Catawba Riverkeeper
RiverFest
RiverFest | May 2, 2026 | McAdenville & Cramerton
Celebrate the Catawba River with live music, local craft beer, food trucks, kids' activities,
artisan vendors, a Floating Concert, and more at RiverFest!
RiverFest - McAdenville
May 2nd, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | 102 Main Street, McAdenville, NC
Enjoy a day on the banks of the South Fork of the Catawba River! Head to the lawn outside the Dynamo 31 Building in downtown McAdenville on Saturday, May 2, for a jam-packed day filled with a great line-up of live music, kids' activities, kayak rentals, a plein air art competition, local artisans, vendors, craft beer, and food trucks.
Entry to RiverFest - McAdenville is free.
Plein Air Art Show: 9 am - 12:30 pm (Winners announced at 2 pm)
Register to Participate in the Plein Air Art CompetitionWatch 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 the button below to register to participate in this free event!
Free Yoga Class with Sweet Peace Yoga: 11 am
Enjoy a free yoga class and some fresh spring air with Sweet Peace Yoga Studio! Be sure to bring your own mat with you.
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!
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, and more!
Vendor Market: 11 am - 3:30 pm
Shop around at our vendor market between 11 am and 3:30 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:
Live Music - Elijah Ray: 11 am - 12 pm
Come listen to this free live music performance by Elijah Ray!
Live Music - The Riverkeepers 12:45 - 2:15 pm
Come listen to this free live music performance by The Riverkeepers!
Live Music - Mucho Gumbo: 2:45 - 4:00 pm
Enjoy this free live music performance by Mucho Gumbo!
RiverFest - Floating Concert
May 2nd, 2026 | 4:30 - 6:00 PM | McAdenville Greenway Boat Launch
Stick around after the RiverFest Main Event and hop in your kayak (or rent one from us) for our
FLOATING CONCERT! Enjoy the most unique live music venue as we groove with Jason Moss and the Hosses from the South Fork River itself and float the party down to Cramerton. Stow your boats and head to Confluence for more live music Saturday evening.
Click the blue button to purchase Floating Concert tickets and learn more about this event.
Live Music - John David Tice: 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Enjoy this free live music performance by John David Tice as you get ready to go on the Floating Concert at the McAdenville Greenway launch.
Floating Concert - Jason Moss and the Hosses: 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Don't miss the coolest event we host all year! Grab your tickets for the 2026 RiverFest Floating Concert by clicking here. Options to rent a kayak or bring your own are available.
RiverFest - Cramerton
May 2nd, 2026 | 6:00 - 10:30PM | Confluence, 117 Center St, Cramerton, NC
Stow your boats after the Floating Concert and head to Confluence for more live music Saturday evening! Every drink you buy goes back to supporting the work Catawba Riverkeeper does to preserve, protect, and restore our local water resources.
Entry to Confluence is free.
Live Music - Cody Gentry: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Come to Confluence to enjoy the music of Cody Gentry after the Floating Concert! Entry to this concert is free.
Live Music - David Childers & The Serpents: 8:30 - 10:30 pm
Stick around at Confluence to enjoy the music of David Childers & The Serpents! Entry to this concert is free.
Get Involved at RiverFest!
Click the appropriate button below to become an artisan vendor, business vendor, event sponsor, or volunteer!
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 RiverFest will take place outside The Dynamo 31 Building. The address is 102 Main Street, McAdenville, NC 28101.
After the Floating Concert, more music acts and karaoke will be held in Confluence (Catawba Riverkeeper's headquarters & 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 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. 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, NOT AFTER!
The shuttle will run regularly 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?
ButtonNo, we do not permit any outside alcohol to be brought into the festival grounds. Drinks can be purchased at our Beverage Tent and from our beer vendors.
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