First-ever Hopewell Rivers & Roads Festival offered weekend full of events

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — The first-ever Hopewell Rivers & Roads Festival took place over the weekend with a variety of activities for the community to participate in and enjoy.

The Hopewell Rivers & Roads Festival took place on Sept. 6, 7 and 8 at the Hopewell City Marina, City Park and Grant’s Headquarters at City Point.

Rosie Reighley, Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Hopewell-Prince George Chamber of Commerce, said the three-day event kicked off on Friday with a two-day bass fishing tournament, free pontoon boat rides and live music.

“This is the first Hopewell Rivers and Roads Festival,” Reighley said. “We hope to keep it coming year after year.”

Reighley said the festival was formed through conversations with residents, students and business owners to make sure that it celebrated the community.

“It was just, you know, filling a need, providing an opportunity for the community to come together, be neighborly, get to know one another and just get involved,” Reighley said.

On Saturday, the festival continued with the fishing tournament, a motorcycle ride along Route 5 and Route 10, a street festival, as well as free kayaking, paddle boarding and rafting at City Park.

The event will end on Sunday, Sept 8 at 4 p.m. and feature an education trailer by the National Park Service, as well as tours of the grounds and historic properties at Appomattox Manor.

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