Tar River Festival 2017
2017-10-07
After 27 years, the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has decided to change its annual Tar River Festival to the first Saturday in October. The Chamber will host the 28th Annual Tar River Festival this year on Saturday, October 7th, 2017 from 10:00 am 5:00 pm in Downtown Louisburg and River Bend Park. A time-honored tradition, this year's festival will be bigger and better than ever. It will include lots of great fun for the entire family. The festival is always held rain or shine, so be sure to come out and join us.

What's new?

This year's Tar River Festival Chair is Shay Dwyer of 401 Event Company, LLC. Co-Chair for this year's event will be Angel Cleghorn-Delgado of Cleghorn Sales and Rental, Inc. Melissa Wolfe of Union Bank & Trust is Chair of the 2017 Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

We are expecting lots of area artisans, business vendors, and may non-profit organizations to line the streets for this event. If you are interested in a booth for this event, please contact Chamber Administrator Brenda Fuller at 919-496-3056 or via email at bfuller@franklin-chamber.org.

A new event being featured at this year's Tar River Festival is the BBQ Cookoff, which should be a lot of fun. Governmental Affairs Chair Matthew Winslow of Winslow Custom Homes is heading up this event and will be sharing details of this event a little later.

Chamber Vice-Chair/Membership Co-Chair Blaine Holmes of Holmes Insurance Services, Inc., will be heading up this year's River of Yesteryear festivities. The River of Yesteryear is a must-see event for all ages, young and old. As you view the demonstrations of cultural and heritage-based events and crafts reflecting everyday life in centuries past, you feel as though you are transported back in time. Also working with Blaine on this event is the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce's 2016 Citizen of the Year, Betsy Benning; Maury York, Director of the Tar River Center for History and Culture; and Jamie Patrick, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at Louisburg College.

This year we will also be hosting our 2nd annual 5k Tar River Run/Walk on our USATF-certified course. Chamber Board of Director Allen White of Cash Car will be working with Mike Marion of Atlantic Coast Timing to ensure another great race. Registration information will be provided at a later date.

This year promises to be another fun time for the kids at the Kid Zone, which will include inflatables, pony rides, various mechanical rides, and a fantastic face painter. Also, we will be hosting the wonderful characters from Enchanted Wishes in the Kid Zone from 12:00 pm 4:00 pm. We are expecting to be joined by Cinderella, Belle, Tiana, Doc McStuffins, Batman and Robin, Captain America, and Spiderman. So be sure to bring the kids out and get their picture taken with our wonderful array of characters. Autograph books and stickers will be provided also.

The Chamber is proud to host the Tar River Festival for our members and the citizens of Franklin and surrounding counties. As you know, planning for an event this size takes a great deal of cooperation, volunteers, and financial support. To help ensure the continued success of the festival, we would like to ask for your support. Please consider being a sponsor or a volunteer at this event. Together, we can make the 2017 Tar River Festival the best yet and continue to make wonderful memories for generations to come. Hope to see you there!
