The 17th annual Smith River Fest will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Monogram Foods Smith River Sports Complex.
Sponsored by Sovah Health – Martinsville, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Henry County Parks and Recreation Director Roger Adams said the festival offers activities for all ages, most are free of charge.
“For people seeking adventure, we have the Helgramite Hustle Mud Run and the Smith River Boat Race,” Adams said. “We’re also offering free river tubing all day — you can check out a tube and life jacket and float in the Smith River. We’ll have free river shuttles all day so you can canoe or kayak without worrying about transportation.”
Children can enjoy a large petting zoo, a rock climbing wall, and bounce houses.
“We also have a demo pool where, if you’re new to boating, you can try out a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard,” Adams said.
Other attractions include hammock villages for relaxing and cooling off, a casting pool for fly-fishing instruction, and a kid’s cycle station with bikes and obstacle courses. Food trucks, the Joseph Young Magic Show, live afternoon music, and a beer garden will also be featured.
Adams said the event typically attracts more than 2,000 attendees.
“We’ve been having really good attendance over the last four years. We added some new activities a few years ago, so turnout has been strong,” he said. “It’s just a great day to celebrate outdoor recreation and the Smith River in Henry County.”
Free river tubing, the magic show, and the vendor marketplace are among the most popular attractions, Adams said.
Space remains available for vendors. The $30 fee includes booth space, and Adams encourages early registration.
“They need to register as soon as they can because we’re doing all the vendor maps and everything,” he said. “The closer we get to the festival, we do sell out of spots.”
For more information, visit www.henrycountyva.gov/336/Entertainment.
