Wilmington NC Riverfest Festival Pageant

08/02/2026

Today I had the honour to finally meet the newest edition to the Riverfestival Queens family! She is a pure delight.

👑 I am so excited to welcome Phyllis-Grace Williamson as our new Riverfest Princess. As usual our bunch was a bit overwhelming but Phyllis-Grace hung right in there.

🤯 Crystal Cummings OUT DID HERSELF WITH EVERYTHING!! pictures and gratitude post to come. For now Wilmington community please welcome our Riverfest Princess for 2026....

📃 🌊👑

I am Phyllis-Grace Williamson, the 15-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Williamson. I am honored to serve as the 2026 Wilmington Riverfest Princess Queen. This role will allow me to represent the beautiful city of Wilmington and the great state of North Carolina, while promoting one of our state's most cherished festivals. One of the most meaningful parts of my journey is advocating for my platform, "Protect Today, HEAR for Life." Through this platform, I share my personal story of living with hearing loss and how hearing aids have positively impacted my life.

I am a rising junior at West Columbus High School, where I enjoy being involved in both my school and community. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Governor's School of North Carolina for dance, where I expanded my artistic abilities, formed lifelong friendships, and learned from talented students and instructors from across the state. Dance has been a significant part of my life for the past 13 years, and I have proudly competed for the last five years with Amy's Academy of Dance Arts. The discipline, dedication, and confidence I have gained through dance have shaped me into the young woman I am today. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and experiencing different cultures and countries. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a degree in the medical field, where I hope to combine my passion for helping others with my desire to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. I am grateful for every opportunity to serve my community, inspire others through my platform, and represent Wilmington Riverfest with pride, compassion, and purpose.

07/11/2026

It is with disappointment and sadness that the Riverfest Committee must announce the cancellation of this year's pageant due to low contestant participation.

While this is not how we intended the year to begin or end, we remain committed to making Riverfest a community-centered event that fosters positive experiences and meaningful connections for everyone involved.

Although the pageant will not take place this year, we are proud to have one young lady representing our Teen division, as she was the sole contestant to enter. We sincerely thank her and her family for their faith in the program and their desire to be a part of the Riverfest family.

We look forward to officially introducing our 2026 Riverfest Teen representative on August 1.

Thank you to our community for your continued support, and we look forward to future opportunities to celebrate Riverfest together.

06/24/2026

Look! What Rex and Sons RVs is doing for their summer deal. 🚃

Not only a deal for us but also a give back to our community. 💸

Small local business giving back to the community they serve, while helping us save some much needed dollars. LUV IT.

🔥 SUNSEEKER SIZZLING SUMMER SALE! 🚐☀️

Save BIG on new Sunseeker Class C Motorhomes at Rex & Sons RVs!

❤️ A portion of every test drive and sale helps the Care Camps Foundation provide the healing power of the outdoors to kids with cancer.

Adventure with a purpose. 🌲✨

06/12/2026

As we approach our 2026 Wilmington NC Riverfest Festival Pageant we say thank you to our Platinum sponsor Studio J.

The owner Jalyssa Lacey McRae is a full time pageant lover and was the first to step up and offer her talents. Our promo shots & crowning shots are all her.

The Riverfestival Queens thank her tremendously.

06/10/2026

For all of those wanting to join us August 1st our application link is below ⬇️
DEADLINE is JULY 3rd extended from JULY 1st 🎯
As of now we only have 1 entry 🫣

Teen 15-19 years old
Queen 20-24 years old

03/20/2026

We are so proud to have Rex and Sons RVs as a sponsor. Each year they offer impeccable service .

Join Rex & Sons RVs for the biggest RV event of the season! Explore a massive selection of new and used RVs, enjoy exclusive show-only pricing, attend free seminars, and take advantage of huge discounts in our Parts & Accessories Department.

02/14/2026

Today, we share important news regarding our Riverfest Royalty.

Our current Riverfest Queen has made the difficult decision to relinquish her crown in order to focus on personal matters that require her full attention at this time. While we are saddened to see her step away from her official duties, we fully support her decision and admire the strength and maturity it took to put her well-being first.

During her time as Riverfest Queen, she represented our community with kindness, and integrity. She served as a wonderful ambassador for Riverfest, always showing up with a warm smile and a genuine heart for others.

We are especially grateful for her dedication to the children she teaches. Her commitment to shaping young minds and making a difference in the lives of her students speaks volumes about her character. The same compassion and leadership she brings to her classroom were evident the day she was crowned.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to her mother and father for raising such a remarkable young lady. Their guidance, support, and values are clearly reflected in the young woman she is becoming.

Please join us in thanking her for her service, her dedication, and the positive impact she has made on our festival and our community. We wish her peace, strength, as she focuses on the next chapter.

02/12/2026

We Ready!
Come join us.