Riverfest

Second only to the springtime Azalea Festival in terms of size, activities and attendance, the annual Riverfest is an all-encompassing festival that celebrates life by the water. Featuring a lineup of events that include exhibits, vendors, competitions, kid activities, fireworks, and so much more, this family-friendly event ignites the Wilmington downtown area with miles of fun to go around.

The annual Riverfest is held over an October weekend, and newcomers will discover that there’s plenty to see and do during the multiple-day celebration. The downtown streets are transformed into a street fair atmosphere, complete with exhibits by local organizations, a number of vendors selling homemade crafts and artworks, more than 30 food vendors and trucks, and a range of competitions. In addition, the event also features an incredible fireworks display over the water, plenty of live entertainment with popular local musicians and bands, and an annual crowning of the “Miss Riverfest” ambassador. The event is free for all attendees, and is a large-scale celebration that truly has a little something for everyone. With so much to explore, Riverfest is a fine opportunity to discover how wildly fun, entertaining, and spirited the Cape Fear area and the heart of Wilmington can be.