Jun 9, 2017 By Jon Stevens, For The Greene County Messenger 2 min read

RICES LANDING — The 2017 version of the Rices Landing Riverfest begins today, kicking off a two-day festival that celebrates the town’s river heritage.

There will be fireworks, live entertainment, children’s games, free admission to the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry, along with a host of food and craft vendors. And with any outside event, the weather can be a factor, but organizers have vowed, as they have done in years past, the show will go on rain or shine

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 5 through 17, and youths under 5 will be admitted in for free each day.

Gates open at 5 p. m. today. Live entertainment begins at 7 p. m. with music from Cross Creek, sponsored by Greene County Tourism, followed by a concert by Quick Exit, sponsored by Crucible Slovak Club, at 9:30 p.m. Festival goers will be treated to fireworks at 10 p. m. courtesy of First Energy.

On Saturday, the gates open at 2 p.m. with entertainment from Leathers & Behm from 3 to 4 p.m. The Fourth River Band will follow at 5:30 p.m. and Ruff Creek, sponsored by LOLA Energy, will perform at 7 p.m.

Attendees will be able to listen to The Hillbilly Way, sponsored by Rices Landing Giant Eagle, at 9:45 p.m. The two-day Riverfest wraps up with the Chevron-sponsored fireworks at 10 p.m.

Ryan Belski, president of Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Company, which is one of the festival’s primary sponsors, said games for children and face painting will take place all day, both days. There will also be bounce houses, a dunk tank, balloons and a video game trailer.

An ATM will be available. There will be parking at Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Department and off of Main Street. Motorcycle and handicap parking will be available near the front gate and a free shuttle is being provided by the volunteer fire department.

Belski also championed EQT, the festival’s main sponsor, for helping to make this year’s Riverfest possible.