Fork Fest

RiverFest 2025 202

Celebrate the Catawba River with live music, local craft beer, food trucks, kids' activities, artisan vendors, a Floating Concert, and more at RiverFest!

Enjoy a day on the banks of the South Fork of the Catawba River! Head to downtown McAdenville on Saturday, May 3, for a jam-packed day filled with a great line-up of live music, a plein air art competition, local artisans, vendors, craft beer, and food trucks. Then, hop in your kayak (or rent one from us) and chill in the river with our FLOATING CONCERT as we float the party down to Cramerton! Stow your boats and head to Confluence for more live music Saturday evening. Entry to the festival is free, with the option to purchase tickets for the Floating Concert.

We can't wait to see you at RiverFest 2025!

Buy Your Floating Concert Tickets Today!

RiverFest Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 3

Group Run & Guided Hike: 9 am
Participate in a group run or a guided hike in McAdenville! These events will begin at The Boathouse at 115 Willow Drive, McAdenville, NC.
Register for Free!
Plein Air Art Show: 9 am - 12 pm
Watch artists pain "en plein air" (outside) around the festival grounds and throughout downtown McAdenville!
Kids Activities: 11 am - 2 pm
Enjoy kids' activities in McAdenville! These activities are free to the public! Start the day off with a drum circle at 11 AM, then stick around for chalk art, coloring sheets, bird feeder crafts, and scavenger hunt activities that will be available any time between 11 AM - 2 PM.
Vendor Market: 11 am -4 pm
Shop around at our vendor market between 11 am and 4 pm! Visit local artisan, businesses, and non-profits. Click the button below to apply to be a vendor at Fork Fest.
Vendor Application
Food Trucks: 11 am - 7 pm
Enjoy your pick of snacks, lunch, or dinner from one of our food trucks! Food trucks will be open from 11 am to 7 pm.
Denver Crites: 12 - 1pm
Come listen to this live music performance outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
McKinney Gap: 1:30 - 3 pm
Come listen to this live music performance outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
Chatham County Line: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Come listen to our headliner, Chatham County Line, outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
Floating Concert with Crystal Fountains: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Don't miss the highlight of Fork Fest: the Floating Concert! Bring your own kayak, canoe, or SUP (or rent one of ours) and hop in the South Fork to float down the river with the band! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Buy a Ticket!
Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam: 8 pm
Come to Confluence to enjoy the music of Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam at 8 pm! Entry to this concert is free!

Fork Fest FAQs

Which events are free?
At Fork Fest, you can enjoy many events for no cost at all! On Saturday, August 31, free events will include a guided hike, a group run, kids' activities, the plein air art demonstration, visiting the vendor village, and enjoying music from Denver Crites, McKinney Gap, Chatham County Line, and Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam.

On Sunday, September 1st, all 4 concerts in Confluence will be free! Additionally, children can participate in free kids' activities from 12 -2 PM in Confluence.
Which events are ticketed?
Fork Fest's only ticketed event is the Floating Concert with Crystal Fountains on Saturday, August 31! Tickets are available for concert entry only (you'll bring your own boat) or concert entry + boat rental.

Buy your tickets below!
Buy Tickets!
What are the event locations?
This festival takes place in two towns, McAdenville, NC and Cramerton, NC.

On Saturday, August 31, the event will be held at and around The River Room, one of Catawba Riverkeeper's retail spaces. The address for The River Room is 102 Main Street, Suite 100, McAdenville, NC 28101.

On Sunday, September 1, the event will be held at Confluence, another one of Catawba Riverkeeper's retail spaces. The address for Confluence is 117 Center Street, Cramerton, NC 28032.
Where should I park?
On Saturday, August 31, there are several locations available for parking. One site is the parking lot at McAdenville Greenway Park (501 Lakeview Dr, McAdenville, NC 28101). Another option is the parking lot and field parking at The Boathouse (115 Willow Dr, McAdenville, NC 28101).

On Sunday, September 1, parking will be available in Cramerton in front of Confluence (117 Center St, Cramerton, NC 28032) and next to the Centennial Center (145 8th Ave, Cramerton, NC 28032).

Be on the lookout for event parking signs that will point you to where you can go!
Where will the Floating Concert begin and end?
The Floating Concert will begin at 6:30 PM on Saturday, August 31 in McAdenville. Signs will direct you towards where to check-in with your tickets, pick up any rented boats, and put your boats in the water. Our staff will be there to help make this process as easy as possible!

The concert will be on the water for an hour and a half and will end in downtown Cramerton at 8 PM. Our staff will be there to help you exit the water.
I've never kayaked before. Can I still participate in the Floating Concert?
Absolutely! This section of the river is what we normally call our "Slow Flow" paddle, meaning that it is perfect for beginners and seasoned kayakers alike!
Is there a shuttle for the Floating Concert?
Yes, there will be a shuttle for the Floating Concert! Please note, shuttling will occur BEFORE the concert begins at 6:30, NOT AFTER!

The shuttle will run every 15 minutes from 12 - 6 PM from Cramerton to McAdenville. This means that you will drop your car off in Cramerton and be shuttled to McAdenville prior to the concert. During the concert, you will float from McAdenville back to Cramerton and end where your car is.

There will not be a shuttle offered after the concert, so please plan accordingly!
Can the shuttle transport my boats?
No, the shuttle will not be transporting boats from Cramerton to McAdenville. If you are bringing your own boat, please drop it off at the McAdenville Boat Launch before driving to Cramerton, dropping off your car, and taking the shuttle back to McAdenville.

When you drop your boats off in McAdenville, please leave them in the designated "boat-drop" area. Ensure that all your pfds and paddles are stowed inside your boat. Staff will be at the launch to monitor the area. However, staff are not responsible for any lost or damaged items.

If you are coming with a group, you can also plan to bring two cars and organize your own shuttle for the floating concert.
Should I bring a lawn chair?
Yes! If you are coming to enjoy the outdoor concerts in McAdenville on Saturday afternoon, please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on while you groove to the music.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
No, we do not permit any outside alcohol to be brought into the festival grounds. Drinks can be purchased in The River Room, at our Beverage Tent, and from vendors.
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About the South Fork River

The South Fork River is the largest tributary in the Catawba River system, and flows through Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba Counties. It begins in South Mountain State Park as the Jacob Fork and Henry Fork. As a water supply source for communities in this area, the South Fork serves municipal, industrial, and agricultural users and offers a variety of recreational opportunities. However, historical land use practices and population growth and development in the South Fork basin have resulted in adverse impacts on the river’s health.

Local leaders across the public and private sectors have identified a need to address these issues collectively through a coordinated approach that leverages existing efforts while exploring new opportunities to promote river health through the South Fork Collective. Proceeds from Fork Fest support the work of the South Fork Collective.