Norfolk's International Azalea Festival
 
A Salute to NATO
 
Celebrating the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Celebrating the
Kingdom of the Netherlands
April 14 - 19, 2008
Contact Information

Norfolk's International
Azalea Festival

220 Boush Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
phone: (757) 282.2801
fax: (757) 282.2787
tfrank@azaleafestival.org

Schedule of Events

Honoring the Netherlands... Oldest Friend, Reliable Partners 

In April of 2008 we celebrate The Kingdom of the Netherlands. A broad array of events will take place. Come and experience the pomp and patriotism of a Flag Raising Ceremony, the Coronation of Queen Azalea and her Court, the Parade of Nations, Queen’s Interantional Ball, a Golf Classic and much more. We hope you will start marking your calendar for these fantastic events. Please continue to check back, as we continue to plan, so that you will have specifics!

Tour groups, please feel free to contact us or Norfolk’s Convention and Visitors Bureau so that we may help you plan your tour during festival week.

Schedule of Festival Events

Thursday, April 10 

HQ ACT NATO International Azalea Festival Golf Classic
Sewells Point Golf Course  
Sponsored By Dodge
 Queen Azalea's New FriendsGetting in the swing of things  Winners

 Queen Azalea with NATO Youth Golf Clinic

 Queen Azalea Takes a Swing

 The Winners take the Trophy



Monday, April 14

Flag Raising Ceremony NATO HQ ACT Flag Plaza      
10:30a.m.                          
Cost:FREE and Open to the Public with Base Access, ID’s required
Hosted by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation to honor The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival's most honored nation. The raising of all NATO member nations flags with musical accompaniment by the US Atlantic Fleet Band and the Dutch Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy is a breathtaking experience you don’t want to miss. Special invited guests of Queen Azalea include 150 students from Norfolk Public Schools.  

Tuesday, April 15

ODU/ACT Academic Symposium                                                 Ted Constant Center
8:30a.m. - 5:30p.m.
Katrina Over Hampton Roads - Are We Ready?
The annual ACT/ODU Symposium will bring together leaders, academics, engineers and emergency responders from both regions to discuss the issues at hand and analyze plans, processes and tools, particularly modelling and simulation, that can be used to mitigate the impact of a disaster from the sea. The conference will be open to invited guests only from among the political, military, business, academic and media leadership of the local, state and national communities.For further details visit http://www.act.nato.int/ or contact CDR Marco Mazza at HQSACT, 757 747 3182, marco.mazza@act.nato.int

Wednesday, April 16

NATO Student Forum                      Norfolk State University, L. Douglas Wilder Center              
8:30a.m.  – 11:30a.m.
Sponsored by Norfolk State University Intelligence Center for Academic Excellence

This year’s discussion will be centered on how NATO Allied Nations share information and intelligence to conduct successful operations. Norfolk High School students with guidance provided by Staff Officers from NATO ACT HQ and NSU mentors will tackle this fascinating subject in the annual competition.  Join us for a spirited discussion and artistic interpretation by Norfolk Public Schools students. 

Seventh Annual GRAPEVINE                                                      Norfolk Botanical Garden
6 – 9PM
$30 per person in advance/$35 per person at the door/$25 for NBG Members
Wine and beer tasting and selections ~Eclectic Fare of local Restaurants and Caterers ~Sunset tram, horse drawn carriage and live opera serenaded boat tours ~ This indoor and outdoor setting will have a variety of bands to dance to and enjoy ~ A cover band, an Acoustic & Percussion Duo and a String Quartet Ensemble
Norfolk Botanical Garden • (757)441-5830 • http://www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/

Thursday, April 17

Ambassador's Reception                                                    HNLMS AMSTERDAM
5:00pm                                                                                  Half Moone Cruise Terminal
By invitation only
World Affairs Council Dinner                                               Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
7:45pm Dinner with 8:30pm Program
Tickets will be $70 for members and $90 for non-members
The World Affairs Council is pleased to announce their guest speaker, His Excellency Christiaan M.J. Kröner, Ambassador from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United States.  Contact the World Affairs Council at 757-226-1202 www.hrwac.org 

Friday, April 18

Queen's Coronation and Scholarship Presentation        Norfolk Botanical Garden    
10:00am/ Renaissance Garden
Garden admission is free for those arriving for coronation between 9-10 am. Open to the public. Join us as we crown 55th Queen Azalea and her Court in the beautiful Renaissance Gardens of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Local and international dignitaries will be attendance.

