Wednesday, April 24, 2002
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
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Columbus packs three days of excitement into 33rd annual Riverfest By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Columbus will be a busy place this weekend as the 33rd annual Riverfest weekend takes over, featuring concerts, the Salisbury fair, the Folklife Village, the Pig Jig, a carnival, a 5K and 10K fun run, a fine arts and crafts show and much more. The festival began 33 years ago as a small street fair held in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce's "Spring Festival Days." The event has moved four times since then in an effort to expose the redevelopment of the Riverfront area. This year's event will take place on the grounds of the South Commons Complex and along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. One of the weekend's biggest attractions is the music. From Friday afternoon until the end of the festival Sunday evening the music is nonstop on four stages. Some of the bands are nationally acclaimed artists, like Montgomery Gentry and The Gap Band, while others are local favorites playing everything from country and bluegrass to rock, jazz or gospel. The Gap Band will perform Friday night and Montgomery Gentry will take the stage Saturday night. Another big attraction is the Pig Jig Barbecue and Cornbread Cookoffs. The Pig Jig is a sanctioned event for serious barbecue cooking teams, while the Cornbread Cookoff has more of an amateur feel and will be prepared on site by local celebrities, businesses and individuals. There will also be food vendors from all over the nation offering a wide assortment of treats throughout the weekend. The Folklife Village will display numerous forms of art including a folk art show that will showcase the work of many of the south's best folk artists and artisans and craftsmen. There will also be a youth art show displaying the work of local children. Add to this the fifth annual Contact Road Race, a full fledged midway carnival, Jack Russell Terrier races, pig races, fireworks and the Hot Air Balloon Festival and you have a full weekend. The road races begin with a one mile fun run/walk at 8 a.m. Saturday and followed by the 5K and 10K run beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Registration is $10 and $15 respectively and proceeds benefit the Contact helpline, a 24-hour crisis intervention information and referral line. How much does all this fun and excitement cost? A three-day pass costs $20 and can be purchased at the Historic Columbus Foundation or the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau. Single-day tickets are $10 for adults while children under the age of 12 are admitted for free. There are designated parking sites and free shuttle buses that will take visitors to the festival. Phone 706-323-7979 or 706-324-3417 for more information. |
