(Photo by Gwen Sour) Kayakers test the waters at Veto Lake Friday afternoon for the Rivers Trails & Ales Festival.

From paddling through lilypad-covered waters to sampling craft beer and enjoying live music, the River Trails & Ales (RTA) Festival is drawing visitors from across the country to celebrate Marietta’s small businesses and explore the outdoors.

The annual event, running through the weekend, features mountain biking, trail runs, kayaking and Saturday’s Beer Fest, which will feature beer from Ohio and live music in Muskingum Park.

“It is full of people coming from all over to attend,” said Volunteer Coordinator Danielle Allphin. “Many local breweries from all over the region are coming and we are just excited that the weather is not supposed to rain!”

Organizers expect more than 1,000 attendees with activities designed for all skill and age levels.

The Veto Lake Paddle, one the festival’s smaller kayaking events, was held Friday and, according to RTA Volunteer Chris Long, allows kayakers to get close to nature and, thanks to higher water levels, explore some hidden inlets and observe wildlife.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Carol Thomson and Jan Sheridan prepare to launch their kayaks during Friday’s paddle at Veto Lake for the Rivers, Trails & Ales Festival.

“For me, it’s about meeting people they can potentially paddle with in the future and exploring an area they might not have realized was here,” said Long when asked about why he volunteers. “For others, it’s almost like a family – they come back year after year.”

According to Allphin, more than 50 volunteers help keep the festival running, ranging from bankers to retired coaches, with many volunteers returning annually.

“Once you do it once, it’s really a fun time,” said Allphin. “We just want people to know there’s so much in our beautiful town and the Mid-Ohio Valley to do – not just this one weekend in August.”

The festival schedule includes:

SATURDAY

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Volunteers organize the festival headquarters booth at the River Trails & Ales Festival on Friday morning.

¯ 8 a.m. — Yoga with Natalie Ball at Festival HQ in Muskingum Park.

¯ 8 a.m. to Close — Fifty West Tap Takeover at the Harmar Tavern.

¯ 9 a.m. — Festival HQ Opens in Muskingum Park.

¯ 9 a.m. — Historic Lock-thru Paddle.

¯ 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Youth and Adult Mountainbiking Skills Clinic; Gnome Adventure Hike at Beverly Island; Explore, History and Lock Hike at Beverly Island.

¯ 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Barbells and Mommas Prenatal and Postpartum Care Tent.

¯ 9:30 a.m. — Marietta City Group Trail Run

¯ 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Marietta High School Rowing Challenge

¯ 10 a.m. — Group bike rides depart from festival HQ, including mountain biking and road biking.

¯ 11 a.m. to Close — Fat Head’s Tap Takeover at the Galley

¯ 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Kids’ Bike Rodeo and Strider Adventure Zone; Tortoise and the Hare Training Camp; Strong Like Mom

¯ 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. — Walshapalooza at Over the Moon Pub & Pizza

¯ 2 p.m. — Family Fun Ride

¯ 2 to 6 p.m. — Foam Party at the Foam Garage

¯ 3 to 4 p.m. — RTA Beer Fest Vip Hour

¯ 3 to 7 p.m. — RTA Adventure Expo

¯ 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Face Painting

¯ 4 to 7 p.m. — RTA Beer Festival General Admission

¯ 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — Power Hour Special at Wilky’s Sports Bar

¯ 5 to 9 p.m. — Beer Pairing Prix Fixe Menu at House of Wines

¯ 7:30 p.m. — The Tortoise and Hare World Championship

¯ 8 p.m. — Prize drawings

SUNDAY

¯ 8 a.m. to Close — Fifty West Tap Takeover at the Harmar Tavern.

¯ 8:30 a.m. — Hiking at the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Education Area; Buckley Island Exploration Paddle and Hike.

¯ 9 a.m. — Festival HQ opens at Muskingum Park.

¯ 9:30 a.m. — Marietta City Group Trail run departs from Festival HQ.

¯ 10 a.m. — Group bike rides depart from festival HQ, including mountain biking and road biking.

¯ 1 p.m. — Mighty Muskingum Raft Race; Gnome Adventure Hike at the Ohio River Islands Wildlife Refuge.