Wilmington Riverfest 2023: Details & Full Schedule

Planning a trip into Wilmington, NC for Riverfest? Get help planning your trip with this Wilmington, North Carolina Travel Guide.

Wilmington Riverfest: Frequently Asked Questions

Before we get into the reasons to attend, let’s get a couple frequently asked questions out of the way.

5 Reasons To Go To Wilmington Riverfest

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The Food

I’ll be honest: The main reason I ever want to go to a festival is because I want an excuse to get a corn dog. I won’t often let myself get one outside of a festival because then I would get into a really bad habit. But at a festival, it’s okay.

There’s more than just corn dogs here. There are food booths where you can get funnel cake, lemonade, turkey legs, ribbon fries, huge sodas … you name it, it’s available for your enjoyment.

The Music

There’s always good live music at Wilmington Riverfest. It’s usually off in an area away from the street vendors, so it’s not crazy loud when you’re walking downtown.

This year, a performance stage will be set up in the Cape Fear Community College Student Parking Lot with bands scheduled to play on Sunday.

The Vendors

The street fair portion of the Riverfest is a big draw. I love checking out the small crafters to see what they have to offer.

The last few years, the Wilmington Riverfront Farmers’ Market had been incorporated into the Saturday portion of Riverfest, so you may have seen Pete selling Rita’s Wooden Spoon there. This year, though, the Riverfront Farmers’ Market is taking the week off, so don’t head downtown looking for it on Saturday.

The Fireworks

My favorite holiday is July 4th because nothing beats a good fireworks show for me. In fact, the night I met Pete was minutes before a fireworks show. Literally. Not figuratively.

But, this year’s Riverfest is a little bit of a bummer because there won’t be any Saturday night fireworks. Hopefully they’ll be back for next year.

The Car Show

One of the big Wilmington events for car lovers is the huge Rims On The River festival every fall. It’s canceled indefinitely, so if you want to see cars in Wilmington, this is your chance.

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Antique Auto Club of America hosts the Antique Car Display on Saturday. To be considered an antique, the vehicle must be 25 years old or older (which means it goes back to 1998 and I don’t think anything from 1998 should be considered an antique but what do I know).

The Sun Coast Cruisers hosts the Classic Car Display on Sunday. I don’t quite know how old cars have to be to be a part of the classic car show rather than the antique car show, but hopefully older than my high school diploma.

Full Wilmington Riverfest 2023 Schedule

Saturday, October 8

9 am to 8 pm: Street fair (Food vendors and craft vendors are set up).

10 am to 3 pm: Kidz zone (with a children’s play area for kids)

10 am to 4 pm: Car show (on Hanover Street)

10 am to 3 pm: Performances on the KidZone Stage (​10 am to 10:45 am: A Leap Above; 11 am to 12 pm: Dance Express; ​12 pm to 12:30 pm: Martial Arts & More of Wilmington; 12:30 pm to 1 pm: Queens Showcase (Note: The Wilmington Riverfest pageant queen was awarded in August); 1 pm to 1:30 pm: Confidence Martial Arts; 1:30 pm to 2 pm: Dance Theater of Dreams; 2 pm to 3 pm: SEDA)

*Note: There are no fireworks on Saturday night this year.

Sunday, October 9

9 am to 8 pm: Street fair (Food vendors and craft vendors are set up).

11 am to 5 pm: Band performances

11 am to 4 pm: Car show

Where To Stay For Wilmington Riverfest:

If you’re coming into Wilmington for the festival weekend, you’ll need somewhere to stay. A good option is staying downtown, which means you can walk to the festival. But, you’ll probably get a better hotel price if you stay within driving distance, so we listed out both options for you.

Hotels Within Walking Distance Of Wilmington Riverfest:

• Best Western Plus Coastline Inn
• Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington Downtown
• Hotel Ballast Wilmington

Hotels Within Driving Distance Of Wilmington Riverfest:

• Beau Rivage Golf and Resort
• Best Western Plus Wilmington / Wrightsville Beach
• Comfort Inn University Wilmington
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
• Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
• Hilton Garden Inn Wilmington
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wilmington
• Staybridge Suites Wilmington East
• Wingate by Wyndham Wilmington

There are also a bunch of vacation rentals in the area, if you would prefer one of those over a traditional hotel.

Where To Eat And Drink In Wilmington, NC:

If you’re not as into street fair food as I am, you might be looking for some other places to eat and drink. Our 20+ Must Try Restaurants In Wilmington, NC will help you find the best food in the area.

For coffee to get you ready for the festival, check out our Best Cups Of Coffee In Wilmington, NC post. And to get your drink on at night (if you’re 21+), The Complete Guide To Breweries In Wilmington will help.

And, of course, if it’s nice out, you’ll want to cool down with some ice cream. Figure out where to go using our The Best Ice Cream Shops In Wilmington, NC post. Almost all of them are within walking distance of the festival.

Things To Do In Wilmington, NC:

Wilmington Riverfest doesn’t last all day, so you might be looking for other things to do in the area when you’re done with the festival. A few of our posts below can help you plan your trip:

• 10 Free Things To Do In Wilmington, NC
• 10+ Things To Do When It Rains In Wilmington, NC
• Tregembo Animal Park
• Axes & Allies: Axe Throwing In Wilmington, NC

And, if you’re coming for a weekend away with your significant other, be sure to check out these Romantic Things To Do In Wilmington, NC while you’re in town.