3rd Annual "Rhythm on the River" Set for May 6

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The third annual Rhythm on the River at Dolly Cooper Park is set for May 4, with music, a large KidsZone area, 15 food trucks and more than 30 craft vendors expected to be part of the event.

The festival, which features a walking track alongside the Saluda River, kicks off at noon and runs through 8 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

“It’s a wonderful celebration at a wonderful park,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “It’s great to see Dolly Cooper Park continue to grow and provide so many recreational opportunities for our citizens.”

Bands scheduled to perform include Gritty Flyright, Brandi Colt & Andrew Crawford, the James Tucker Duo, and The Fortunate Sons, and spotlight performances will come from the Sweet Potato Pie Kids Band and the Powdersville High School Jazz Band.

Vendors include A Taste of Freedom, Birria Boy, Chef on the Run, Chuck Wagon Kettle Corn, Churro Masters, Cousins Maine Lobster, Coyote Coffee, Dip't Cookies, Distinct Cider Room, Golden Grove Farm & Brew, Hawaiian Donut Company, Mac Attack, Nomadik Few, Rad Dads BBQ, Traveling Taps, Vampire Penguin and Yum Bai.

Prizes, giveaways, face painting, balloon artists, giant games for all ages, golf-cart transportation and a hospitality tent are also included in the day-long celebration.

Event title sponsor, AnMed Health, will also be onsite to share information about their new Piedmont campus to open next year a few miles from the site of the park.

Over the past decade the 40-acre park near Powdersville along the Saluda River has been transformed from a largely overgrown property into the largest park in the county. The effort was made possible by the cooperation between state and local officials, providing $500,000 for the project, with additional $100,000 from Duke Energy and a $35,000 grant from the South Carolina Parks and Recreation Development program.

A new playground, which opened earlier this year, is the fourth improvement of the area, part of a master plan developed in cooperation with Studio Main. The first was an ADA kayak launch, which for more than a decade has hosted the annual Saluda River Rally the first Saturday in June, attracting kayakers from up and down the East Coast. Other popular improvements include a football field for use by are youth teams, a competitive disc golf course, a softball/baseball field and an accessible walking path along the river.

Future plans include picnic shelters, pickleball courts, a dog park and additional athletic fields.