Monday, March 31, 2003

Wilmington, NC – Retiring UNCW Chancellor James R. Leutze will be grand marshal of the 2003 North Carolina Azalea Festival parade, scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, April 5. The parade is among the many events for the 56th annual festival that kicks off Wednesday, April 2, as Queen Azalea Tracey Bregman is welcomed to the city’s Greenfield Lake amphitheatre at 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free event. Additional festival highlights include:

Al Green Performs

Rev. Al Green performs at 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, in Trask Coliseum on the UNCW campus. The box office opens at 6 p.m. Tickets are available now at the festival office, 5725 Oleander Drive, for $35 each.

Heightened Security for Concerts

Lonestar Performs

Concert goers are encouraged to arrive early in anticipation of heightened security at the coliseum. UNCW Police Chief David Donaldson says metal detectors will be in place at all entrances and re-entry will not be allowed. The same security measures will be in place for the Friday, April 4, concerts by The Chase at 7 p.m. and Lonestar at 8 p.m. Tickets for that concert are $30 and available at the ticket office and at the Trask Coliseum box office beginning at 6 p.m. on the night of the show.

Many events free to public

Azalea Festival events free to the public include the queen’s coronation at the riverfront scheduled for 9:30a.m., Thursday, April 4; the street fair and concerts from Friday night through Sunday on Water Street; Saturday morning parade in downtown Wilmington featuring celebrity guests and parade marshal Jim Leutze; boxing matches; art shows and much more.

For complete information and schedules, visit the ticket office or www.ncazaleafestival.org.

UNCW is pleased to distribute this news release on behalf of the NC Azalea Festival.