[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23838]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL

 Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I recognize the 62nd North Carolina 
Azalea Festival, NCAF, which will be held from April 1-5, 2009, in the 
Greater Wilmington area.
  The Azalea Festival is a showcase for Wilmington's rich array of 
artwork, gardens, history and a testimony to the rich heritage of 
coastal Carolina. This year's celebration marks the 50th anniversary of 
the Azalea's Festival's name being changed from the Wilmington Azalea 
Festival to the North Carolina Azalea Festival.
  The NCAF is Wilmington's annual community celebration and the largest 
festival of its kind in the State. This festival encourages 
volunteerism and civic participation as it contributes to the region's 
economy and promotes the unique qualities of Wilmington's river-to-the-
sea community.
  The festival's concerts, fairs and special events are viewed by more 
than 1 million people each year, in person and through media coverage. 
More than 200,000 people are estimated to attend the annual 2-day 
street fair, while more than 100,000 gather to watch the festival 
parade.
  It takes an extensive volunteer network to run the NCAF. More than 
1,000 volunteers are needed to stage over 125 events ranging from 
concerts to art shows, a street fair with interactive displays, home 
and garden tours, a parade, special exhibits, a circus, and a variety 
of other entertainment and events.
  The NCAF generates an additional approximate $5 million to the area's 
economy and the Southeast Tourism Society selected the NCAF as one of 
its top 20 events for the second year in a row.
  I am pleased to recognize the unique cultural and historical 
contributions of the 62nd annual North Carolina Azalea 
Festival.

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