Lindsey Shaw's voice showed a mix of surprise and excitement when informed that Amy Pietz, the actress who played her mother on the defunct CW sitcom "Aliens in America," served as the 60th Azalea queen in 2007.

"Oh my gosh, I am totally going to call her when I get off the phone and tell her that I am following in her footsteps," Shaw said. "That is such an honor."

On Wednesday, Shaw, a 20-year-old actress whose current gig is a leading role on the ABC Family series "10 Things I Hate About You," will be crowned the 63rd queen of the N.C. Azalea Festival during a ceremony at Riverfront Park.

Asked if she might pump Pietz for any pointers on being the queen, Shaw, who showed evidence of a quick wit during a phone interview on Monday, said, "I'm going to ask her what's the most nerve-racking moment. Just kidding. I'm probably going to ask her what she wore and how formal I need to be because I assume that ... I'm going to be way out of place with what I'm wearing."

Shaw, a self-described tomboy, did four or five pageants such as "Universal Miss and all of this ridiculous stuff when I was younger," she said. "But being girly -- I don't usually do that. I usually put on jeans and a sparkly top and it's good to go."

On "10 Things I Hate About You," a show that manages to be tru-to-life, more thoughtful and less vulgar than most of what passes for family entertainment these days, Shaw plays Kat Stratford, a sweet-natured high schooler who puts up an acerbic front that contrasts with the bright, outgoing persona of her popularity-obsessed sister, played by Meaghan Martin. (Veteran comic Larry Miller plays their father.)

“I have this saying about Kat, that, I know I have all of her bad qualities, and I strive to have all of her good qualities,” Shaw said. “My intention is always wanting to do something good, and so is hers. It's just her approach that is off sometimes. That's sort of like a parallel to my life: good intention, bad approach.”

Shaw acted in a motion-capture suit and did voice work for a video game called “Enslaved,” which is set for an October release. She's also done two independent movies that will be released in some form this year, playing a “deranged, crazy baby-sitter” in “Nic and Tristan Go Mega Dega,” about skateboarding twins, and appearing in “Devolved,” which she calls “a modern-day ‘Lord of the Flies' satire.”

Both movies are “way, way low budget,” Shaw said. “It was a great experience for me even if they don't ever see daylight, which I say with the utmost respect.”

Shaw said she first heard about the Azalea Festival from one of her co-stars on “10 Things,” the actor Nicholas Braun, who was a celebrity guest of the festival last year. It will be her first trip to North Carolina.

“This is just a big coming out into spring festival, right?” Shaw asked. “See, that is amazing. That needs to be done everywhere. And that's a really beautiful tradition that North Carolina has, and I'm excited to be a part of it.”

John Staton: 343-2343

On Twitter.com: @StarNewsPlay

Another Azalea Festival tradition is the Belles. Over a 100 young women serve as ambassadors for the City of Wilmington, symbolizing the Festival season as much as the flowers they represent. Dressed in colorful antebellum gowns, the Azalea Belles enhance the beauty of several activities during the Festival, but their primary duty is to act as hostesses in the gardens featured on the Festival Garden Tour.

North Carolina Azalea Festival Events

  • Azalea Garden Tour - sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club – selection of private gardens changes annually (ticket required)
  • Historic Wilmington Foundation Home Tour - an annual showcase of homes and properties in Wilmington’s historic district (ticket required)
  • Parade – a fun-filled, three-hour extravaganza winding through downtown Wilmington with floats, celebrities, marching bands, and clowns. (free)
  • Street Fair – downtown Wilmington and the Riverwalk - arts and crafts vendors, concert stages, international foods, displays and exhibits and a street dance. (free)
  • Juried Art Show - presented by the Wilmington Art Association - over 100 artists from North Carolina offer their works (free admission)
  • Amateur Boxing Tournament – features competitors, ranging in age from 8 to 34, in national and international levels of competition as well as from the military branches. (free admission)
  • Concerts – Trask Coliseum, UNC-Wilmington - major entertainers featured (ticket required)
  • Circus – at the Wilmington International Airport - the Cole Bros. Circus comes to town Thursday through Sunday of the Festival week. (ticket required)
  • Horse Show - sponsored by the Seagate Saddle Club - competitions in dozens of classes and various styles of riding are featured ($3 admission)
  • Coin Show – presented by the Lower Cape Fear Coin Club - showcases 45 dealers offering coins for sale ($1 suggested donation entry fee)
  • Shag Contest – at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel - dancers can strut their stuff and compete for cash prizes in three divisions including junior, club/social and non-professional. No dance instructors or professional dancers. (no entry fee, free admission)
  • Variety Show – a 40-year tradition showcasing local talent (free admission)

For more information about the North Carolina Azalea Festival events, contact the North Carolina Azalea Festival, 5725 Oleander Drive, Unit B7, Wilmington, NC 28403, 910-794-4650.