To:

Mayor Bill Saffo and Members of the Wilmington City Council

Melissa Lasarsky, Executive Director, North Carolina Azalea Festival

Wilmington Riverfest Organizers

Kayla Perkins, Recreation Supervisor – Special Events, City of Wilmington Parks & Recreation

We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and stakeholders in historic downtown Wilmington, are writing to respectfully petition for changes to the layout of the North Carolina Azalea Festival Street Fair and the Wilmington Riverfest Arts & Crafts Street Fair. Specifically, we request that Front Street no longer be used as the primary location for vendor booths, street closures, and associated event activities in future years.

While we fully support the cultural and economic value these festivals bring to our community, the current setup on Front Street causes significant and ongoing hardship for local businesses.

The presence of food vendors results in substantial loss of business for established downtown restaurants, as they directly compete for the same customers during the event. Many shops are forced to close or limit operations due to theft, inconsiderate use of their facilities, and the overuse of public and private restrooms by non-shoppers. Additionally, the events cause destruction to the streets and surrounding property, further burdening business owners with repair and cleanup costs.

Street closures on Front Street lead to major loss of business, disruption of normal operations, and serious staffing challenges. Employees face difficulties with parking and transportation, creating safety hazards when staff must walk back to their parked cars after shifts. While we understand that the parade on 3rd Street is generally acceptable, shutting down Front Street for entire weekend festivals is inconsiderate to the tax-paying businesses that operate here year-round.

We strongly believe that fairs, vendors, and similar events should be held in large areas specifically designed for that purpose — not directly in front of established, tax-paying business entrances. We have no objection to relocating the vendor area further down Front Street, past the main business district toward the Cape Fear Community College campus lots or the Live Oak Bank Pavilion area. However, we believe tourists would appreciate our downtown historic district far more without the distraction of vendors blocking entrances and views. Allowing the core downtown area to remain fully open and operational, while moving the vendors to a separate space designed for such events, would significantly benefit tourism by preserving the charm and accessibility of our beautiful city.

For example, vendors such as the Maryland seafood truck set up directly on Front Street do little to help tourists appreciate what makes Wilmington unique. We feel the current planning misses a major opportunity by not considering how these setups can negatively affect the perception and appreciation of our historic downtown district during the festivals.

The business owners and residents of downtown Wilmington are fed up with these repeated negative impacts and demand to be heard. Shutting down Front Street is no longer acceptable. We are committed to advocating strongly for change and look forward to working collaboratively with organizers and the City of Wilmington on a better approach.

We are also deeply concerned about the noticeable influx of violent crime that occurs in the downtown area during these events, including recent serious incidents that have heightened safety risks for residents, visitors, staff, and business owners alike.

We kindly ask that you consider this feedback during planning for the 2027 Azalea Festival and the next Riverfest. We are happy to meet with organizers or city representatives, provide input on alternative sites, or participate in discussions about balancing festival goals with downtown business sustainability and enhanced visitor experience.