Flashback to 1978.. Downtown is deserted… retailers have moved to “The Mall” and other shopping centers, with only a few old-timers remaining on Front Street. Farsighted developers have made stores and warehouses on the northern end of town into the Cotton Exchange, a collection of specialty shops, pubs, and restaurants. Old abandoned homes and shops located on the southern end of the retail area have become Chandler’s Wharf. The restoration of these two anchors of downtown were acts of fate. Located between these restorations were shabby warehouses, long forgotten wharves, and a parking deck. The historic old buildings, marvelous architecture, and the majestic river were not appreciated or enjoyed. Wilmington’s downtown needed a miracle. In February 1979, a group of Wilmingtonians interested in Historic Downtown and the arts, began the organization of a cultural street festival designed to bring residents back downtown. This would be a free, family oriented celebration called Riverfest.
The first Riverfest was October 4-6, 1979. Forty volunteers participated, and the budget consisted of $5500, all donations. There were four concessions, trolley rides, and fireworks. Riverfest was a roaring success! It was decided to continue the festival the next year, and again, and again on the first weekend in October.
Over thirty years later Riverfest consists of: Twenty plus committees, over 300 volunteers, a budget of $90,000, over 200 craft vendors, 35 concessions booths, entertainment on various stages, Saturday night fireworks, Run the River 8K, the Great Wine Waiter’s Race, A Children’s Area, and more than 6 sporting events with contests for all ages. The end result is a half mile of free family entertainment, dependant on sponsorships and donations from community businesses and organizations. The economic impact on Riverfest on the surrounding community has been estimated at over three million dollars with attendance in excess of 100,000 per year.
As delightful as the festival outcome is, the end result is awarding of scholarships for marine related studies at Cape Fear Community College. The ultimate goal of Riverfest is to increase the amount of scholarship funds each year to Cape Fear Community College.
The greatest part of this miracle called Riverfest is not only the bits and pieces that come together in such a grand way, but the people who make it happen. We are a family united in celebrating our heritage and the beautiful Cape Fear River. The spirit to continue this tradition has been with us all these years, and for that we are very grateful.
Much change has happened to Historic Downtown Wilmington during the history of Riverfest. There are shops, galleries, restaurants, river cruises, The River Walk, and Riverfront Park. Front Street is once again a viable business district, not wholly by Riverfest, but by the efforts of the business community who were and are interested in preserving and enhancing our heritage. Riverfest helped to bring the interest back to downtown Wilmington. People who had not been on the riverfront for many years now brought their families to enjoy the fireworks, stayed for the entertainment, and began to enjoy what had been here all along.
Click here to go to Wilmington Riverfest Website
