First ever “Gnomies Fest” held in downtown Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Gnomes, fairies, and woodland creatures took over the Cotton Exchange this weekend as downtown Wilmington hosted its first-ever Gnomies Fest, a celebration filled with creativity, family-friendly activities, and local businesses.

The event marked the two-year anniversary of “Gnome Nom Nom-Deli” and featured activities for all ages, including a best-dressed gnome contest, face painting, caricature drawings, mini golf, scavenger hunts, and local vendors.

Co-owner Rob Stange says the festival was created as a way to celebrate the business milestone while bringing together the Cotton Exchange merchants and the downtown Wilmington community.

“The Cotton Exchange has been a huge community for us, and they’ve welcomed us with open arms,” said Stange. “We wanted our first festival to make them a part of it as well. All of our neighbors here are absolutely fantastic, and it was a way to bring everyone together for a full day of fun.”