The Azalea Festival: Celebrating The Beauty of NC Spring
I don't know about you, but I had always thought that the colors in a Thomas Kinkade painting were fantasy, nothing to be compared to the real world.... that is until I moved to North Carolina.
The colors here in the springtime are the most beautiful of anywhere I've seen. The wooded countryside is laced with wisteria and vibrant azalea bushes in every color make even the most rundown rural trailer look appealing.
This year's Azalea Festival in Wilmington beautifully celebrated the essence of North Carolina spring. An historic home tour and garden tour brought appreciation to the area's charming history, tradition and of course, amazing color! The downtown riverside was transformed into a bustling market filled with hundreds of vendors, craftsmen, artisans and food trucks wafting an enticing array of deep fried and globally inspired aromas.
People watching was prime, and even being fairly new to the area, I grabbed on to a strong sense of home and belonging as my husband, Andrew and I meandered through the cobblestone streets.
The weekend's festival brought an appreciation the the local beauty of the area and for me, a deepened sense of joy in this wonderful place I call home. If you missed out on the festivities, don't worry. There is plenty of time to get out and enjoy all that springtime has to offer. The weather is mild and ideal, the downtown Wilmington waterfront is the perfect spot for a weekend stroll and there is still amazing azalea color to be seen every time you blink!
For more event photos click on the link below!