How the Azalea Festival
THE AZALEA
FESTIVAL is
much more than
concerts, street
vendors, garden
More Than Four Days of Fun
Gives Back
By KYLE HANLIN
tours and springtime pageantry.
The modern-day version hosts
several events throughout the year,
all with a focus on benefiting the
community.
“The mission is twofold,” says
Alison English, executive director
for the Azalea Festival. “The first
part is to promote volunteerism.
We have more than 1,000 volunteers, and we have some committee
chairs that have been with us for 30 or 40 years. The second portion
is to drive Wilmington’s and the region’s economy.”
A 2011 University of North Carolina Wilmington study found the
festival generates a $50 million annual economic impact.
“That’s $50 million spread out among hotels and restaurants and
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stores,” English says. “The biggest
way we give back is through our
economic stimulus.”
In addition, the festival gives
through direct contributions.
The Azalea Festival’s Princess
Scholarship Pageant for high
school juniors provides more than
$12,000 in scholarships. The fes-tival
has an endowed scholarship
at Cape Fear Community College
through the CFCC Foundation, and
makes contributions to organiza-tions
that provide volunteers, like
Jacksonville-based nonprofit Honor Our Marines.
Other community benefits come through associated events.
Proceeds from the Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour go
to beautification and horticultural grants, scholarships at UNCW
and CFCC, and conservation efforts at Battery Island. The Azalea
Festival Home Tour benefits the Historic Wilmington Foundation.
NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL AT WILMINGTON, INC.