2008

North Carolina
Azalea Festival
April 9 - 13, 2008

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TICKET INFORMATION

CONCERTS

SCHEDULE

OF
EVENTS
CELEBRITIES
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Office Location:
 5725 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, N.C. 28403

 
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3275
Wilmington, N.C. 28406

 
Phone:  910.794.4650
Fax:      910.794.4651 
Email:
info@ncazaleafestival.org






 

 


 

  

 

    The 61st Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival: April 9 - 13, 2008

Parade

Come see the floats, marching units and bands, clowns and horses, all highlighted by visiting celebrities, the Azalea Queen and her court, and the Azalea Princess.  The parade is free to spectators young and old. 

 

Summerall Guards

2007 Princess and Court

 

 

2007 Azalea Queen

        and Court

                                          

 
   


 

Azalea Festival Parade Wave Shuttle

Free downtown parking for Azalea Festival

In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion and ease parking concerns for the 2008 Azalea Festival Parade, Wave Transit will be providing express shuttles from Independence Mall to Downtown Wilmington.  On Saturday, April 12, 2008, buses will operate for the parade from 7:00am-1:00pm.  At 7:00am, the first bus will leave Independence Mall for the intersection of 2nd Street/Dock Street in Downtown Wilmington to drop off passengers that are attending the Azalea Festival Parade.     

 Persons wanting to take advantage of this service can park at Independence Mall, leave their cars for the duration of the day, and return after the parade.  Parking at the mall will be free, and the charge for riding the bus will be 1.00 per person each way, while children under 5 years of age can ride for free with a fare paying adult.  These fare goers willing to use the express shuttle service will avoid having to drive and find parking downtown for the parade and other festival events.  The shuttles will operate on approximate 7 minute intervals from 7:00am-1:00pm.  Parking at Independence Mall will be in the overflow lot near the Wachovia Bank on the Sears side.

If you need additional Azalea Shuttle information, please call Wave Transit at (910) 343-0106, send an email to mkunic@wavetransit.com, or visit our website, www.wavetransit.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The city’s downtown on-street parking will be free starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and all day
on Saturday for Azalea Festival activities. Parking enforcement for metered and time-limited
spaces will be suspended in the Central Business District (CBD), which extends from Ann to Red Cross streets, and from Water to Fourth streets. On-street parking is
always free on Sundays. Signs will be posted to alert visitors about the free parking.
 

Parking in the Second Street Deck, the Market Street Deck and the county parking deck located beside the library will charge a $5 entry fee on Saturday and Sunday. The city’s surface parking lot located at Second & Market Streets will host events on the
lot; no general parking will be allowed.

Private lots and decks:
Several private surface parking lots and decks are operated downtown. These lots are privately owned and operated; many are not free to the general public for this event.
 

A recap of city parking Azalea Festival weekend:

On-Street Parking Free after 5 p.m.
No time limits
Free all day

Market & Second St. Decks:
Normal operation Event Parking Fee
$5

Second Street Lot Normal operation Closed


For more information, contact City Parking Manager Betty Gurganus at 342-2786.
   
Handicapped Parking: 305 Chestnut Street Chestnut Street will be open up to 2nd Street until 8:15 am. on Saturday to allow access into the parking garages.  You will not be able to leave until after the parade, around 1 pm.