For most of the past 47 years, downtown Wilmington has welcomed Riverfest to its streets.
Typically falling around the first weekend of October, the festival drew attention a month earlier than usual this year when organizers opted to cancel Riverfest for 2026. The decision came "due to untenable venue logistics and public safety constraints imposed by recent municipal decisions," according to a news release from organizers, who said they plan to return in 2027.
Things were shaky to start the first Riverfest from Oct. 5-7, 1979, although those concerns ranged from wet weather on opening day to dog races canceled due to two dogs being hit by a car (not while at Riverfest).
A story in the Oct. 4, 1979, Wilmington Morning Star featured a map and list
of activities for the inaugural festival. Many events were Wilmington-based, such as a New Hanover High School band performance, a University of North Carolina Wilmington crew demonstration, local gymnastics and a backgammon tournament.
Around 20,000 were estimated at Riverfest on Oct. 6-7.
On the final day, while a makeshift raft race on the Cape Fear River became a big draw, it almost ended in tragedy when one raft slammed into a barge and one of its riders was dragged underneath it. The person surfaced and was brought to safety.
A barge served as a floating stage for attractions, which replaced a marijuana-smuggling ship called Sea Crust seized by the Coast Guard in 1977. The rusty trawler had become a waterfront tourist attraction at its Water Street berth until being moved just before Riverfest.
Most festival activities were concentrated on Front and Water streets between Chandler's Wharf and the Cotton Exchange.
Owen Hassell is the local news editor for the StarNews. You can reach him at ohassell@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: From the archives: The first Wilmington Riverfest was wet and wild