 

Queen's Fashion Show & Luncheon                                  Sheraton Waterside Hotel
Presented By: Retail Alliance - The Retail Merchants Association Since 1903
11:30- 2:30PM
Tickets: $40 Reserve your Table of 10 ~ $400
 This year’s 55th Azalea Fashion Show & luncheon celebrates the best of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Fashions provided members of the Retail Alliance. Look for these fine retailers: Beverly's Fine Fashions, J Romm, The Cage, Altshuls, Linda's Boutique, Elise Boutique, Lili's of Ghent, Elite Clothier, Dan Ryan's For Men, Velveteen Rabbit, and the Honey Tree Boutique. Fashion Models provided by our community leaders and notables.  Queen Azalea and her Court will be presented to you after lunch and before the start of the Fashion Show. For reservations contact Tracy Frank tfrank@azaleafestival.org or (757) 282-2801 
   
Virginia International Tattoo                                                   Norfolk Scope Arena 
International Azalea Festival Night 
Friday, April 18, 2008  7:30 PM
A Tribute to Veterans - This is the largest Tattoo in the United States, presented with all the grandeur and splendor of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Pageantry and patriotism, spirit and spectacle, talent and teamwork, precision personified. Over 850 performers from around the world will join forces, filling the Scope with music, majesty and might. The Tattoo is action packed and offers a special Friday evening tribute to The Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Azalea Festival's Most Honored Nation, and the region's Armed Forces.  The Virginia International Tattoo is presented by the Virginia Arts Festival. For additional information and show times visit their wesite at http://www.virginiaartsfest.com/tattoo.html 

Saturday, April 19

55th Annual Parade of Nations
10 am/ Waterside Drive Norfolk
Sponsored by Dodge
Come see the longest, continuous running parade in the region and the only in the Nation saluting NATO.  Families from all over Hampton Roads come together in Downtown Norfolk to watch a fabulous parade of bands, floats and performing units representing all NATO member nations.  See your favorite high school bands plus more from around the country.  Performing units from across Hampton Roads and the world are joined by NJROTC teams, military units and highlighted with the Princesses and Student Diplomats on colorful floats of each NATO nation.  The parade concludes as the 55th International Azalea Queen makes her way down the parade route.  Great views can be had anywhere along the parade route from Waterside Dr to Boush St. ending at Freemason Ave.
 

Norfolk's International Azalea Festival is pleased to welcome bands and marching units from all over the country and all over the world. If your high school band is interested in joining the fun, please contact PAC at 1-800-USA-FEST.

Interested in marching in the 2008 Parade of Nations? Click here for more information.
Immediately following the parade, just a short stroll to Town Point Park for NATOFest 2008.

Visit 26 Countries in a Day at NATOfest 2008                  Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk

11:30 am - 3:30 pm / Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk
Free and open to the public
Explore 26 Countries in a Day." Food, culture, and entertainment from the 26 member NATO nations. are just a few of the specials in store for you at NATOfest 2008. NO LIMIT, the high energy Teen Pop Group opens NATOFest with great excitement. Shop in our new marketplace. Children will explore the wonderment of NATO through a fun educational activity book and a special play area just for them. This child and adult friendly event will provides hours of entertainment 
No Limit
 Vendor Application for International Marketplace 
Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship AMSTERDAM
11 am - 4 pm / Half Moone Cruise Terminal, Downtown Norfolk
Free Tours, Open to the public on Saturday, April 19th  

 HNLMS Amsterdam  HNLMS Amsterdam at work 

Azalea Festival Regatta
The Norfolk Naval Sailing Association and Norfolk Naval Sailing Center are proud to host the 2008 Azalea Festival Regatta as part of Norfolk’s 55th International Azalea Festival’s Salute to NATO. The Regatta will provide a keelboat and a dinghy venue.  For more information visit their website at http://www.norfolknavalsailing.org/

 

Queen’s International Ball                                                     Sheraton Waterside Hotel
6:30PM  Reception  7:30 Dinner                                              International Ball Room
Tickets: $125/person; Corporate Tables of 10 are available for $1750
“The Kingdom’s Caribbean Jewels” is the theme of this year’s Ball as we celebrate the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles in particular.  Enjoy spectacular international and Caribbean cuisine, get lucky at the gaming tables, and celebrate the conclusion of a spectacular Festival week. Queen Azalea and her court will be formally presented and then dance the night away with music by Horizons. While being a black tie formal, feel free to add your own “Island style”!  To purchase tickets contact Tracy Frank tfrank@azaleafestival.org or (757) 282-2801.
 
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