Riverfest Brings Free Family Fun to Zane’s Landing Park

Interviewed by WHIZ reporter Gabe Hutton

Labor Day weekend brought free family fun to Zane’s Landing Park as the Muskingum Valley Park District teamed up with the City of Zanesville to host Riverfest.

The nine-hour event featured a variety of local businesses and vendors, food trucks, live music, and activities throughout the day. Organizers planned a full schedule of entertainment to give visitors plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday weekend.

Best of all, admission to Riverfest was free.

“We want to have a third year, because the Muskingum River has always been a prominent part of Muskingum County,” said Willow Fracker, administrative assistant at the Muskingum Valley Park District. “We really want everybody to come out and just enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the river, and just have a great time.”

Fracker said the event is meant to bring people together and encourage everyone to spend time outdoors, regardless of age or background.

For those who missed Saturday’s festivities, Riverfest continues tomorrow with even more activities planned.

The second day will feature food trucks, bounce houses, and programming throughout the day. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about nature and wildlife from several organizations and see animals up close.

“Tomorrow we’ve got eight food trucks this year. We have programming going on every hour,” Fracker said.

Among the featured organizations will be Ohio Nature Education, which will bring possums, bats, and other animals for visitors to see and learn about. A canine center will also be on hand with a fox and information about how people can safely live alongside urban wildlife.

“I really love just seeing everyone having a good time,” Fracker said.

Riverfest will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow at Zane’s Landing Park.

With food, entertainment, educational programs, and activities for the whole family, organizers are encouraging the community to come out and enjoy the river and the outdoors.