Catawba Riverkeeper

RiverFest

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 (outside The River Room) 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 tickets to the Floating Concert today!

Saturday, May 3 | 4:00 - 5:30 PM

Don't miss this unique opportunity to paddle down the South Fork River and groove to live music as the band floats down the river with you!

This section of the river is what we normally call our "Slow Flow" paddle, meaning that the Floating Concert is perfect for beginners and seasoned kayakers alike. The concert will begin at the McAdenville Greenway Launch and end in Cramerton at the Centennial Center River Access.

Buy Tickets!

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 3

Plein Air Art Show: 9 am - 12:30 pm
Watch artists pain "en plein air" (outside) around the festival grounds and throughout downtown McAdenville! Winners will be announced at 2 PM.

Want to participate in the Plein Air Art Show? Artists will have 3.5 hours to paint natural landscapes or historical building throughout downtown McAdenville for the chance to win up to $600 in prizes.

Click here to register for free!
Winners Announced for Plein Air Art Show: 2 PM
Winners of the Plein Air Art Show will be announced, and prizes totaling $600 will be awarded!
Kayak Rentals: 11 am - 3 pm
Stop by the McAdenville Greenway River Access and rent a kayak for an out-and-back adventure on the South Fork! Kayak Rentals will be run by Aquatic Adventures.
Kids Activities: 11 am - 4 pm
Enjoy kids' activities in McAdenville! These activities are free to the public and will include multiple inflatables, face painting, a drum circle, and more!
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. To become a vendor at RiverFest, click here.
Food Trucks: 11 am - 4 pm
Enjoy your pick of coffee, snacks, or lunch from one of our food trucks! Food trucks will be open from 11 am to 4 pm.

Food Trucks:
Arbor Coffee
Pita Palace
Noom Yai
Cream Ice Concepts
and more!
Music Set 1 - John David Tice: 11 am - 12 pm
Come listen to this live music performance outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
Music Set 2 - No Whammies: 12:45 - 1:45 pm
Come listen to this live music performance outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
Music Set 3 - Eternally Grateful: 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Come listen to this live music performance outside The River Room in McAdenville, NC! This performance is free to the public!
Floating Concert with Hiram: 4:00 - 5:30 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!

Buy your tickets today!
Buy a Ticket!
Music Set 5 - Dr. D & Co: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Come to Confluence to enjoy the music of Dr. D & Co after the Floating Concert! Entry to this concert is free!
Music Set 6 - Zoe & Cloyd: 7:00 - 8:15 pm
Stick around at Confluence to enjoy the music of Zoe & Cloyd after the Floating Concert! Entry to this concert is free!
Karaoke with DJ Baxter: 9 PM - 12 AM
Finish a great day on a high note! Stick around until 9 PM for karoke with DJ Baxter.

Get involved in RiverFest!

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

VOLUNTEER AT RIVERFEST!

PARTICIPATE IN THE PLEIN AIR ART COMPETITION

RiverFest FAQs

Is RiverFest free?
Yes, entry to RiverFest is free! There is no charge to enjoy live music on the main stage, kids' activities, lawn games, and the vendor village.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for the Floating Concert by clicking here. If tickets are still available, they can also be purchased at the event. Kayak rentals and face painting will also be available for a low cost on the day of the event.
Where is RiverFest held?
For the main event (11AM - 4PM) RiverFest will take place in 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.

After the Floating Concert, more music acts and karaoke will be held in Confluence (another Catawba Riverkeeper retail space). The address for Confluence is 117 Center Street, Cramerton, NC 28032.
Where should I park?
Parking will be available in several locations in McAdenville. 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).

After the Floating Concert, 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 4:00 PM at the McAdenville Greenway Boat Launch. Signs will direct you toward 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 5:30 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 4:00 PM, NOT AFTER!

The shuttle will run regularly from 12:00 - 3:30 PM from Cramerton to McAdenville. This means that you will drop your car off in downtown 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 Greenway 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 our beer vendors.
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