Mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate all things summer in beautiful Cumberland County! River Festivus returns to Burkesville, Kentucky on August 15 & 16, 2025, promising a jam-packed weekend of music, adventure, and family fun on the banks of the mighty Cumberland River!
This year’s festival features a FREE concert by country music legends Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery, celebrating 25 years of unforgettable hits! Gather your friends, pack your chairs, and enjoy the show under the stars – no ticket required!
But River Festivus is more than just music! It’s an immersive small-town festival experience with events for everyone:
•Kayak and canoe races on the Cumberland River – sanctioned by both the American Canoe Association and the United States Canoe Association
•The epic Battle of the Bands featuring talented artists from all over the state of Kentucky
•The ever-popular Festivus Float
•Head for the Hills 5K/10K
•Backroads Jeep Ride
•Cross Cut Saw Competition
•Dry Land Boat Race
•Catfish Wrangling
•Cruise-In Car Show
•Beer Garden
•Split the Pot – with a pot potential of $75,000!
•TONS of local food vendors and shopping booths
But the excitement begins even before festival weekend!
Don’t Miss the Early Events the Week Before!
To make room for even more fun on Festivus weekend itself, two beloved events will be held the week before on August 9, 2025:
•Festivus Family Fun Run
Lace up those comfy shoes and put your thinking hat on! This year’s Fun Run (an Amazing Race-style adventure) will take place the weekend before River Festivus, giving contestants their own spotlight while competing in a cross-county quest to complete full-throttle, family-friendly tasks that test your ability, logic, and sense of humor! Some missions are physical, some are mental, and some are downright goofy, but all are inclusive to a wide range of capabilities. Enjoy a scenic and challenging course through Cumberland County’s rolling hills – perfect for serious competitors and families alike! CASH prizes for the top three teams, with the grand prize winner taking home a FREE three-night stay in a private cabin at Sulphur Creek Resort, a FREE pontoon rental from Sulphur Creek Marina, and $500 cash!
•Trout Fishing Tournament
Anglers, get ready to test your skills in the beautiful Cumberland River. The Trout Fishing Tourney will also happen the week before the main festival, letting fishing enthusiasts focus on landing the big one without missing a moment of Festivus fun. Bring your best gear and your Golden Rule measuring board – prizes await the most impressive catches, including $1,000 to the top trout!
Whether you’re floating down the Cumberland, cheering on saw competitors, tasting local brews in the beer garden, or dancing at the free concert, River Festivus is the ultimate Kentucky summer celebration. There’s truly something for everyone in Burkesville this August.
Come for the river, stay for the party!
Follow River Festivus on Facebook at @riverfestivus or visit riverfestivus.com for the full schedule, registration details, and more. Looking for a place to stay? Check out explorecumberlandcounty.com/tourism for a list of hotels, campgrounds, and rentals.
See you in Burkesville for River Festivus 2025!
-submitted by River Festivus
