Riverbend Festival — Local services in Chattanooga

We love the Riverbend Festival we go every single year for the great special performances they have on the coke a cola stage but they could use more new better to date performances sell mix drinks with liquor like they used to or at least you could buy liquor on the old party barge that is no longer instead of just beer and in not just my opinion lower the price of the band's cause honestly we as a community of Chattanooga feel they are way to high and also getting way out of hand with the prices of the food venders, children's items and other things etc so please keep riverbend alive but please we as a entire untied community please cut the costs down for the band's and for the tokens for food and games and rides for the CHILDREN PLEASE!!!! PLEASE CHATTANOOGA AND OUR TRISTATE AREA ARE ASKING AND BEGGING FOR LOWERED PRICES AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE 2 YEARS OR EVEN LONGER THE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED AND YALL BEFORE AND AFTER LAST YEAR THE NUMBERS WERE SO LOW YALL EVEN TALKED ABOUT AND WERE ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN AND STOP RIVERBEND ALLTOGETHER!!!! SO HEAR OUR PLEA AND HELP US HELP RIVERBEND PRICE THE BAND'S TO $40.00 FOR THE WHOLE WEEK DISCOUNT THEM FOR $25 LIKE IT USED TO BE AND I PROMISE YOU THOUSANDS MORE WILL SHOW UP AGAIN LIKE THEY USED TO WAY BACK YEARS AGO AND EVERYONE OF Y'ALL INCLUDING THE VENDERS WILL MAKE SO VERY MUCH MORE EXSPECIALLY IF THEY BRING BACK FOR SALE THE VENDORS THAT HAD ALL THE FOAM ANIMALS ON LIKE COAT HANGERS THAT DANCED WHEN YOU PLAYED WITH THEM for...

I am not a big fan of crowds and don't attend many music festivals. But, my experience at the Riverbend Festival this year may change that. My husband, sons, and I went on Sunday, the last day of the 3-day festival. Many people were there, but it didn't seem crowded. The only crowds were those gathered in front of the stages to see and hear their favorite musicians. But even then, when Gov't Mule played, I easily worked my way through the crowd to stand with my husband near the stage. It was my first time hearing Gov't Mule, and I was impressed.

The venue is located along the Tennessee River, providing a beautiful backdrop for the festival. You could hear the music from anywhere. If you prefer to see the musicians, they also had big video screens. People sat on picnic blankets and on park benches along the riversides. They even had tables near the beer tent with Jenga games and corn hole. My son and I played cornhole until it got too dark to see the board.

The closing fireworks display was awesome as well.

If I had one complaint, I wish they had better food and drink choices. Most of the food was fried or pumped with carbs and sugar. Also, with all the excellent breweries in the area, I was disappointed that the beer selection was so limited.

The great weather, beautiful venue, limited attendance, and my captivation with music that was new to me are enough for me to consider attending Riverbend again, but I won't plan...

I really like Riverbend now. I am a native Chattanoogan so I have been going to Riverbend since the 80's. I really, really like how they have transformed Riverbend from a 9 day festival to a three day festival. Years ago when it was a long festival they mostly had acts that were past their prime. We did have some excitement back then though. I remember one year when BB King was a headliner and everyone went because the hopes were that U2 was going to show up and sing with him (they had a popular song together at the time). Anyway, they have done a fantastic job with the talent at Riverbend now. The acts are all currently at their prime or up and coming artists. Way to go Riverbend! I feel that the prices for the tickets and the food and drinks at the festival are reasonable too. Please keep it that way! The Moon River Festival is twice as expensive for tickets and the food and drink vendors. I would give it five stars but I am just not that much of a...