Your Complete Guide to the Azalea Festival Music Weekend 🌸

The 79th Annual NC Azalea Festival runs Wednesday through Sunday, April 8–12, and this year's lineup has more music concentrated into five days than most years. Here's what you need to know.

Today (Wed Apr 8) — Queen's Coronation, 3PM, Battleship. Actress Elaine Hendrix — the scheming Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap, Elizabeth Jetté from Dynasty — is this year's Queen. The ceremony is free and open to the public on the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. It's the official start of the festival.

Thursday (Apr 9) — Lil Jon, 7PM, Live Oak Bank Pavilion. The man behind "Yeah!" and "Get Low" headlines the festival's first major concert night. Gates open at 6PM. Ticketed through the festival. Tickets >>

Friday (Apr 10) — Dustin Lynch, 7PM, Live Oak Bank Pavilion + Street Fair opens 6PM downtown. Country headliner Dustin Lynch takes the Pavilion Friday night. Same night the Street Fair kicks off on the historic downtown streets — open 6–10PM Friday, 10AM–10PM Saturday, 10AM–5PM Sunday. The Sheetz Azalea Alley Beer Garden runs the whole stretch. Two things to do Friday night; pick your move. Tickets >>

Sunday (Apr 12) — Tunes & Blooms, Noon–10PM, Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre. Free. Presented by Wilmington Grill, this is the festival's hidden gem — 10 hours of local and regional live music in one of Wilmington's best outdoor settings. No tickets required. Food, drinks, craft vendors on-site. Lawn games. Bring a blanket. Details >>

Full Festival Schedule >>

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday