Port City Life Newsletter: What makes the Azalea Festival important to Wilmington

Welcome to the Port City Life Newsletter. While John Staton is off this week, I'm your substitute host, Owen Hassell.

It's North Carolina Azalea Festival weekend, but as Miley Cyrus would say, I can buy myself flowers.

Don't get it twisted: I enjoy the festival. But I'm more intrigued about the festival's history. The first queens. Parades. Celebrity guests and concerts.

There have also been local characters who, wait for it, helped the Azalea Festival bloom. John Staton wrote a great retrospective on one of the festival's founders who became Mr. Azalea.

Last year, I wrote a story of video uncovered showing the 1953 Azalea Festival Parade featuring a band from a former high school in my hometown, Elizabeth City. I recognized one building on the Third Street route (maybe?) that's still standing.

There are annual festivals throughout eastern North Carolina that keep a sense of community in place, from the N.C. Blueberry Festival in Burgaw to the N.C. Potato Festival in Elizabeth City. Let's celebrate ours!

Weekend weather outlook

Wednesday's rain has ushered in some cooler temperatures. That'll make for manageable mid-60s weather through Sunday with mostly sunny skies.

Go | See | Do

While the Azalea Festival gets top billing, there are also events happening that aren't necessarily Azalea-related.

For starters, there's a "poor man's garden party," some comedy and a Corale.

We've got the lowdown on what's going on. Click on the link here or just below.

More: 20 things to do in Wilmington during the Azalea Festival, both official events and beyond

The Dish with Port City Foodies

Since we're on the subject of garden parties, here's one garden you can experience through most of the year here: Beer gardens.

We've got the brews you can use courtesy of Allison Ballard's story on 11 area beer gardens to try. I'm partial to Fat Pelican, but I think you'll find a few on the list that'll surprise you.

And a salute to a popular Wilmington restaurateur, who's now (mostly) retired.

Getting to know Imeek and Angelica

A woman from Wilmington recently received a double blessing at Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute. After completing her last chemotherapy treatment, Angelica May rang the bell signaling the end of that difficult chapter of her life. But she didn’t realize a new chapter was about to begin thanks to high school sweetheart Imeek Watkins.

Get your tissues, handkerchiefs or anything to carry your tears ready. Renee Spencer gives us the details.

News you can use

We all use the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. This week has been the first all lanes have opened since early January, as preservation project work continues. Come Monday, the westbound lanes will close.

We've got more on the work and how it'll impact commutes.

Let's get social

For more Port City Life news, including updates to food and entertainment stories, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MyPortCityLife.

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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Port City Life newsletter in Wilmington, NC for Azalea Festival 2024