Cityfolk seeks festival volunteers

Area residents are invited to play an active role in the annual Cityfolk Festival, June 29-July 1 in downtown Dayton.

As musicians such as bluegrass royalty Rhonda Vincent entertain the crowd, a great deal of work must go on behind the scenes. Several hundred volunteers are needed to serve beverages, sell merchandise and perform many other duties to keep the festival running smoothly.

“It’s really fun to volunteer at the festival,” said Kathleen Alter, executive director of Cityfolk. “You get to be outdoors surrounded by lots of music and people.”

A typical shift is about three hours, and volunteers can choose tasks and time slots that are best suited for them by using an interactive recruitment form online at www.cityfolk.org. The website provides a brief description of each role and lists the number of openings still available.

Giving up a few hours during the festival weekend doesn’t mean volunteers have to miss the musical acts or other activities, since there’s work to be done both beforehand and afterward.

“We always need help with setup and teardown,” Alter said. “And besides, volunteers can usually hear the music from wherever they’re working on the festival site.”

All volunteers will receive a Cityfolk Festival Tshirt, as well as the deep gratitude of the presenting organization.