Chattanooga is situated along the Georgia border in the southeast part of Tennessee. Cooking on the grounds or bringing in outside food, picnic supplies, coolers, refillable containers, glass bottles or beverages will not be allowed. map: false, (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Friends of the Festival. Her husband, Sam, however, was very helpful and active at our first summer 1981 planning seminars. After returning from his trip to Spoleto, Hetzler hosted a brainstorming session at his house and eventually chaired a group that would later hire Bruce Storey, who died earlier this month, and his newly formed events-producing company, Variety Services, to run the new festival. Concert Information The goal was to book a variety of acts to bring different audiences down to the river. OUR MISSION The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. Admission is given to people with special scannable wristbands, which can be purchased in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia in the weeks leading up to the festival for a discounted price or purchased at the gate for a regular price. }); The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library hosted events for kids, and a children's film festival was held at the old Kirkman High School. "We sailed up and down that river until 3:30 in the morning," he says. "prerollTemplate":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/132916964,1079947/wdef.com/chattanooga&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&correlator=1674016214&cust_params=category=Chattanooga%2CEntertainment%2CFeatured%2CFrom%20The%20Archives%2CHamilton%20County%2CLocal%20News&video_position=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wdef.com%2Ffrom-the-archives-the-first-riverbend-festival%2F&post=931538" Riverbend 2022 was awesome, Bojoh said. Nashville's Summer Lights began the same year as Riverbend. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. Discover something new every day from News, Sports, Finance, Entertainment and more! The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, was a well-known annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival. Launched in 1982, Friends of the Festival is a non-profit organization that was created to attract sponsors, promote, set up, and produce Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga's first and original music festival held in the heart of downtown on the banks of the Tennessee River. Riverbend ignited civic pride, stimulated business and civic leaders to rethink downtown, and showcased the arts. Today, Riverbend ranks in the top 10% of all music festivals, increases Chattanooga-Hamilton County tax collections by $800,000, and it provides over $20 million in economic impact. The designated pick up and drop off areas are mentioned on the website. Before the inaugural Riverbend Festival in August of 1982, organizers booked three shows at Engel Stadium to raise money for the bigger festival. The first ever Riverbend Festival took place in 1982 as a five-day event. 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013 2012 2011. Event Production and Management. In the familiar story, the blind men each touch a different part of the elephant and come away with different ideas of what it is. Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Music truly enriches the human experience.. During the multiple-day engagement, revelers can enjoy performances by over 80 regional and nationally touring musical acts in the realms of country, rock, pop and soul. At the time of Five Nights, Robbins was director of the Chattanooga Arts Council, which merged in 1982 with Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, now called ArtsBuild. The 2022 event, which marks Riverbend . Some events were ticketed, but most were free. While the list of original goals for the as-yet-nebulous festival included things like "economic benefit," "people to downtown," "civic publicity," "civic pride" and "artistic quality," which the committee defined as featuring big names and local showcases in any creative area, the committee was looking for an event to showcase fine arts at various locations around town. The Friends of the Festival Board of Directors met Monday and decided to put the community's largest festival first produced in 1982 on hold for another year. Sign up for our e-newsletter for festival updates! Family-friendly, pet-friendly and welcoming to all to enjoy Saturdays on the river. Security personnel will be present at the entrances and will also be present inside the park during the events. field59.ipo = { Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit 6/5/2022 at Riverbend Festival | Dylan Basden Photography Alabama native Jason Isbell closed out the festival with his band The 400 Unit. After a dinner at my home in September 1980 for some friends and arts leaders to brainstorm the possibility of such a large festival for Chattanooga, I talked these examples up all the fall of 1980 and spring 1981, to the point that Allied Arts leaders warned me and Mickey Robbins not to continue to push this since it might "dilute" their fundraising efforts. "It's complicated, of course, but I did live through it," he says in a recent email. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. No stranger to large crowds, Isbell and company rocked out. The festival boasts seven stages, with more than 100 performers. We invite you to join us each Sunday, in person or online, at 9:30 & 11:00AM. The event will take place on June 3 through 5 at Ross's Landing in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. } All Ages. We are the most trusted source for local news. The weather is typically warm and sunny in Tennessee, but May has been known to bring some showers. This won us a $26,000 planning grant, larger than another foundation test grant for a Chamber of Commerce weekend downtown festival similar to past limited efforts by the Allied Arts organization. All bags and belongings will be searched before entry. 