NC Azalea Festival: Complete coverage from the StarNews

The 77th annual North Carolina Azalea Festival brought thousands of residents to the Port City for days of events.

The festival kicked off with much fanfare at the queen's coronation on Wednesday. The celebrity reception followed on Thursday.

This weekend's events included the parade, street fair, coin show, garden tour, home tour and fireworks. Here's a look at the StarNews' coverage of this year's festival.

Alex Highsmith Mini Golf Party

NFL Pittsburgh Steelers player and Wilmington hometown celebrity Alex Highsmith greeted fans at a Mini Golf Party Sunday at Jungle Rapids.

In addition, the city of Wilmington proclaimed April 6, 2024, as Alex Highsmith Day during an event at Smoke on the Water Restaurant on Saturday. The Signature event was the third annual Kentucky Derby-style event, during Azalea Festival weekend, benefitting the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation and the Barbara Highsmith Reading Academy of Wilmington. Mayor Bill Saffo presented Highsmith with the proclamation.

Parade

Thousands of residents lined downtown Wilmington streets Saturday morning for the annual parade. Marching bands, businesses, area dignitaries and pageant queens, along with Queen Azalea herself, were featured.

Street Fair

With more than 250 food and arts crafts vendors, a children's play area and a performing arts stage, the Azalea Festival Street Fair in downtown Wilmington is a festival centerpiece. It brings tens of thousands of people each year.

After Garden Get Down at Bluewater Grill

After the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party, many kept the good times going at Bluewater Grill in Wrightsville Beach on Friday. Guests were invited to Bluewater’s waterfront bar & patio to enjoy live music, food and drink specials, and a great view on the Intracoastal Waterway. Queen Azalea Sharon Lawrence also made a special appearance.

Chase Rice visits boys and girls club

UScellular brought multi-Platinum country music star and North Carolina Azalea Festival performer Chase Rice to Wilmington's Brigade Boys and Girls Club on Thursday. Rice's visit to the Boys and Girls Club is part of UScellular's Music Artist Program, which aims to encourage healthier digital habits among youth attendees.

More: Before Azalea Festival concert, Chase Rice meets kids at Wilmington boys and girls club

Celebrity reception

The celebrity reception, which was held Thursday at the Cape Fear Country Club, gave festival sponsors an opportunity to see and meet Queen Azalea, invited guests and other festival dignitaries.

Queen's Coronation

On Wednesday, Sharon Lawrence, an actress and North Carolina native, was crowned Queen Azalea in front of a cheering crowd at the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington. "It means so much to be here … and I will always treasure this time," Lawrence said. "Those of us who have grown up and moved away will always recognize the value that being from this state has given us. … I owe so much to this state."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Azalea Festival in Wilmington, NC, includes parade, street fair, concerts