By Elizabeth Peavy Tabor | April 1, 2016
Locals know there’s no greater case of Spring Fever to be had than in Wilmington, NC. The flip flops come out, those evil bulky coats get stashed away and a wave of bright pink Azaleas show up all over the city.
Also marking the season change in Wilmington is one of the best parties in the South, the Azalea Festival! This 60 year old city wide tradition has something for everyone during the weeklong agenda of activities such as street fairs, garden tours, crowning of the Azalea Queen, and concerts. This year’s festival runs next week from April 6-10th and will include concerts from the Avett Brothers and Snoop Dogg. A keystone event of Azalea Festival is the legendary Garden Party. This premier event kicks off Spring with big hats, seersucker, bow ties, and is the networking event of the year all on the beautiful grounds of Airlie Gardens.
Airlie Gardens is home to more than 100,000 azaleas and the 467-year-old Airlie Oak. There are formal gardens, walking trails, water views and historic monuments along the way. Airlie is open year round to tour and should definitely be on your “must do” list when in Wilmington next.Airlie Gardens is home to more than 100,000 azaleas and the 467-year-old Airlie Oak. There are formal gardens, walking trails, water views and historic monuments along the way. Airlie is open year round to tour and should definitely be on your “must do” list when in Wilmington next.
In addition to the Azalea Festival, there are so many other notable things to do in Wilmington this Spring. Here are our top 5 reasons you should come for a weekend visit, plan a vacation, or consider calling Wilmington NC home.
1. The Intracoastal is calling and the boats answer! Drive over the bridge into Wrightsville or Carolina Beach this time of year and you’ll see the boats are officially out of winter storage and hitting the water in full force. There is nothing better for the soul that salt air and being on the water can be life-changing-relaxing. Don’t have your own? Nauti Time Boat Rentals makes it so easy to get out on the water for a day, half day or even just a sunset cruise without all the fuss.
2. Perfect temperatures for outdoor dining. We all know it gets HOT at the beach in the summer, but this time of year is perfect for dining by the water. Historic Downtown Wilmington was Named Best Al Fresco Dining by USA Today! There are many outdoor restaurants, patios and rooftops along the Cape Fear River with amazing views to enjoy a bite to eat.
3. The Farmers Market returns! Many towns celebrate the start of spring with their farmers market, but not as many can do it with a view this good. Wilmington’s Farmers Market runs along Water Street, so you can admire the river views and the USS North Carolina Battleship while shopping. The Farmers Market returns April 16!
4. Craft Beer heaven! Wilmington has recently blown up in terms of local craft beer breweries and cool bottle shops. Some of our favorites are Wilmington Home Brew, Pallate, Fly Trap Brewery, and The Brewers Kettle, though the list goes on and on. New to Wilmington is the Port City Brew Bus offering public and private tours of different brewery locations, samples and tastings, and behind-the-scenes brewery access! It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a cold brew with friends in amazing temperatures and hip locations around town. Check out this seriously adorable map our friends at Focus on the Coast magazine put together marking the spots on the tour!
5. The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour. We know we mentioned the blooming of these beauties and the signature festival already, but for house lovers and admirers like us, it’s worth mentioning this tour again. Locals who have been caring for their gardens year round invite guests to tour their grounds and gardens up close. An official event of the North Carolina Azalea Festival, the tour is one of the longest running and most popular garden tours in the South! A new addition to this year’s Garden Tour will be the participation of eleven artists from Spectrum Gallery who will be painting outdoors on location in the gardens throughout the three day tour. Visit their website for more information and to purchase tickets.
Before vacation season ramps up into full swing, consider visiting Wilmington this spring. You will find no shortage of activities and seasonal events, wonderful shopping and al fresco dining, and plenty of outdoor adventures along the Intracoastal and Cape Fear River.