The Street Fair is easily one of the N.C. Azalea Festival's biggest draws, attracting an estimated 200,000 visitors in 2012, coordinator Kevin Shifflett said. The popular event, which runs over the course of three days, features more than 300 arts and crafts merchants and an additional 30 or more food vendors.
Shifflett recently spent some time with us to point out a few highlights.
Q: What's new with the street fair this year?
A: There's a lot of great entertainment that we're providing, and it's free. There's an a capella contest on Sunday with a group from (NBC's) “The Sing-Off.” They'll perform, and after that a bunch of a capella groups from colleges around the state will compete, that's going to be awesome. Also, look out for the Sky Riders. They're these crazy athletes and entertainers who do this high-flying trampoline show with props like snowboards and wakeboards.
Q: What's the most outrageous food item people can find at the food stalls?
A: In my opinion, the craziest one is an eight-pound gummy bear. For some of the kids out there, it's really attractive. It really draws your eye.
Q: Speaking of children, what do you think will be some of the biggest draws in the special area set aside for kids?
A: There's a stage with a lot of children performers where kids can see their peers up there, and that's really cool. But the Child Celebrity Area is a really big deal. Last year we had a couple thousand people come out for the star (Peyton List) we had, and we're expecting a lot more for Calum Worthy.
Q: So if you could make a gift basket for Calum from the vendors at the fair, what would you put in there?
A: A lot of the things that we have down there, and this is a thing that's cool about the North Carolina Azalea Festival, is that a lot of the arts and crafts vendors are local. So you could pick just about anything.
Q: Face painting and fairs go hand-in-hand. If you had to, what would you get painted?
A: We've got a lot of good artists down at the street fair, including the face painters. Any request you have, I'm sure you can get it done. Personally, I'd have to say one of those full animal faces. They're really surreal; when they paint your entire face, that's incredible.
Q: As street fair coordinator, what's the biggest worry that keeps you awake at night?
A: The main thing is going to be the weather. As an outdoor festival, having good weather is key, and it's out of our control. But it's not just the street fair that worries about weather; it's the whole festival.
Paul Stephen: 343-2041
On Twitter: @pauljstephen
Street Fair Cafe Stage
Friday, April 11
5 p.m.: Paul Scott Project
6:30 p.m.: Unspoken
8:30 p.m.: Rhett Walker Band
11:30 p.m.: Mg Band
12 p.m.: Electionsure
1 p.m.: After Death
2 p.m.: Nathan Story
3 p.m.: Unashamed
4 p.m.: Stone Street Band
5 p.m.: Brent Stimmel Band
6 p.m.: Sky Riders Acrobatic Troupe
8 p.m.: Coco Loco Party Band featuring The Original Carolina Girl
Sunday, April 13
12-3 p.m.: Collegiate a cappella competition
3:30 p.m.: Acoustikats from NBC's 'The Sing Off'
Children's area
Saturday, April 12
12-1 p.m.: Science Fair
1-1:30 p.m.: Carolina Gymnastics
1:30-2 p.m.: Techniques in Motion
2-2:30 p.m.: Dance Arts Conservatory
2:30-3 p.m.: Inspirations Dance
3-3:30 p.m.: South East Dance Academy
3:30-4 p.m.: Port City Gymnastics
4-4:30 p.m.: Tip Tap Toe
4:30-5 p.m.: Dance Quest
5-5:30 p.m.: Cripple Creek Cloggers
Sunday, April 13
12-1 p.m.: Science Fair
2-2:30 p.m.: Encore Dance
2:30-3 p.m.: Gafa Dance
3-3:30 p.m.: Dynamic Footworks
4:30-5 p.m.: Dance Express
Multicultural Stage
Saturday April 12
1:15-1:20 p.m.: Welcome, opening remarks; Yvonne Pagan, chair
1:35-1:55 p.m.: Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (Japanese Drum & Dance)
1:50-2:10 p.m.: Walsh Kelley School Of Irish Dance
2:10-2:35 p.m.: Bonnie Laserna: Opening march singer, children's multicultural march
2:35-2:40 p.m.: Bonnie Laserna: Closing march performance
2:40-3:00 p.m.: Cape Fear Cultural Association of India
3-3:15 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Guadalupano
3:15-3:35 p.m.: Tacas-Chinese Dance Group
3:35-3:50 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Guadalupano
3:55-4:25 p.m.: Techmoja Dance & Theatre Company
4:05-4:30 p.m.: Polynesian Fusion Tahitian Dancers
4:30-4:55 p.m.: Waccamaw Siouan Tribe
4:55-5:20 p.m.: Polynesian Island Praise Team
5:25-5:45 p.m.: Wilmington Burma Refugee Singers
Sunday, April 13
1:10-1:15 p.m.: Welcome, opening remarks, Yvonne Pagan, chair
1:15-1:35 p.m.: Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dance
1:40-2:10 p.m.: Techmoja Theatre & Dance Company
2:10-2:35 p.m.: Rinku Bhattacharya Das Indian Dance Group
2:40-3:05 p.m.: Filipino-American Association of the Lower Cape Fear
3:15-3:40 p.m.: New Revolution Huasteca Group
3:50-4:10 p.m.: Slainte: UNCW Irish Dance Club
4:10-4:30 p.m.: Chinese American Cultural Assocation
4:35-4:55 p.m.: Brunswick Children's Performance Group
4:55-5:15 p.m.: Mexican Folklore Dancers
5:20-5:45 p.m.: Kelly Hawes Middle Eastern Dancers
What: Street Fair When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday Where: Water, Front and Market streets, downtown Wilmington Admission: Free Details: Children's activity area, craft and food vendors, entertainment on multiple stages and more
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