Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival

Featured against the picturesque banks of the Etowah River Park in Canton, the Riverfest Arts & Crafts festival is the League’s flagship fundraising event where all funds raised support Cherokee County children in need. The two-day festival draws over 25,000 patrons, over 150 arts crafts exhibitors, 10-20 concessionaires, and a host of local entertainers.

Starting in 1984 as a small arts and crafts show, Riverfest has grown into the Service League's largest fundraising event and a true spectacle for fall activities every year. The Service League is the oldest charitable organization in Cherokee County and their goal is to help local children in need the best they can. All the money raised from Riverfest is used to provide children with necessities such as clothes, food, dental care, eyeglasses, medical care, rental and utility assistance, and college scholarships.

Riverfest is one of the best family events of the season. A children's area is featured with countless games, bouncy houses, miniature train rides, petting zoos, and art booths! Enjoy the entertainment area where you can eat food from the vendors and watch performances on the stage! There's even a spot for sports fans to relax and watch live football in the tailgating area.

The heart of the festival lies within the Arts and Crafts vendors though. You can find art, jewelry, woodcrafts, soaps, candles, clothing, lighting, food, gadgets, and more.

Scarecrows

As part of the Riverfest traditions, scarecrows are a large part of the festival's atmosphere. Local businesses and civic groups around the county have the freedom of designing scarecrows to highlight their group or organization all throughout the park at the festival. After Riverfest is over, the businesses and groups have the choice to move their scarecrows to downtown Canton where they'll remain for the month of October for people to take pictures in front of. See gallery below for some of 2023's scarecrow submissions.