Oak Hill's Riverfest a big success

OAK HILL -- Sponsored by the Oak Hill Community Trust, Riverfest this year was a huge success. People started coming before 9 a.m. and trickled in all day long.

The Kids Zone featured a lot of games, but the biggest hit was the Bounce House. A $5 ticket got your child a bracelet and use of the Bounce House all day long. Folks from Burns Sci-Tech. Charter School sold chances for cash prizes on a duck race after the park closed at 4 p.m. Lots of folks showed up at Goodrich's Restaurant and Oyster Bar to watch the activities.

Earlier, the school people sold cotton candy and provided entertainment from the dance team and from the Burns Sci-Tech cheerleaders. Live music was enjoyed all day long. Bluegrass started the entertainment followed by the Payne Brothers and Cindy Beu of the Beu Sisters. Many folks stayed all day under the covered areas where they could eat and enjoy the music. Food vendors provided an assortment of goodies including barbecued ribs and chicken, hot dogs,shaved ice, lemonade and popcorn.

There were watermelon eating contests and prizes for best homemade pies in junior and adult categories. Julie Walters, our new library branch manager, won first prize.

This year we had numerous craft vendors selling beautiful handmade jewelry, painted and decorated gourds for birdhouses and many other leather and cloth items on display. There were also antique cars at the north end of the park.The Sheriff's Department sent their bomb squad truck, and the Volusia County Fire Services sent a huge truck for everyone to explore.

Oak Hill may be small, but everyone who attended Riverfest will agree we put on "a really big show" this year. And next year will be bigger and better!

Editor's Note: Linda Hyatt, former Oak Hill commissioner and vice mayor, is a candidate for a seat on the commission in the upcoming elections. She has been a longtime community blogger for Headline Surfer®. In fairness to Hyatt,  her popular blog, "Linda's Lagoon," will continue through the election cycle, but will not touch on issues related to her campaign or that of her announced opponents.