Riverfest Celebrates 31 Years of Family Fun in Cherokee County

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Fall has arrived in Canton, and that can only mean one thing for residents looking to take advantage of the cooler temperatures: Riverfest is (almost) here!

An annual tradition for many Cherokee County and north Georgia families, the Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival will mark its 31st anniversary this weekend in Canton.

The two-day festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Boling Park, which is located next to Cherokee High School.

Presented by the Service League of Cherokee County, the juried festival features arts, crafts and gourmet products exhibitors, concessionaires and entertainers, as well as many fun and exciting activities for children of all ages.

Riverfest is the Service League’s largest annual fundraising event, with all proceeds benefiting the needy children of Cherokee County. Admission for adults and children 11 and older is a $5 donation. The event will take place rain or shine. Free parking and shuttle services will be available.

No pets, coolers, bicycles, skateboards, or alcoholic beverages are allowed on site during the festival.

Established in 1985, Riverfest has firmly established itself as the cornerstone of the League’s fundraising endeavors and has become for many families an annual tradition to kick off the fall season.

Riverfest showcases the best the South has to offer in handcrafted fine arts, crafts and gourmet products from more than 100 exhibitors. Shoppers will enjoy not only a diverse product selection, but also some of the best entertainment featuring local performers, dancers, musicians, bands and choirs. Student groups from various venues as well as several talented individual artists are slated to perform throughout the weekend.

Samples of some of the most delicious recipes from the Service League’s newest cookbook,Gatherings & Traditions, will be available at the festival, in addition to the wide variety of festival delicacies offered in the concessions area. Several new food vendors have been added, including Cousins Maine Lobster as seen on Emmy award winning reality television series “Shark Tank.”

The festival wouldn’t be complete without a children’s area filled with exciting new attractions for children of all ages, including a zip line, dunk tank and sports-themed games. Many favorites will also return this year, such as pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, the ever-popular hamster bumper balls and more.

Established in 1935 by nine charter members who were visionaries of their day, the Service League of Cherokee County has become one of the oldest service organizations in Cherokee County, growing to a membership of 100 women who collectively volunteer more than 10,000 hours each year to raise funds for local less fortunate children.

Money raised at Riverfest and other League events provide day-to-day necessities such as food, clothing, dental care, eyeglasses, medical care, rental and utilities assistance, scholarships and much more to children.

To learn more about the work and legacy of the Service League, visit www.serviceleague.net.

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Photo credit: Service League of Cherokee County