5th Annual Rhythm on the River Set for Saturday

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

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

The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. 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.”

Music is scheduled throughout the event, and admission and parking are free. Scheduled bands include The Travelin' Mccourys, Steve Ray Ladson, Tobacco Road. Jackson Truluck and Buddha Libre.

Over the past decade the 40-acre park near Powdersville along the Saluda River has been transformed from a overgrown property into the largest park in the Anderson 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, a $35,000 grant from the South Carolina Parks and Recreation Development program and other grant funding.

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, pickleball courts and an accessible walking path along the river.