Bands, beer, boat races, and bounce houses. Wine, water, and soda. Face painting, food vendors, and fun for all, including corn hole games.
The second Flatwater Festival presented by the three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at Melton Lake Park.
What’s new this year? A team-building regatta featuring up to 20 boats will be held from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. A “build a boat†race by participants who make their own cardboard boats ahead of time will be held at 5 p.m.
In addition, the festival at Melton Lake Park is sandwiched between the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival events on Friday, June 1, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum and Sunday, June 3, at the Oak Ridge Playhouse.
The three-day festival will be a fundraiser for the three Rotary clubs’ community service projects, including four new benches for the Oak Ridge waterfront in 2018, a press release said.
The bands playing will be the Ridge City Ramblers, 101 Degrees in the Shade, Mt. LeConte Jug Band, Jubal with Taylor Kress, Unnamed, Osborne-Krause Duo, and Little Engine.
B&B Barbeque and other food vendors will sell barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and “flat†water will also be sold, the press release said.
A supervised play area with two bounce houses and an obstacle course will entice kids, as will face painting. Cornhole games will be available again this year for kids and adults, the press release said.
To learn about the rules for building cardboard boats, contact Dean Cheatham at [email protected].
The festival entrance fee is $5 per adult, $2 per child, and $20 for a large family.
“Plan to come out and join us as we welcome the summer with a fun evening for the whole family!†said Emily Jernigan, festival committee chair and former president of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.
For those who want to spend the Flatwater Festival weekend in Oak Ridge, rooms are reserved at a group rate at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel of Oak Ridge. Visit the hotel’s web page or call the hotel directly at (865) 481-2468 and refer to the group code FTS.
For more information on the Flatwater Festival, visit www.flatwaterfestival.com.
Visit www.flatwatertales.com for more information about event times for the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, the storytellers, and ticket costs. You can also learn more about the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in this story.

People of all ages enjoy playing cornhole games at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

Children enjoying a bounce house at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

Children enjoying a bounce house at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

People watch races on the Clinch River at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

Andy Howe and the Unnamed band perform at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

People of all ages enjoy playing cornhole games at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)

People of all ages enjoy playing cornhole games at the Flatwater Festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy Flatwater Festival)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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