According to News-Journal, Reno, NV, Cincinnati, OH, and Portland, OR have a similar festival but now there is a new town on the block and it is Ormond Beach, FL.
“Ormond Beach's scenic river for the first time will take center stage over its usually more popular destination -- the Atlantic Ocean”.
The city's first festival called Riverfest ran Saturday and Sunday, and combined folk and bluegrass music on three stages, kayak demonstrations and races, and a whole host of other activities, food vendors from area restaurants, children's corner with a climbing wall and games for children, plus booths offering crafts and representing local businesses.
The festival activities span from the recently renovated Rockefeller Gardens across from the Casements on the south side of Rt. 40 (Granada Ave) and Fortunato Park on the north side of Granada Ave.
The event, which was the idea of a non-profit Ormond MainStreet, is supposed to be like a Florida Folk Festival, according it its executive director.
Organizers are expecting at least 6,000 people during the two-day event. The weather was good Saturday and up until 4 PM on Sunday. It was warm and rather pleasant at 80F.
It is a very slow time in Daytona Beach area, and seeing so many people in both parks, people walking the streets made it very nice. This is a beautiful upscale area of Ormond Beach, the most exclusive of all Greater Daytona Beach. Place, which was once the winter getaway to the wealthiest people on the planet. It has a small town charm, closely resembling Winter Park, which is an hour drive on I-4 towards Orlando.
“Ryck Hundredmark, the event's chairman, said Riverfest's ultimate goal was to bring locals and tourists to the central business districts of Ormond Beach, show off the parks at the Granada Bridge corners and offer family entertainment.”
Among the 30 bands and musicians for the Riverfest at Fortunato and Rockefeller parks are Rod MacDonald, and Amy Carol Webb. Bluegrass, old-time Appalachian roots mountain music, contemporary folk, Americana, a little blues, pop and jazz.
We hope this festival will become an annual tradition. This is the time when tourists are not here, and it is nice to have residents to enjoy the parks and wonderful vistas of the Halifax River.
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