Florence impacts delay annual Riverfest event

Organizers with the Wilmington Riverfest posted on Facebook the annual festival will be postponed due to the continuing recovery efforts from Hurricane Florence. 

Riverfest was supposed to take place the second weekend in October, but organizers are hoping to reschedule it for November 17 and 18 in downtown Wilmington. 

Organizers said this is the third time the event had been rescheduled in 39 years. Riverfest was also rescheduled in 2015 due to potential flooding and 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew. 

The two-day festival typically includes craft vendors, concession booths, a children’s play area, entertainment, fireworks and more. This year, the third Annual Miss Riverfest will be crowned and perform hostess duties throughout the festival.

According to the organization’s website, the yearly festival is dependent on sponsorships and donations from community businesses and organizations, but the economic impact of Riverfest for Historic Downtown and the surrounding community has been estimated at over $13 million.

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