Sally Robinson, one of the Riverbend Festival founders, will take part in a tribute on Saturday night to Bruce Storey, the first festival director
The 34th edition of the Riverbend Festival gets underway on Friday along Chattanooga's riverfront.
Dixie Fuller, who has worked booking acts and setting up stages for 31 of those years, said it is a top-notch lineup of entertainment this year.
He is especially high on rising Nashville star Sam Hunt, who will be on the Bud Light Stage on Sunday at 8 p.m. "We won't be able to afford him after this year," Mr. Fuller said.
A major change is that there will be two acts on the main Coke Stage each night instead of one. The opening act begins at 6:30 p.m.
There is no longer a Volkswagen Stage on the Chattanooga Green across from the main stage. However, a new Chevrolet Stage is just beyond the Olgiati Bridge. Wine will be available nearby as well as a liquor bar.
The popular lumberjacks show is returning nearby and there will be a speed ride.
This year's sand carving area by the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union booth will go up much higher than in the past.
Chip Baker, executive director, said the work on the "Hard Edge" was supposed to be finished by the start of the festival, but is not quite complete and will resume when the event is over. But he said only a small section of the festival site will be roped off near the river.
Riverbend officials said tickets to the talent who will appear on the Coke Stage would add up to $625 if you were able to catch all of their shows at other venues.
Today (until midnight) is the last day for buying Riverbend arm bands that sold for $39 each. One-day admission is $25. Senior citizens and members of the military pay $15.
The festival on Saturday night will remember its founding director, Bruce Storey, who died last November in Denver where he had lived for a number of years.
Other founders, including former City Councilwoman Sally Robinson, will take part.
She remembered that the festival was launched at a time when it was difficult to get to the river and warehouses were at the Aquarium site. She said it was meant to bring the community together, to reunite the city with the river, and to showcase a variety of musical types.
Officials said festival goers, if they plan to leave the site and return that same evening, need to have their wristband scanned before leaving the site.
Cost of the Bessie Smith Strut on MLK Boulevard on Monday night is $10. The wristbands will not work for the Strut.
Faith and Family Night on Tuesday will feature Matthew West.
Shuttle buses will be available for $1 per ride during the festival except for the night of the Strut.
Gates open at 5 p.m. each day.
Sand carvings will go higher this year at the Riverbend Beach