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Cheat Fest is here

ALBRIGHT — Two days of riverside fun, music and food at the 28th annual Cheat River Festival starts today at the Cheat River Festival Fairgrounds in Albright. 

“The annual Cheat River Festival is a celebration of new life, that which comes each spring and the new life that can be found in the Cheat River watershed,” cheatfest.org states.

Cheat Fest is the primary fundraiser for Friends of the Cheat. All profits raised are used to support the organization’s educational and outreach efforts, which are often the first to have funding cut despite their importance. 

“I’m very glad they (FOC) exist and they’re there and basically, they give a damn because somebody needs to,” said Tom Rebar, an environmental scientist planning to attend for the first time in 10 years – typically he’s tied up with Mother’s Day activities. 

When Rebar was a teenager and in his early 20s he was raft guide for whitewater adventurers on the Cheat – launching from the same spot the festival is held. 

“Back in the late 80s, early 90s, when I worked there, it was so acidic, and so red, that if I had a bad case of poison ivy, and I went rafting for the day, the poison ivy dried up and was gone by end of the day from from the pH of the water. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although I’m sure it wasn’t the healthiest way to get rid of it.”

FOC is works to clean up the quality of the water.

Rebar said he plans to attend Saturday and since he’s also a musician he’s most looking forward to the live music.

Tickets are available at the gate. They cost $15 on Friday and $30 on Saturday. Kids under 12 are admitted free. There are credit card processing devices but technology fails and cash is recommended. 

Festival goers are being asked to bring hygiene products or non-perishable food to donate to Food for Preston. 

The festival runs from 5:30-10 p.m. today and 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday – rain or shine.

No glass or dogs except service dogs are allowed at Cheat Fest.