RiverLink invites everyone to their biggest party of the year. The 15th annual RiverFest happens at French Broad River Park on Saturday, August 9 from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The highlight of the event is the Anything that Floats Parade. Groups building watercraft of all kinds have an opportunity to show off their creativity and their cause and have a blast.
Participants can construct their vessels out of anything they can find that floats and parade them by the festival grounds. The only rules are that they must float and must be powered by wind, solar or our own herculean strength – no motors allowed — and be removed from the festival grounds upon completion of the race. You don’t have time to build a “Yacht” to be on the river that day– rent a tube and enjoy the festivities from the water.
A registration form and information are available at
The Prestige Subaru Stage will also offer live music, featuring Soldier’s Heart, Ashley Heath and Plankeye Peggy.
This is a family-friendly event and RiverFest offers lots of fun for kids, too, with face-painters, art supplies, hoola hooping, juggling and craft booths. Kids can ride, skate, walk, run, and skip in costume in the Kids Parade, which starts at 1.
A variety of local food trucks will offer vegetarian and meat-loving options. This year food truck food court includes El Kimchi, Avery’s Hot Dogs, Farm to Fender, Taste & See NC, Root Down as well as Ursa Minor Coffee and the ice Cream from Sunshine Sammies. There will be beer from Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues.
To ease parking woes, RiverLink will be offering shuttle service from a satellite parking are at 144 Riverside Drive, the property known as The RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza (map).
There will also be trolleys from Gray Line making non-stop trips between the event site and two satellite parking areas:
- In West Asheville, there will be service at Grace Baptist Church, 718 Haywood Road (map). The Grace parking area is towards the rear of the building. Parking is not allowed in the bank lot.
- On the other side of the river, the trolley stop will be the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave (map).
Volunteers are still needed to make this a fun and successful event! In exchange for their time and hard work, volunteers receive a free t-shirt and a free drink per shift. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact the RiverLink’s Director of Volunteer Services, Dave Russell, at volunteer@riverlink.orgor 252-8474, ext. 11.