Features

Events of Azalea: A weekend full of to-dos

04/09/08 @ 01:42:09 pm by archivesadmin

By: Emily Rea

The arrival of spring—and thus the Azalea Festival—could not have come any sooner for many locals. With piles of chilly, bitter months behind us, and the sun now beckoning for us to once again bask in its rays, there is no better way to welcome this new season than with a celebratory festival brimming with celebrities and activities for the whole family. Named for the Southern flowering plant that signals rising temps ahead, the beautiful azalea, the event blossoms with events as well.

Music Lineup
Mainstage, Water and 2nd streets
April 11th-13th

Contemporary Christian Music Night, Friday, April 11th: 6:40pm, Open Stage; 6:45pm, No Purchase Necessary; 7:30pm, The Turning; 8:20pm, Barlow Girl (national act), www.barlowgirl.com.

Saturday, April 12th: 12-1:30pm, L Shape Lot; 2-3:30pm, Jeremy Norris; 3:45pm-4:15pm, Mallory Malter; 5-6:30pm, Madonna Nash; 7:30-9pm, Co Co Loco; 9-9:30pm, Fireworks; 9:30-11pm, Co Co Loco.

Sunday, April 13th: 120-1:30pm, Organix; 2-3:30pm, Michele and the Midnight Blues; 4:30-6pm, Marshall Crenshaw (national act—www.marshallcrenshaw.com).

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Horse Show
April 12th-13th

Dig out the cowboy boots, and trot on over to Shingleton Farms in Hampstead this weekend for the annual Azalea Festival Horse Show. Their exquisite stature and elegant movements make these magnificent creatures sheer joy to observe, and attendees will have the pleasure of witnessing a variety of riding styles and dozens of classes throughout the event, welcoming competitors from across the state.

The Game Show is Saturday the 12th at 2pm; the Western Pleasure Show is Sunday the 13th at 10am; and the fun continues through Saturday, April 19, at 9am for the Hunter/Jumper Show.

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Cole Bros. Circus Big Top
April 10th-13th

Always a favorite event of the Azalea Festival, the Cole Bros. Circus spans more than an acre at the Wilmington International Airport. Feeatured will be a combination of costumed characters, acrobatics, clowns and more, including a trio of talented elephants, fearless flyers, camels, clowns, motorcycle maniacs in the Globe of Death, clever canines, teeterboard acrobats, trapeze, aerial gymnasts, the world’s funniest horse, and (drumroll, please) The Human Cannonball!

Performances are Thursday and Friday at 4:30pm and 7:30pm; Saturday at 1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday at 1:30pm and 4:30pm. VIP tickets are $25, Adult Reserved tickets are $20, and Child/Senior Reserved tickets are $15. Children ages 1 and under get in free, but they must sit in a lap.

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Shag Contest
April 12th

The Southern festivities of the Azalea Fest just wouldn’t be complete without a good old-fashioned shag contest! Lucky for the fans of this beloved dance, the annual shin-dig will be taking place this year at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside from 1-6pm. To download an entry form, visit www.ncazaleafestival.org and click on “Shag Contest” under “Events.” Entry is free.

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Parade
April 12th

Bring the whole family out to see the spectacular parade on Saturday at 9am on 3rd Street, free for all ages. There will be floats, marching units and bands, clowns and horses, and it will all be highlighted by the presence of the festival’s visiting celebrities, the Queen Azalea and her court, as well as the Azalea Princess. For parking information, please visit www.ncazaleafestival.org/Parade.htm.

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Boxing Match
April 12th-13th

Duking it out between 2:30pm and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday at Williston Middle School will be teams from up and down the East Coast, as well as special guests from the U.S. Marine Team. Admission is free—just be sure to steer clear of those quick jabs and hooks!

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Street Fair
April 11th-13th

The Street Fair this year is new and approved, starting with an expanded locale: Beginning at Water Street, the fair will start at the parking deck on Grace Street and continue down to Market Street, with vendors available on Front Street, from Walnut down to Orange, and on all the streets in between.

Enjoy beer and wine at the Beer Garden under the parking deck at Grace Street, where patrons can drink and have fun with karaoke. Prizes will be awarded, so warm up those voices! The Beer Garden will be open Friday, April 11th, from 6-11pm; Saturday, April 12th, from 12-11pm; and Sunday, April 13th, from 12-6pm. Outside of the Beer Garden, wine tastings of local wine from four different wineries will be on Water Street near the main stage.

The parking lot at Market and 2nd streets will play host to a skate board ramp where semi-professional skateboarders will have exhibitions on Saturday and Sunday. For biker-enthusiasts, Scott Britt of Britt’s Motorsports will be sponsoring an exhibition of stunt motorcycles, and a display of bikes and other motor sports will be located in the same parking lot at Market and 2nd. The Navy, Air Force and Army will be onsite with big displays and simulations.

For the kids there will be a children’s area in the Cotton Exchange parking lot, where kids under 10 can build a toy or plant a flower with the help of Home Depot. Blow-up rides will also be available, as will mechanical rides, a puppet show and more.

Not to forget about the food, of course, the majority of it will be located on Water Street, in front of the parking deck, down to Princess Street. Food vendors will also be available on Market Street at 2nd throughout the motorcycle area and dispersed throughout the arts and craft vendors on Front Street.

Adding the expansion this year will be arts and craft vendors that have doubled in size since last year, now equaling 250! Items include fudge, ties, sunrooms, outdoor furniture, jewelry, sheet sets, pet items, photography, artists, candles, clothing, hot sauce and more! They will be located all over downtown: from Walnut Street to Orange Street and everywhere in between!

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Coin Show
April 12th-13th

Show me the money! This year’s Coin Show will showcase 45 dealers who have come to present their silver and gold. Drawings will be held to give away coins valued at over $300 and several silver eagles valued at over $10 per coin.

The show is sponsored by the Lower Cape Fear Coin Club, and a $1 donation is suggested for admission, which enters attendees in a drawing for $5 gold pieces and silver eagle pieces. It will be held at the American Legion, 702 Pine Grove Drive.