201 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402, USA USA Get Directions Featured Hotels in Chattanooga More Hotels 38 Followers Connect, Meet and Build a Strong Network Related Events More Events Around Chattanooga Chattanooga All Events Trade Shows Consumer Fair Trade Shows Consumer Fair Events in USA Events in Chattanooga Maybe a comprehensive Chattanooga town arts festival will emerge from the many new performance and street spaces that downtown offers today, a new festival that will have the social, cultural and economic impact of festivals such as Charleston's and Salzburg's powerful engines of change. An annual juried art show that attracts visual artists from across the country, and has been ranked in the top 30 fine art festivals in country. Instead, it should focus on what was already here, Breland says. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Friends of The Festival Inc. Friends of the Festival - Inc. Revenue. Riverbend Festival, or Riverbend, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Officially established in 1982 by Chattanooga locals, the event was created as an avenue through which the community could come together and celebrate . Hotels/Motels close to Riverbend Festival are shown below ordered by distance (closest first). Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began . The entrances are accessible, and select viewing areas at ground level are reserved for patrons with disabilities. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, is a well-known annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival. Riverbend Music festival closes out a fantastic weekend along the banks of the Tennessee River. Richard Brewer said he came to the first Riverbend Festival in 1982. The Frnkische Rezat flows through Georgensgmnd into the Rednitz.. Riverbend started using admission pins in 1983 and they have become collectible for fans over the years. Sunday, June 20, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Little Richard Add Setlist Monday, June 21, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Deanna Bogart First Aid tents will be located throughout the venue. "Part of Bruce's genius was getting Walker involved," says Robbins. Jun. Metered parking is available on most streets. Breland also recalls riding up and down the Tennessee River in a boat with singer/songwriter Roberta Flack following her performance on the fifth night of the then six-night festival. The now-familiar pins did not come into play until the next year. Jazz legend Count Basie and his big band, gospel singer Andre Crouch, Soul songstress Roberta Flack, the semi-legendary local band Overland, and Bluegrass & Riverboat Captain John Hartford. Wed love to hear from you. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982. submission: { Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist assigned to 3rd IDs band. In 1987, for example, the Jet Riverbend Challenge, the Inboard Championship Series and The Automotive Thunderboats all took place. Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga's original music festival, announced their entire lineup for this year's festival. Now, no one seems to know what happened at Riverbend's beginning or care very much, my fellow organizers tell me. Jason Isbell's another "festival goer's festival" artist, and indeed in the audience before his show I met many first-time Riverbend goers, but long time festival veterans, who came from . submission: { Many of the restaurants and bars have live music in the evenings, which you can enjoy with a refreshing cocktail. So when talk began of putting together an arts festival to promote the city, many forces fell into place under his leadership. Various local and national companies sponsor different stages. The investment our audience makes in our festival increases the Chattanooga-Hamilton County tax collections by $800,000 and provides $30 million in economic impact. Operating with only one stage, located where the Coca-Cola Stage is now, performers included Flack, John Hartford, who performed on Saturday and emceed the International Fiddler's Championship Finals on Sunday. The big names in 1987 were Chicago, The Spinners, The Judds, who actually opened for Reba McEntire on the Coca-Cola Stage, Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger together, and Willie Nelson. Affordable local shuttles will be ferrying guests to and from the venue on all the days of the festival. Over the years, the festival grew into the nine nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 percent of all American festivals. virtual: false, [3] Admission was previously given to people who had collectible Riverbend Pins. Festival wristbands also allow guests to have an associated card to simplify purchases. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. Several local acts, including Overland and the Chattanooga Choo Choo Barbershop Chorus took the stage. The Festival booked three pop acts to play pre-Riverbend events at Engel Stadium. The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. Bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, skates, scooters, or other personal motor vehicles will not be allowed at the Riverbend Festival. I suppose Commissioner Robinson's "history" on the Riverbend official web page reflects her memories or what someone uninformed wrote for her. When Walker Breland thinks back to the very first Riverbend Festival in August 1982, he remembers first going to people like Scotty Probasco, president at American National Bank, and Carey. When it comes to food, you'll find much more than the usual festival fare at the Riverbend Festival. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. The Riverbend Festival was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga. Additionally, Riverbend has won . Riverbend Festival is Chattanooga's longest running, award winning music festival celebrating 39 years as the Scenic City's premier event. Book a spot at a campsite or RV park nearby in advance. Jacob added that, as the band, they are the bridge between civilians and the military, sometimes being the only military members some people get to meet. [1] The festival was named for the bend in the Tennessee River on which Chattanooga was established. Finance, Entertainment and more at Riverbend 's beginning or care very much my! Station will also have accessible restrooms, which you can enjoy with refreshing. Last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well rocked out or online, at 9:30 amp. 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