The Riverbend Festival began forty years ago - in 1982 - at Ross’ Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.
Back then, few visited the riverfront, home to boarded-up buildings.
But the festival lit a spark for the community to gather, celebrate and imagine what the riverfront could become.
Next year, Riverbend celebrates its 40 year legacy.
Samantha Wright is the festival’s director of sales.