Road bike and mountain bike riders gather for the various 10 a.m. group rides in Marietta’s East Muskingum Park during the 2023 Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival. (File Photo)

MARIETTA — The 14th Annual Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival kicks off tonight with four days of outdoor activities and over 45 events lined up for festival goers.

Marketing and Media Director Natasha Kirby said this year’s festival has some new events that have given the festival a new feel.

“The unofficial theme of 2024 is ‘Get Your Glow On,'” Kirby said.

She said the new event is called RTA Glow Paddle! and involves people going from the Indian Acres boat ramp down to the Boathouse BBQ on the Harmar Village side of the river.

“It’s expected that people will show up with their kayak kind of decked out in LEDs or glow sticks,” Kirby said, adding they also need to have a light that is visible from 360 degrees for water patrol and safety purposes.

Kirby said the festival has activities for all ages, from a gnome hiking event for kids to a 16-mile group bike ride for adults.

“There’s people as old as 65 years old, doing our 16-mile group ride,” Kirby said. “So I think it’s just really cool to see everyone come together throughout our community and enjoy four days of fun that’s free to our community, kind of showcasing all the outdoor activities that we have to offer.”

She said the festival is free to attend but there is a $45 general admission ticket providing access to the Beer Fest, seven beer tokens and a souvenir glow-in-the-dark cup. She said there were about 200 of those tickets left.

Kirby said another new event added this year is the Buckley Island Exploration Paddle and Hike where participants will get to explore the historic island that was once a crossing on the Underground Railroad, a farm and even an amusement park.

A returning event this year is the Mighty Muskingum River Raft Race that has participants race down the Lower Muskingum on a homemade raft.

“You can be a single or a team, and you will be rewarded with a trophy or prize of some kind if you win the event,” She said.

The cost for entry is $20 per raft.

Kirby said they rely on the over 150 volunteers to help run the various events and activities over the four-day festival weekend and volunteers are still needed.

“There’s still some volunteer spots open, and the way they can get to that is by going to our website, scrolling down to volunteer opportunities, and there is a sign up sheet,” She said.

A full list of events and times can also be found on their website at rtafest.com.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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A list of events and times for the 2024 River, Trails and Ales Festival:

TODAY

* 6-7 p.m. – RTA Jam Session at Gunlock Park located behind Lowe’s

* 7:30-9 p.m. – Kick-off Party at The Galley and Adelphia Music Hall

FRIDAY

Anytime after 10 a.m:

* Historic Bicycle Scavenger Hunt

* Mighty Musky River Riddler

* Tots and Trikes Mini Trail Ride

* 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Guided Walk AM, 222 Gilman Ave.

* 9-10:30 a.m. – Gnome Hike Ohio River Islands Wildlife Refuge, 3982 Waverly Road, Williamstown

* 10 a.m. through Sunday at 11 a.m. – Mighty Musky River Riddler

* 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Group Road Rides – Group MTB Rides

* 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Around Town Historic Bike Tour, East Muskingum Park

* 12-2 p.m. – Veto Lake Lunch Paddle – Veto Lake

* 12 p.m. through Saturday at 7 p.m. – Barbells and Mommas Prenatal and Postpartum Care Tent

* 1:30-3:30 p.m. – Guided Walk PM – 222 Gilman Ave.

* 5-6:30 p.m. – Gnome Hike Ohio River Islands Wildlife Refuge, 3982 Waverly Road, Williamstown

* 5:30-7 p.m. – Broughton’s Nature and Wildlife Area Hike – Broughton Nature & Wildlife Foundation

* 8-9:30 p.m. – Group Mountain Bike Night Ride – 100 Mill Creek Road

* 9-11 p.m. – RTA Glow Paddle – Drop-in at Indian Acres Boat Ramp, 147 Linwood Ave.

SATURDAY

* 8-9 a.m. – RTA Yoga with Natalie Ball – East Muskingum Park

* 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – Historic Lock-Thru Paddle – 5010 Muskingum River Road, Lowell

* 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Beverly Island History and Explore Hike and Gnome Hike – 315 Ohio St.

* 9-10 a.m. – Marietta City Trail Run – East Muskingum Park

* 9-10 a.m. – Guided Pollinator Tour – Meet at the Civil War Soldier Monument at 300 Front St.

* 9-9:45 a.m. – Tai Chi presented by Memorial Health System – 310 Front St.

* 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Youth and Adult MTB Skills Clinic – 310 Front St.

* 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Marietta High School Rowing Challenge – 310 Front St

* 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Group Road Rides – East Muskingum Park

* 10-11 a.m. – Around Town Historic Bike Tour – East Muskingum Park

* 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – RTA Gravel Ride – East Muskingum Park

* 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Group Mountain Bike Rides – East Muskingum Park

* 11 a.m. through Sunday at 2 p.m. – Tortoise and the Hare Training Camp – 310 Front St.

* 12-3 p.m. – Kids Bike Rodeo and Strider Adventure Zone – East Muskingum Park

* 2-3 p.m. – Family Fun Ride – East Muskingum Park

* 3-7 p.m. – RTA Adventure Expo – East Muskingum Park

* 3-7 p.m. – RTA Beer Festival – East Muskingum Park

* 7:30-8:30 p.m. – The 14th Annual Tortoise and the Hare World Championship – East Muskingum Park

SUNDAY

* 8:30-10 a.m. – Broughton’s Nature and Wildlife Area Hike – Broughton Nature & Wildlife Foundation

* 8:30-9:30 a.m. – Marietta City Trail Run – East Muskingum Park

* 8:30-11 a.m. – Buckley Island Exploration Paddle and Hike – 3982 Waverly Road, Williamstown

* 10 a.m.-Noon – Group MTB Recovery Ride – East Muskingum Park

* 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Group Road Ride – East Muskingum Park

* 10-11 a.m. – Appalachian Understories Presents: Beginners Botany by Bike

* 1-4 p.m. – Mighty Muskingum River Raft Race! – Indian Acres Park

* 2-3 p.m. – Gnome Adventure Hike Kroger Wetlands – Kroger Wetlands