GETTIN’ DOWN & DIRTY ~ Muddy Rivers Festival 2016. by Philip Byard

It’s that time of year again! The Muddy Rivers Festival 2016 is just around the bend, March 18th through 20th, and the party going to be bigger and better than ever! With live music and DJs Friday and Saturday nights, the Spring Creek boatercross, Waterloo Falls Huckfest, freestyle events, disc golf course and more, Cookeville TN will be the place to be!

This is a grassroots party, dedicated to the celebration of the beauty that is the Cumberland Plateau. Middle Tennessee is home to some of the best whitewater paddling, rock climbing, disc golf and mountain biking on Earth. Our festival is set on Spring Creek, one of the better tributaries of the Roaring River. This is God’s country. Set deep in a canyon, it’s as remote and scenic as it gets.

Our festival grounds, June Bug Ranch, is home to several other events, including the Muddy Roots Festival and the June Bug Boogie. The Muddy Rivers Festival combines live music with competitive whitewater boating, a disc golf tournament, food and drink vendors, boating and outdoor gear vendors, a Gear Swap Marketplace, and various wild games. We do this the third weekend of March each year, so it’s definitely the best way to kick off the Spring! If you’ve never boated whitewater or played disc golf, prepare yourself for an eye opening weekend that just may change your life. If you’re a Dirtbag… Well then you’ll be right in your element! Camping, cabin rentals, and hot showers are available, and remember bring cash. Cell reception is spotty and the ATM always runs out early.

We’ve lined up some terrific items to raffle away as well! The many prizes include a 2015 Whitewater kayak of choice to the winner, from Jackson Kayaks. Tickets are $10 each for the raffle, and we announce the winners Sunday at noon. This autographed shirt will be up for silent auction, along with many other cool goodies. It was signed by Eric Jackson, Steve Fisher, Pat Keller, Dane Jackson, Emily Jackson, and Nick Troutman, all whom were at the Festival last year. We are especially stoked about this year’s demo court with Jackson and Liquidlogic at Waterloo Falls on Saturday from 10-2.

Here is the all new boat ramp constructed this winter at Hehnen Hole. It’s still under construction and if folks want to help finish building it, please to contact us at the link below. We still have to anchor it to the cliff, and build the starting platform and kicker at bottom for big air!

Over 20 bands will perform all weekend long. The disc golf event goes off Friday at 2pm. The boating events happen Saturday, but plenty of folks will paddle the abundant local whitewater every day, so there will be lots of wet and wild friends to make and fun to be had! The cost of admission is $30 for 3 days and 2 nights, and $20 for 2 days and a night. Volunteers are greatly needed! All volunteers must work 2 two hour shifts, and receive a free 3 day pass, staff t-shirt, and gear raffle entry.

We look forward to seeing you!