×

Rivers, Trails and Ales begins in Marietta

MARIETTA – The annual Rivers, Trails and Ales festival kicks off today in hopes of highlighting everything the area has to offer.

Marietta Main Street Executive Director Cristie Thomas said the sixth annual Rivers, Trails and Ales is something community members should seriously consider attending.

“It highlights Marietta’s natural assets in all the best ways: Our landscapes, our trails network,” she said. “There’s literally something for everybody, and there’s not a single hour that will go by, whether you’re into paddling, mountain-biking – whatever it is, there’s something for you at this event.”

The multi-day festival kicks off at 9 p.m. today with a party at the Marietta Brewing Company. Events continue from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Armory on the 200 block of Front Street.

Events include group rides, bicycle scavenger hunts, hiking, live music and much more. Merchandise, including T-shirts, socks, hats, mugs, etc, will be available for purchase and VIP passes that offer discounts and prizes are also available.

A detailed schedule is available online at www.rtafest.com.

“There’s over 50 events have that been coordinated,” Thomas said. “People come in from miles and miles away from all over to … participate.”

Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival Director Hallie Taylor, also co-owner of the Marietta Adventure Company, said the festival is a great event to bring the community together.

“It’s really just about bringing people together to enjoy some of the outdoor activities that we have at our fingertips here year-round,” she said. “It’s a great time to get together with friends and for visitors to come and see what we have in the area.”

A new addition to the festival is the special Kid’s Guide, with events specifically for the children that attend.

“It’s fun and it’s free; I see no reason not to come and participate,” Taylor said. “There are activities for all ages and skill levels.”

Along with the Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival, downtown Marietta will play host to the Merchants and Artists Walk from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

Thomas said groups can divide and conquer to experience both events and a variety of things that Marietta has to offer.

“We’re making sure there is something for everybody, and making sure shops are out while people walk about, which helps drive sales for our downtown merchants,” she said.

Taylor added that part of the festival’s goal was to not only encourage outdoor adventures, but to also draw in business for downtown Marietta.

“It’s not a traditional sort of festival; we don’t have food trucks and we don’t close off the streets,” she said. “We really have tried to keep the events free as well as keeping things simple. We want to encourage participants to really enjoy our downtown shops and restaurants.”

Also coinciding with the festival and the Merchants and Artists Walk is the 5Point Adventure Film Festival – a new addition this year – put on by the Peoples Bank Theatre from 8-10 p.m. Friday and 4-6 p.m. Saturday, featuring 12 to 14 short documentary adventure films.

Furthermore, the Marietta Brewing Company’s annual Rivers, Trails and Ales Beer Mini-Fest, in which many of Ohio’s craft beers will be highlighted, will also be held during the festival from 4 to7 p.m. on Saturday.

“Over the course of the last decade, volunteers have built and maintained Marietta city’s trails,” Thomas said. “That’s the reason we are able to have this in the first place, because of people who were forward-thinking and saying we need this. We get to have the festival because of this, so it’s really cool.”

Thomas said the nature of the festival in bringing people downtown and then taking them out is a draw that reaches locals and people all over the area and places Marietta in a good light.

“They really get to explore the best of what we have to offer in our city – it’s a huge asset to tourism,” she said. “They get to see us looking our best for an entire weekend in a variety of ways.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today