: mmsmith@ec.rr.com.
Street Fair: Hours: 6-11 p.m. April 9, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. April 10 with fireworks at 9 p.m., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 11. Main Stage is at Market and Second streets. No pets allowed.
Montgomery Gentry: 8 p.m. April 9, Trask Coliseum, UNCW, 601 S. College Road. Tickets: $45, available at Azalea Festival Box Office, 5725 Oleander Drive, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday 794-4650; or online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.
Saturday, April 10
Amateur Boxing Tournament: 2:30-6 p.m. April 10, 2-6 p.m. April 11, at Williston Middle School, 401 S. 10th St. Five age groups include boys and girls, ages 8-16, and men and women, ages 17-34. Free admission.

Coin Show: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 10 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 11 at American Legion Post 10, 702 Pine Grove Drive. Children of all ages can pan for gold, and dealers will be available to buy, sell or trade. Free admission. Details: 297-5860.

Cole Bros. Circus: 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 p.m. See April 8.
Fireworks: 9-9:30 p.m. April 10 along the riverfront in downtown Wilmington. Free.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See April 9.
Home Tour: 1-6 p.m. April 10, 1-5 p.m. April 11. Tickets: $25, available at Harris Teeter and other area outlets; the Azalea Festival Office; the Historic Wilmington Foundation, 516 N Fourth St.; and at each home site the days of the tour. $22 for groups of 10 or more. Details: Historic Wilmington Foundation, 762-2511; Azalea Festival Ticket Office, 794-4650; or www.historicwilmington.org.

Horse Show: Noon April 10 and 11, Shingleton Farms in Hampstead, 12919 U.S. 17 South. Rain dates are April 17 and 18 respectively. Free admission, $5 for parking. Details: (910) 619-7104; ShingletonFarms.com.
Juried Art Show: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. See April 9.

Parade: 9 a.m. April 10. See map, page 10. Free. Details: 794-4650.
Shag Contest: 1-6 p.m. April 10 at Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center with DJ David Sessoms. $3 per person, cash only at the door. Details: 794-4650.
Sunday, April 11
Amateur Boxing Tournament: See April 10.
Azalea Cake Challenge: Noon-4 p.m. April 11, Cape Fear Community College, Schwartz Center, 610 N. Front St. Bakers will construct “centerpiece cakes.” Categories include professional and amateur. Event ticket-holders can judge in various people's choice categories. Admission: $5; advance tickets: 4 for $15. Details: 794-4650; AzaleaCakeChallenge@gmail.com.
Coin Show: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. See April 10.
Cole Bros. Circus: 1:30, 4:30 p.m., See April 8.
Festival of Cultures: Begins at 1 p.m. April 11 and 12 at Bailey Park on Front Street. Activities include performance groups representing music, dance and ethnic pageantry of each culture.
Garden Tour: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. See April 9.
Home Tour: 1-5 p.m. See April 10.
Horse Show: Noon. See April 10.
Juried Art Show: Noon-4 p.m. See April 9.
Variety Show: Noon-6:30 p.m. April 11 at the Main Stage, Market and Second streets.

Update on AIR FORCE ONE MUSEUM in Wilmington NC

The Air Force One Museum got one step closer to reality for Wilmington this past week with approval by the Wilmington City Council. It was a unanimous vote to approve the $ 30 million project to be possibly built in Wilmington on the corner of Kerr Ave and Randall Parkway. It is a private project that will be funded by fundraising efforts of a group of volunteers headed by Howie Franklin, a local resident. He also is on the board of the search committee. Mr. Franklin previously served 5 presidents as their coordinator for all flights and details for each activity planned for Air Force One. Due to his experience Mr. Franklin was selected for this committee. Other locations, besides Wilmington are also being considered. It has not been discussed here if the other locations have a better shot at this museum than Wilmington. Air Force One regularly practices landings and take-offs at Wilmington Airport. It is anticipated that the museum will be a huge tourist attraction and destination location . The building it is anticipated is to be in the shape of a mini White House. This has some area architects thinking that it is somewhat tacky to build this museum in the shape of the White House when this is a perfect chance for innovation. I hope the committe will look at other building styles instead of a take-off on the white house and give the local architectural talent a chance to show their stuff. Design something that this authentically American museum can show off. A very innovative exciting design will draw people also to see the building. Build something that will make people want to come to the museum to see not only what is in it but what is on the outside too.

Jacksonville NC Set to Explode in Population

Did you know that Jacksonville NC is set to explode in population? Camp Lejeune is expected to grow by 10000 people within the next 4 years. If you include family members the town could grow by as much as 40000 people in the next 4-6 years. Many of this increase in population is due to the US Marines moving troops from closed bases all over the country. This does not even take into account the numbers of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan according to media reports. Pender county is already experiencing this growth. It is finding increased traffic and the schools are quickly filling up. The middle schools are really affected according to county officials. There are bills being proposed in the state legislature to support and bolster the infrastructure in the area to accommodate this growth but it not a sure thing these bills will pass due to the current economic climate.
Word has it that real estate is being snapped in these areas also. At least one area is booming in this otherwise tough economy.

WILMINGTON NC TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TOWARD NORTHERN RIVERFRONT PROJECT

The city of Wilmington, NC has agreed to contribute $ 7 million towards a huge north end Riverfront project. The city council passed this resolution November 5, Wednesday night to assist in extending the Riverwalk to this project and with installation of some of the infrastuture and help with the riverfront bulkhead of this project. This is a $750 million project of over 200 buildings scheduled to be constructed within the next 20 years. It will consist of a marina, commercial, retail and condos all just north of the new Wilmington convention center. Funding is also scheduled to assist in extending our famous RIVERWALK to the north of the city just along this new project. Visitors and city dwellers alike enjoy this attractive city feature.
This is another exciting new project to be undertaken on the riverfront in Wilmington. Recently in October another project was approved by the Wilmington City Council of another riverfront condo complex on the southern end of the city of over 100 condos included in this mixed use project. These 2 projects will define the skyline and riverfront elevations of our fine city.