Editorial
Front Page - Friday, September 17, 2010
New RiverRocks 10-day festival begins in October
David Laprad
RiverRocks is an outdoor festival celebrating the natural resources of the Tennessee Valley, the health benefits of an active, outdoor lifestyle and the activities they inspire as well as Chattanooga’s commitment to environmental stewardship and land conservation. This year’s event will take place October 1 to 10 at locations throughout Chattanooga and the surrounding region.
- Photo provided
Between Chattanooga’s man-made attractions and its natural beauty, outdoor and indoor enthusiasts alike have a plethora of activities from which to choose year round. Now a new festival will bring a line up of over 90 events, taking place October 1 to 10, under a single brand: RiverRocks. Announced last spring, and having more than doubled in size since then, RiverRocks will celebrate and support the Scenic City’s natural assets as it offers ten days of “play with a purpose.”
The organizers have planned events that will appeal to a broad range of visitors, including hot air balloon rides, IMAX films, kids activities, canoe jousting, kayak races, leisurely paddle rides, geocaching, bird watching, rock climbing, mountain biking, trailing running events, live music and more.
Event founder Mike Mc-Gauley believes RiverRocks will become one of the nation’s premiere outdoor festivals.
“Chattanooga is one of the top destinations for outdoor recreation. RiverRocks will showcase our natural resources and the activities they inspire,” he said in a press release issued in May.
His wife, and RiverRocks co-founder, Stormy McGauley said the events would appeal to a broad range of visitors.
“If you’re a top athlete, there will be ample opportunity to compete against others from around the region. But if you enjoy a more leisurely pace, the RiverRocks schedule includes laid-back activities such as casual bike rides and a sunset paddle on the Tennessee River. The point is to get out and get active.”
McGauley and others in-volved with the not-for-profit RiverRocks plan to use the proceeds from the event to support eight local conservation organizations: Tennessee River Gorge Trust, Trust for Public Land, Lula Lake Land Trust, North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, Cumberland Trail Conference, Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Friends of Mocc-asin Bend and Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden.
These organizations are conserving over 60,000 acres of land within 15 miles of downtown Chattanooga. The Tennessee River Gorge Trust is protecting nearly one-third of that. Jim Brown, executive director of the Trust, in May, said RiverRocks would allow people to watch and participate in activities set in all of these areas.
“Part of our mission is sustainable use of the land we’re protecting. RiverRocks promises to provide the Trust with exposure to a new audience as well as ensure vital funding to support our mission of land protection.”
It’s a big job, but the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, in a press release issued in August, said the Scenic City is one of the few cities in America where “work and play truly take place side by side.” The Bureau also said word of Chattanooga’s fresh air lifestyle has been spreading across the nation. For example, Bicycling Magazine has named the city one of the top bike-friendly cities in the U.S., while National Geographic Magazine has called Chattanooga one of the best adventure towns in the country.
Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Bureau, says RiverRocks would add to the city’s outdoor accolades and encourage a new surge of visitors and outdoor enthusiasts.
“Chattanooga offers a great mix of natural beauty and man-made attractions. It’s what draws people to the city. RiverRocks is one more reason for people to get excited about Chattanooga.”
Ann Ball of Chattanooga Presents, the company producing RiverRocks, said some of the events were already scheduled to take place, but have been brought under the umbrella of the festival.
“The Rock Creek Stump-Jump and the Chattanooga Head Race were already occurring. We have supplemented them with activities at the Tennessee Aquarium, the IMAX Theater and the Discovery Museum, history and photography cruises along the Tennessee Gorge and more.”
The 3 Sisters Bluegrass Fes-tival and Wine Over Water will also coincide with RiverRocks.
RiverRocks will conclude with a spectacular light show Ball says will be unlike anything seen in Chattanooga.
“It won’t involve fireworks or lasers. The company that did the grand opening on the waterfront is creating it. People will be talking about it for a long time.”
Mike McGauley says River-
Rocks will continue to grow over the years, solidifying Chatta-nooga’s place as the Boulder of the East.
“This first year will help focus attention on the family-friendly ways people in Chattanooga can connect with their natural environment while enjoying the benefits of an active outdoor lifestyle.”
Ball says RiverRocks would not be able to fulfill its mission
without the support of its spon-
sors, which include Unum, Michelob Ultra, Fat Tire, Blue-Cross BlueShield of Tennessee, Volkswagen Group of America, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, Coca-Cola, Fidelity Trust
Company, Chattanooga Presents, Moon Pie, Rock Creek, the Tennessee Aquarium, Outdoor Chattanooga, Greenlife Grocery, the Boonies, the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, CreateHere, SkyCab Balloon Promotions, The Adven-ture Guild, Urban Rocks Gym, the Community Foundation of
Greater Chattanooga, the Creat-ive Discovery Museum and the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.
For a complete schedule and additional information, visit www.riverrockschattanooga.com.
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