RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival

The RISE festival will take place Sunday, August 24th, 2025, just weeks from the one-year anniversary of Helene — a highly anticipated milestone for the people and businesses that have worked tirelessly to stand each other back up. Much like a native brook trout chasing a dry fly, together we will RISE to shift the current toward recovery on the river.

The riverfront Wrong Way (9 Midnight Drive, on Amboy Road) will host RISE which will be FREE and open to the public and include activities like casting and fly-tying competitions, clinics, kid-friendly programming, raffles, and shoppable A-frame cabin “takeovers” by outdoor brands. Festivalgoers will enjoy an eclectic mix of live music in the Wrong Way Meadow and food and drinks from Imposter Pizza Co., Chop Shop Butchery, and featured local breweries.

The stand-out signature of the festival will be the Fish Flash Tattoo Studio set up in Wrong Way’s River Lodge. Multiple local tattoo artists will offer river-centric flash designs, in varying artistic styles, for attendees to choose from.

Wrong Way and Uproar have partnered with the North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office to serve as the Presenting Sponsor for RISE.

Davidson River Outfitters, Hunter Banks Fly Fishing, and Headwaters Outfitters will anchor the festival as featured outfitter partners and gear people up on-site. Each iconic Wrong Way A-frame cabin will be available to outdoor brands for activation to create 16 immersive retail experiences on property.

Host or Publisher Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins