A N O D E T O T H E
Essays and poems lauding an annual
Wilmington tradition that includes
young girls dressed in antebellum
Wrightsville Beach Magazine is thrilled to
sponsor the North Carolina Azalea Festival High
School Writing Competition again this year.
Some of Southeastern North Carolina’s
brightest public, private and home-schooled
students from grades 9 to 12 took pen to paper
to write tributes to one of Wilmington’s favorite
traditions — the annual Azalea Festival.
Here are the top three essays and poems, as
chosen by Azalea Festival team members and
WBM staff.
The 73rd North Carolina Azalea Festival,
scheduled for April 1-5, 2020, has been
cancelled because of the coronavirus pan-demic.
Festival staff are rescheduling some
beloved signature events for the fall, including
the Main Stage Concerts, Airlie Luncheon
Garden Party, and even the Street Fair and
Parade, Azalea Festival Executive Director Alison
Baringer English announced March 18, 2020.
The ticket office is closed to the public and staff
are working remotely.
“We know you may have questions … please
hold tight,” English says. “We will help our
region celebrate even bigger once we make it on
the other side of this thing. As I am sure you all
know, the economic impact the Azalea Festival
brings to our region will be so, so important.”
Our plan is to hold the remaining Azalea
Festival features we had created for you until
that time.
See how COVID-19 has affected the
Azalea Festival here:
https://ncazaleafestival.org/category/
coronavirus-updates/
gowns in the gardens.
19
ALLISON POTTER
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
/
