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.

USS NORTH CAROLINA HOSTS "GHOST STORIES" CAST

The cast of the TV show "GHOST STORIES" is giving tours on the Battleship USS North Carolina docked at Wilmington, NC this weekend. There has been talk for years that this ship is haunted and has had ghostly visitors. The caretaker is always hearing doors shut by themselves and people walking around the ship when he is alone there. They must think there is something or someone on that ship or they wouldn't be here. The former warship is a very popular attraction in Wilmington. My husband had visitors from Japan to his company and that is all they wanted to see. We are lucky to have the old warrior in our backyard.

Latino Fest on Saturday - Wilmington, NC

Experience the annual Latino Festival this weekend in Wilmington, NC. Held in Hugh McRae Park on South College Road, you can enjoy Spanish food and drink. This is where you can savor the real heritage foods not normally found in restaurants. This festival will take place in the park setting where the colors are just changing and you can dance your heart out to Hispanic beat from 12pm to 8 pm.

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.

CONSIDER CLARENDON PARK - 1st time homebuyers

Consider Clarendon Park if you are in the market for a home in Wilmington, NC . Ranging from 1300 to 1600 sq. ft. you can find the perfect place to call home at a great price. Homes start at
$ 159,000. and have a bunch of floorplans with features including - hardwoods, white cabinets, fences, front porches, and great storage. Amenities to include community dock on a Smith Creek, walking trails, sidewalks, street lighting. Community is close to downtown Wilmington and is a find for those looking for new homes within blocks of downtown Wilmington. The historic district is also only blocks away for exploring and checking out century old architecture. Restuarants, riverwalk, shopping, cafes, museum and concert hall all withing close proximity. Beaches are only 15 - 20 minutes away. Enjoy the good life at a good price in Clarendon Park.
Let me show you the neighborhood.