Azalea Festival Park-and-Ride Shuttle
Parade and festival goers are encouraged to use Wave Transit’s shuttle service between Independence Mall and Downtown Wilmington.
- Saturday, April 11, 2026
- Travel between Independence Mall near Dillard’s and Downtown Wilmington
- Shuttle service begins at 7:00am and ends at 2:00pm
The first shuttle to downtown leaves the mall at 7:00am. The last shuttle leaves downtown at 2:00pm to return to the mall. Service will run continuously between 7:00am – 2:00pm.
You may park for free at the mall near Dillard’s. The downtown shuttle stop is near the intersection of 4th St and Princess St.
The parade begins at 9:30am. Visit the Azalea Festival website for more information about the parade and events: www.ncazaleafestival.org/event/parade/
Fare
Bus passes can be purchased from Wave Transit staff at the mall, ahead of time at the stations, or on the vehicles at any time.
Pass sales are cash-only when purchased at the mall or on the vehicles.
Passes available for purchase at the mall park-and ride:
One-Ride – $2 regular | $1 reduced
Two-Ride – $4 regular | $2 reduced
24-Hour – $5 regular | $2.50 reduced
More information about passes and reduced fare eligibility is available on the Fares and Passes page.
FAQs
Q. Is shuttle service accessible for customers using wheelchairs or with mobility challenges?
A: All are welcome aboard. Wave Transit vehicles are equipped with ramps, lifts, and wheelchair securement devices. Trained service animals are permitted.
Q: Can I bring my chair?
A: You are welcome to bring folding/camp chairs, bags, strollers, mobility devices, and other items needed to enjoy the festival. Items must be kept out of the aisle. Food and drink must be in closed containers.
Q: What can’t I bring?
A: Drugs, alcohol, weapons, and other items that could cause harm or a mess.
Q: How much does the shuttle cost? How do I pay?
A: Pass purchased made at the mall park-and-ride or on board the vehicle are cash-only. Please see the fare info above for pass pricing.
Service Impacts & Detours
Buses may run late due to increased traffic and detours during the festival. Please allow for extra travel time when planning your commute.
- Padgett Station will be open during the parade and throughout the weekend.
- During the parade, all routes will use 5th Ave inbound to and outbound from the station.
- After the parade, all routes except 201 will resume normal service. Route 201 will use 3rd St inbound and outbound until end-of-service Sunday.
- All routes resume normal service and the Port City Trolley will begin service for the season on Monday morning.
Service alerts and real-time tracking are available in the Wave Transit app. Download the app today!
Track the Shuttles
Download the Wave Transit app from the Google Play or Apple App Store today.
Track your bus in real time with the Wave Transit app.
Features:
- Get real-time arrivals for each stop using the 4-digit stop ID on the posted at the bus stop
- Plan ahead using the multi-modal trip planner
- Watch for your bus in real-time using the interactive map
