Activities
Best of the Fest!
Vote for your favorite vendor. Scan the QR code posted at their booth. From unique arts to yummy food – vendors make a festival great! Take a minute to tell us which vendor is your favorite under each category.
Whirli-Kidz Zone
FREE kids activities located in the Worrell’s Seafood Restaurant parking lot. Bounce houses, obstacle course, inflatable slides, interactive games and Bubbles Entertainment.
2024 Winners
Cake Dive
Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 pm on the Courthouse Plaza
Celebrate the festival’s 20th year with a giant cake and chances to win prizes! Register at local businesses before the festival or sign up on Saturday at Phil’s Music or Wilson Paint & Wallpaper. Don’t miss the messiest event of the festival!
Selfie Contest
All day Saturday and Sunday
Celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary with 20 selfie spots! Scan the QR code on the map for locations, then scan at each spot to upload your selfie and enter to win festival merch. Each upload counts as an entry—the more you submit, the better your chances to win!
Best of the Fest!
All day Saturday and Sunday
From unique arts to yummy food – vendors make the festival great! Now is your chance to vote for the best of the fest and nominate your favorite vendor to win. Scan the QR code at vendor booths and tell us which vendor is your favorite under each category.
Activities
Shuttle Services – FREE!
Why walk when you can ride? Catch a ride for FREE! Download the Shuttle Works app – see the shuttle bus
circulating LIVE! Catch a bus, rickshaw, or golf cart. Bus provided by Total Impact Ministries and Webbs Golf Carts.
Making stops in parking areas and parking garage. Donations & Tips accepted.absolutely FREE!
Kids Activities
The Whirli-Kidz Zone will be back in the Worrells Seafood parking lot, near the lighthouse landmark. Several parking lots will be filled with bounce houses, obstacle courses, interactive games and more. Bubbles Entertainment is returning and will release a gazillion bubbles over the weekend. The Whirli-Kidz Zone is
absolutely FREE!
Art Contests
- Chalk Art Contest – Saturday, Nov. 1, 10:00 am – 12 pm
- Build Your Own Whirligig Contest – displayed Saturday & Sunday
- Photo Contest display inside Wilson Arts, Nash Street
- Art contest winners announced on Whirligig Park stage, Saturday – 2 pm
Ed’s LIVE Dinosaur Show
(located on Douglas Street)
Interactive dinosaur show for the whole family.
Saturday – Nov 1
11:00 am
1:00 pm
3:00 pm
Sunday – Nov. 2
12:30 pm
2:00 pm
3:30 pm
Pirate Bay
(located on the Banker’s Stage on Goldsboro St)
Saturday – Nov 1
11:00 am
12:30 pm
2:30 pm
4:00 pm
Sunday – Nov. 2
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
4:00 pm
Free Bucket Rides
While many were worried that the construction zone would eliminate this festival favorite, Wilson Energy worked closely with the festival to make sure it returned! Wilson Energy will once again offer free lifts on bucket trucks at the Whirligig Park. Riders get a bird’s eye view of the gigs! This is open to everyone for FREE – all ages!
Jeep Car Show
Calling all Jeep enthusiasts! The Coastal Plains Jeep Club will host a car show on Barnes Street, near the Ice and
Fuel Co., and The Edge art gallery. Jeepers and car enthusiasts will enjoy a display of a wide variety of Jeeps.
Support the club’s mission to support the local nonprofit, Veterans Residential Services. The club will be selling
raffle tickets for a kid size jeep. In addition, Wilson’s Lee Jeep Ram dealer will also be on sight with a display
should attendees become inspired and interested in upgrading to a new Jeep.
Pedal Power Rides – FREE!
Raleigh Rickshaws will help you get from one end of the festival to the next. Hope in and enjoy the ride. Free
pedal power transportation within the festival zone for most the day and the outer perimeter at the end of the
day. Make sure to thank and TIP your peddler!
Lost Kids Center
Whirli-Kidz Zone @ Human Relations Office (black tent) – Located on Barnes Street near the Lighthouse.
Should any child or parent become separated from their family, they will wait at this tent to be reunited. The
Wilson Police Department will work with the festival to provide safety and support.
Downtown Year ‘Round
Wilson has more downtown merchants then ever! Make sure to explore these businesses.
Vendor Location Kiosks
Looking for your favorite vendor? Want to see all the food vendor options?
Use the enlarged festival maps and full listing of all vendor booths at the kiosks.
Kiosks are located at each intersection, stages and information booths.
Pub Tour
Raise a glass to 21 years of the North Carolina Whirligig Festival with an unforgettable evening in downtown Wilson! Each stop on the tour features exclusive drink specials, live music, and plenty of festival spirit. Check in on the Come See Wilson app at participating locations for a chance to win awesome prizes. Click the button below to see all the stops and plan your Whirli-Good night out!
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