30th Annual Riverfest Celebrates Life And Culture On The Cape Fear ...

Tag : children costume


On Saturday and Sunday, a street fair winds its way throughDowntown Wilmington. The area's rich heritage is demonstrated bymore than 200 Arts & Crafts vendors selling art and handmade craftsand over 30 food vendors serving festival edibles. Military andspecial exhibits will be on display. Visiting ships include the179-foot USS Squaw from Norfolk, Virginia.

Continuous live entertainment is another hallmark of Riverfest,featuring a variety of performances that underscore the influenceof arts and culture on the Cape Fear lifestyle. On Saturday andSunday, the Main Stage showcases beach music, blues, and jazzbands. The Gospel Revue & Folk Fair stage features upliftingspiritual and folk music. Saturday evening concludes with adazzling fireworks display at 9:05pm.

This year's featured events include the Classic Car Show (all day,Sat.) on Market Street; a BMX Bike Show (11:30am, 1:30 & 4pm), ShagDance contest (Hilton, Sat. 11am-5pm); and the 6th RiverfestWakeboarding Competition (Sat/Sun., 9am, behind Chamber ofCommerce, Estell Lee Dr.; registration at 8am; www.carolinawakeseries.com); a Wham Bam Mini Skate Board Jam Competition (Sat/Sun 8am-4pm) andRail Jam in the CFCC riverside parking lot. Sunday's special eventsinclude the 18th Run the River 8K Race (Sunday, 8am), GreatWaiter's Wine Race (CFCC parking lot, Sun., 3pm), and the AntiqueCar Show (all day, Market Street).

Once again, kids rule at Riverfest with the return of theever-popular Kidz Zone at the Cotton Exchange, with a NickelodeonGame Lab (11:30am & 2:30pm), family entertainment, and otheractivities such as face/hair painting, games, amusements,arts/crafts, clowns, rides, pirate performances, and more. Theaction-packed Adventure Zone features martial arts and gymnasticsdemonstrations, a rock climbing wall, and more (CFCC parking lot).On Saturday, there are two children's costume contests. From4:45pm-5:45pm, free registration begins in the Cotton Exchangeparking lot for a children's "Wizard of OZ" costume contest.Winners of the "Oz" costume contest will be announced at 6pm fromthe Kidz Zone stage. Earlier in the day along the riverfront(1pm-4pm), there will be a pirate treasure hunt and costumecontest, with costume judging from 4pm until 4:30pm on theRiverwalk at the foot of Market Street.

Festivals and events provide a fun and affordable way to experiencea region's arts and culture. An estimated 200,000 tourists andlocals gather each year at Riverfest to celebrate the life andculture of the Cape Fear River. Riverfest is a supporter of theCape Fear Community College "Marine Technology ScholarshipProgram". For more information about Riverfest 2008 (October 3-5),visit www.wilmingtonriverfest.com or call 910-452-6862. For a FREE Visitors Guide for Wilmington &North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast, call 1-866-266-9690 or visitwebsite www.gocapefearcoast.com for a complete Calendar of Events.