River Fog Festival returning to downtown Williamsburg this weekend, last to be hosted by Why Whitley

Following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Third Annual River Fog Festival is set to return to downtown Williamsburg this weekend.

The festival, which began in 2018 as part of an initiative to highlight regional arts, music, food and beverage within the Southeastern Kentucky region, will take place Saturday from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. in River Fog Park at the corner of 3^rdStreet and Main Street.

Several regional artists will be highlighted at the festival, beginning with The River Tramps at 3:30 p.m. and followed by the Kudzu Killers. This year’s headlining act will be the Rachel Crowe Band.

Angie Weaver, one of the festival organizers who is part of the Why Whitley group that hosts the event, said that there will be one noticeable change to this year’s festival.

“Now that we have several places on Main Street serving food, we wanted to encourage everyone to patronize these downtown restaurants,” said Weaver.  “Brick Oven will have a tent set up serving pizza during the event. In addition, several of the other businesses will have their doors open for the duration of the festival.  Many of them have been working hard creating drinks and desserts specifically for River Fog.  We encourage everyone to come and check them out.”

Jarfly Brewing Company and West Sixth Brewing Company will also be on-hand at the park serving regionally crafted beer.

Saturday’s festival will be the last hosted by the Why Whitley group, as the event was grant funded. Those funds were also used to build the stage at River Fog Park, add public art around downtown Williamsburg and other things to help bolster Williamsburg’s Main Street.

Though it will be Why Whitley’s last year hosting the festival, that doesn’t mean it will be over.

“Now that downtown has grown and evolved and our grants have ended, we see this as an opportunity for the Main Street program and community to adopt the festival as part of the growing momentum in downtown,” said Weaver.

Jonathan Wyatt, Williamsburg Main Street Manager, confirmed Tuesday that the Main Street program currently intends to continue the festival in the coming years, but no specifics could yet be provided.