Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center announces the inaugural Wild & Scenic Film Festival this Saturday, featuring environmental and adventure films that "illustrate the Earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet, and the dedicated communities working to protect our natural resources."
In partnership with Chattanooga Presents, the festival also provides guests with a schedule of live music performances, food and drink, remote controlled sailboats, tethered hot air balloon rides, and animal encounters throughout the day. Primitive camping will be available to guests who come prepared.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will take place as part of RiverRocks, the multi-day festival that brings world-class and amateur athletes to the Scenic City to compete, celebrate Chattanooga, and enjoy live music.
"The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was organized and produced by SYRCL (the South Yuba River Citizens League) in 1983. Over the years, this festival created a collection of outstanding films, became a way to increase awareness of the broader environmental and social context and to remind us all that we are participants in a global movement for a more wild and scenic world," officials said.
The film program, which encompasses 17 short films, will be segmented into three themed sessions, followed the evening’s marquee screening. The first session, entitled “The Places You’ll Go,” traces intrepid adventures through exotic landscapes. The second session, “All Creatures Great & Small,” highlights wildlife in environments near and far. The final themed session, “Be the Change,” focuses on action-oriented initiatives and communities. The evening culminates with the award-winning short film, Red Wolf Revival, which documents efforts to restore diminishing populations of the critically endangered American red wolf.
The music schedule includes a variety of local performers, including John Rawlston and Kathy Veazey from 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Kofi Mawuko from 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Megan Saunders and Jonathan McWilliams from 4:30-5:30 p.m.; and Monday Nightfall Social from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Tethered hot air balloon rides will be offered free of charge (weather permitting) from approximately 5-8:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Reflection Riding Visitors Center starting at 11 a.m. the day of the festival. For members of Reflection Riding, prices are $10 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. Non-members will pay $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors. Full-time students (with photo ID) receive a special rate of $10. Festival goers may arrive anytime during the celebration, which takes place between noon-9 p.m. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is supported in part by keystone sponsor, The Patten Group.
Visit RiverRocksChattanooga.com for a full schedule of RiverRocks events.