The first North Carolina Azalea Festival was held in Wilmington in 1948. As the annual festival approaches in April of this year, let’s take a look at the history behind it.
Dr. William Houston Moore, an active member of the Rotary Club, had been working hard in the garden planting dogwood, azalea, and other similar plants. The garden started flourishing as a result of his time spent on it, and Dr. Moore wrote to the Wilmington civic clubs telling them to each send a representative; he wanted to hold an event celebrating the beauty of the gardens, which we now know as the Azalea Festival.
Despite objections from locals, the festival was held and had over 60,000 spectators. Jacqueline White was crowned the first Azalea Queen, which is a tradition that continues each year. The festival was perfect, with the gardens at their best and not a single cloud in the sky.
Unfortunately, Dr. Moore died the following summer. His passing saddened many, but it has been said that he passed happily after being informed that the first-ever Azalea Festival was a success.
The festival is now an annual event gathering over 250,000 spectators, still growing each year. This year the 5-day festival started on April 3rd. Entertainment includes art shows, pageantry, colorful parades, and much more. During this week-long adventure, the new Azalea queen and princess's coronation also occurs.
With this history in mind, you too can be a part of this growing celebration!
Sources:
Wilmington and Beaches CVB. (n.d). North Carolina Azalea Festival. https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/event/north-carolina-azalea-festival/4315/
NC Azalea Festival. (2021, January 23). History. https://ncazaleafestival.org/history/
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