The latest plans for the upcoming Riverwalk Festival are coming together
Stacey Smith and Jeff Holstein are busy contacting vendors, seeking volunteers and fine tuning other details that are involved in planning Rockmart’s second annual Riverwalk Festival on the Euharlee.
The 2016 festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2116.
The festival was initially planned to encourage homefolks and visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of Seaborn Jones and J. L. Lester parks. Both are located on the banks of Euharlee Creek, which flows through the downtown area.
Euharlee Creek is a part of the City’s history. Senior citizens can remember the days when they enjoyed a picnic beneath the tall oak trees that grow in the park and perhaps go wading in the cool, clear water. Today, it still draws the interest of local residents and visitors who pause on the walking bridge to listen to the sounds of a free running stream.
Mayor Steve Miller said the Riverwalk Festival is a shared vision of local officials and community leaders. Plans are to spotlight downtown Rockmart, which continues to draw crowds. One of the most popular is the new block parties, which are scheduled through September.
The Riverwalk Festival is planned to provide people of all ages a stroll through the past and present by showcasing the art and craftsmanship of local and regional artists.
This year, a number of new activities are planned. This includes a Ferris wheel that will be placed near the Silver Comet Trailhead. Although the festival is free, a $1 donation per person will be accepted for rides on this attraction.
Arts and crafts will include woodworking, jewelry, pottery, face painting, wreaths, penworks, soaps and spe- cial entertainment for the kids with inflatables that will get their attention.
Discussion is ongoing about participation from Redmond Medical Center and Rockmart Farmers Market with Kiwanis members and Masons providing refreshments.
Highlighting the event will be horse drawn carriage rides with a featured speaker providing ghost stories and local history about Rockmart’s past.
Hopes are to provide bluegrass music and a fireworks display to conclude the festival.
“Since this in October, it is a great time to combine history with traditional ghost stories,” said Smith.
“We still need vendors,” Smith said. “We encourage any individual that has special talent to showcase it in this new festival.”
For vendor information, call Jeff Holstein at 770-684-2706 or Smith at 770-684-5454. A $25 vendor fee is charged.
During 2015, Riverwalk’s music line up included Heirborn Quartet, which traces its history back to 1993. Prior to that time, they traveled several years as the Glorybound Quartet.
The VaudeVillains, an Atlanta based string trio with classic southern charm, performed at 1 p.m. They played original arrangements and creative covers of classic songs in their own unique style.
Other featured artists were The Pea Valley Flyers at 2 p.m. and Scarlet Wool, 3 p.m. Both groups are wellknown favorites that have a style that attracts people.
Riverwalk 2015 also featured food vendors and even a fried pie competition plus special events for children, including inflatables and games.