For information about the Catfish Days flea market on North Water St. please contact The Women of Wilmington via their Facebook page or [email protected]
For all other festival inquiries, please contact [email protected]
2024 Catfish Days Schedule
HAPPENINGS ALL WEEKEND
🎪 CARNIVAL – With $25.00 All You Can Ride Specials on Thursday & Sunday 🎡
🌭 FOOD VENDORS—A great variety of food
🍻 BEER GARDEN—serving ice-cold beverages Friday-Sunday
All events on the North Island unless noted.
THURSDAY
JULY 25TH
Teen Night
Sponsored by Riverfront Lanes
- 9am - Medallion Hunt clue
- 6pm - Dunk Tank & Fear Factor sponsored by Wilmington Coalition and St. Rose
- 6pm - Ice Ice Baby
- 6-9pmpm - DJ Roy Gregory on Main Stage
- 6:30-9pm - Pixy Face Painting
- 6-10pm - Carnival, food vendors & info tent OPEN Wristband Night-$25/all you can ride
- 9pm - Fearless: A Tribute to Taylor Swift on Main Stage
Utilize our new shuttle for convenient no hassle parking at CFD 2024! Generously provided by Illinois Central Bus Co.
Look for ‘Shuttle Stop Here’ signs posted!
Stops Include: City Hall, South Island, and Walkbridge to Downtown
Look for ‘Shuttle Stop Here’ signs posted!
Stops Include: City Hall, South Island, and Walkbridge to Downtown
FRIDAY
JULY 26TH
- 6-12am - Carnival, Food vendors, info tent & Beer Garden OPEN
- 6pm - Reptile Show by Crosstown Exotics
- 6pm - Shuttle OPEN Sponsored by Illinois Central Bus Co.
- 7pm - Line Dancing with DJ, Doug Pfaff
- 8pm - Cowboy Co. The Country Music Show on the Main Stage
- 8pm - Late Night food on N Water St *Downtown*
- 9:30pm - Fireworks
- 10pm - Shuttle CLOSES
SATURDAY
JULY 27TH
- 9am-4pm - Women of Wilmington Flea Market *Downtown*
- 9am - Medallion Hunt clue
- 10am - Skinners Bike & Pet Parade sponsored by Skinners Animal Clinic Skinner's Meet at Wilmington Park District at 9:30am
- 10am - Shuttle OPEN Sponsored by Illinois Central Bus Co.
- 12pm-12am - Carnival, Food vendors, info tent & Beer Garden OPEN
- 12-5pm - DJ Roy Gregory on Main Stage
- 1-5pm - Millers Petting Zoo
- 1pm - Performances by WHS Spiritline, Park District Dancers, and Belly Dancing by Cassandra Corette
- 2-5pm - Youth Bean Bag Tournament Sponsored by Wilmington Park District
- 8pm - Any Given Weekend on Main Stage
- 8pm - Late Night food on N Water St. *Downtown*
- 9:30pm - Laser Show
- 10pm - Shuttle CLOSES
SUNDAY
JULY 28TH
- 8am-12pm - VFW Breakfast Buffet @ VFW
- 10am-4pm - Rusty Nutz Car Show
- 12-1pm - Sensory hour at the carnival
- 12-6pm - Carnival, Food vendors, info tent & Beer Garden OPEN
- 1pm - CFD Parade*leaves from Steven's Intermediate School to Water St to Mill St. Mr. D’s Magic Show and Ice Ice Baby Immediately following parade in Downtown Parking Lot
- 2-6pm - Rick Lindy Band on Main Stage
- 2-6pm - Wristband hours-$25/all you can ride
- 3pm - Fear Factor Finals
- 3:30pm - Coloring Contest Winners announced
- 4pm - Duck Races sponsored by Lions Club
- 6-7:30pm - Wilmington Community Band at Veterans Park
Catfish Dinners
Would it be Catfish Days without a delicious catfish dinner? Stop in any of these restaurants
during the festival and to enjoy mouth-watering catfish meal deals!
The Rustic Inn
108 N. Water Street
815-476-7290
Choice of whole or filet farm-fresh catfish, coleslaw, potato wedges, and an ear of corn.
Wilmington House Family Restaurant
210 Bridge Street
815-476-2426
Broasted whole or filet catfish dinner with hush puppies, potato salad, and choice of either soup or salad. Dine-in or carry-out.
Wilmington VFW Post 5422
557 W. Baltimore street
815-926-2045
Serving Friday from 3pm-8pm and Saturday from 6pm-8:30pm. Catfish Filet dinners with choice of fries or baked potato, cole slaw and hush puppies. Dine-In or Carry-Out available.
Hayden’s Crossing
107 N. Water Street
815-476-5925
Offering a variety of catfish specials all weekend long including catfish filet dinners; catfish po boys; catfish tacos and catfish gumbo along with“adult” lemon shake-ups and a new drink this year called River Water featuring vodka, rum and fruit juice.
Event Forms
Contact
A Little Catfish Days History
Catfish have long been a specialty of Wilmington. Why? Because they played a large part in initiating the event, Catfish Days, after Forked Creek spilled over its banks and flooded the cellars of a section of Wilmington called, “Catfish Town”. This section was located in a hollow behind the Chicago and Alton railroad depot before the turn of the Century.
The first Catfish Days Festival was held in 1976 as a part of the bicentennial celebration of our country. Because of its acceptance and the enthusiasm it engendered, it had become an annual event. The Wilmington Area Historical Society coordinated the festival for the second and third years.
By the sixth year, it had grown so large that a separate Catfish Days Committee sponsored by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce was established.
1985 would hold the last Catfish Days festival, it would be 14 years before it would be revived. In 1999, the city of Wilmington once again celebrated the festival.
To date, Catfish days is running strong with many things to see and do for all ages!
Ⓒ 2024 Catfish Days