The city of Rome will host a weeklong celebration this spring to celebrate its rivers, its history and the environment.
A press conference Friday at City Hall unveiled plans for the inaugural River Days, which will be April 19-26 at various sites across Rome and Floyd County. Click here to see a video.
Activities, many of them “green” events, will range from nature walks and presentations to plant and herb sales, handcycling races, concerts, an international festival and a catfish tournament.
“We’re excited to announce a new festival in Rome that is the culmination of the work of a lot of different organizations,” said Jennifer Collins, the city of Rome’s public information and marketing coordinator. “These events will celebrate Rome’s riverways, heritage and culture with an emphasis on being environmentally friendly.”
Collins and several other speakers outlined the plans for River Days. Some of the highlights include an herb and plant sale at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds (April 19-20), the Clocktower Classic handcycling races (click here to see a video from last year) (April 24-26), the Rome International Festival and Waterfest VIII (April 25-26) and a catfish tournament (April 26).
The week will also see the dedication of the pedestrian bridge over the Oostanaula River near The Forum, a National Arbor Day tree planting, a floating bonfire on the river, nature walks at the Ross to Ridge Trail and the Black’s Bluff Nature Conservancy and tours at the Rome Area History Museum and the Chieftains Museum.
Many of the events at River Days are traditional things that have been held before — however, this project helps unite them into one celebration.
“We’ve hosted our event at the same time of some of these larger events in the past, and we had a lot of cross-participation,” said George Pullen, the International Festival director. “The festival itself is similar to what we’ve had in years past.”
Ann Hortman, of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that even though the Tour de Georgia is not coming to Rome this year, there will still be cycling competitions through downtown with handcycling events.
“This is an Olympic year, so a lot of these same racers in Rome will be in the Paralympics in China,” Hortman said. “This is an opportunity for everyone to come see Olympic-caliber athletes in our own backyard.”
Joe Cook, of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, detailed plans for the Waterfest VIII events, which will include a canoe-a-thon and race, kayak tug-of-wars (click here to see a video from last year), an environmental fair and quiz bowl, exhibits and a kid’s corner.
Kristi Kent of the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority said the concert at Ridge Ferry Park on April 26 will include Southern Thunder, Peachtree Station and T. Graham Brown.
Tickets for the concert will be $10 and will go on sale March 3.
River Days Scheduled Events
Chieftains Museum Annual Herb & Plant Sale Coosa Valley Fairgrounds April 19 8am-4pm April 20 1pm-4pm Plants and herbs will be for sale at varying prices. Proceeds go to the operations of the Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home 706/ 291-9494 Chieftainsmuseum.org Contact: Claudia M. Oakes
Spring Nature Walks April 19, 10am Ross to Ridge Trail 2.5 mile (one way) walk starting at the Rome Area History Museum, proceeding to the confluence of Rome’s three rivers, and continuing along the historic Ross - Ridge Road ending at Chieftain’s Museum. A narration of Rome’s rivers and Cherokee heritage will be presented during the walk. April 26, 10am Blacks Bluff Nature Conservancy Learn of the unique and beautiful plants as you discover this beautiful, pristine area along a Nature Conservancy Trail. RomeGeorgia.org
Neighborhood Focus Garden Homes April 21-25 NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS is a highly visible, concentrated beautification effort which takes place in Rome’s landmark neighborhoods throughout the year. NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS centers on enforcement, education, community improvement and beautification projects utilizing the input and participation of area residents, businesses and civic groups. City departments will work with residents to improve the quality of life in a particular neighborhood by providing specific education and services for a five-day period. RomeGA.us/neighborhoodfocus Contact: Mary Hardin Thornton, 706/236-4456
Clocktower Classic Handcycling Various locations to be announced April 24-26 Events include: Road Race, Time Trial, and Criterium US & international athletes will compete in three races over three days. EVERYONE is welcome to come out and cheer on the racers. Several of the athletes will be competing for a place on the US Paralympic Cycling Team for the Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing. This event is sanctioned by the US Handcycling Federation. 706/295-5576 RomeGeorgia.org Contact: Ann Hortman
International Festival Bridgepoint Plaza April 25 Concert: Featuring Tara La’Dell, Country artist hailing from Rome April 26 Festival, 11am-3pm This event will showcase cultural displays, food, fashion, arts, crafts and cultural entertainment. FREE to the public. Vending opportunities available. The Rome International Festival is a festival intended to celebrate cultural diversity by promoting an understanding of diversity among various cultures and ethnic groups in Rome and Floyd County. All proceeds from this year’s event will off-set the cost of a planned trip to Rome’s sister city Ueki, Japan later this year. Contact: George Pullen, 706/295-0010
Waterfest VIII Ridge Ferry Park April 25 4:30-8:30pm Kayak Tug-O-War April 26 10am-5pm Kayak Tug-O-War, Canoe-a-thon and Race, Environmental Fair and Environmental Quiz Bowl CRBI’s WATERFEST VIII is a celebration of the Upper Coosa River Basin--North America’s most biologically diverse river basin. The two-day event features a 13-mile canoe/kayak Race & Canoe-a-thon on the Oostanaula River, Georgia’s only canoe/kayak tug-o-war competition, an environmental scavenger hunt and quiz bowl competition for kids, boat demos, educational exhibits and merchandise and food vendors. Coosa.org Contact: Joe Cook, 706/232-CRBI (2724)
Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest - Catfish Tournament April 26, 2008 Put-In, Lock & Dam, Daylight Organized by Ken Freeman Outdoors kenfreemanoutdoorpromotions.com
River Days Concert Ridge Ferry Park April 26 Gates open at 4:00pm, Concert from 5:00-11:00pm Tickets: $10 The Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority will host the River Days Concert featuring three bands for a great night of country and rock. The concert opens with local favorite, Southern Thunder of Rockmart, GA. Peachtree Station, a rockin’ country band, hits the stage at 7:00 pm, performing songs from all genres. Award-winning county artist, T Graham Brown, goes on stage at 9:00 pm and will thrill fans with his soulful country music. Tickets go on sale at the RFPRA main office, 300 W. Third St., starting March 3. RFPRA.com Contact: Betsy Hampson, 706.291.0766
Household Hazardous Waste Recycling State Mutual Stadium April 26, 9am-2pm RomeFloydRecycles.org
Additional Events
April 25: Dedication of Pedestrian Bridge; FireWater at the Confluence of Rome’s Riverways; National Arbor Day Tree Planting
April 26: FREE Water Taxi aboard the Roman Holiday from Ridge Ferry Park (Waterfest VIII) to Unity Point (International Festival) from 11am-5pm
