The festival formerly known as Niles Riverfest is returning this weekend in a package reimagined and revamped by members of the city’s parks board.

Cindy Cataldo, who sits on the parks board, said the goal for Niles Trails & Ales Festivus was to keep what people liked most about Riverfest, subtract what didn’t work and add several new events and activities to keep the whole family entertained.

It takes place Saturday, Aug. 1 and Sunday, Aug. 2, at Riverfront Park in Niles. Entry is free. Click here to visit the festival website.

“I think this is an event that will bring Niles back to Niles,” she said. “It always seems like we have a lot of outside people coming in — which we encourage — but we’d like to see Niles come back and see what’s going on… we are trying to make it a community event.”

While the parks board organized the festival, the different events and activities will be run and sponsored by several different local organizations. Cataldo said many of the festival partners would use the events as a way to raise funds for their own organization or for a charity.

Although the festival doesn’t officially begin until Saturday, Niles Main Street DDA and Psi Iota Xi is sponsoring a kickoff party from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday featuring free food and drinks at Riverfront Park followed by a free movie.

Below is a roundup of what else is happening over the weekend:

 

YMCA “Day in the Park”

From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, the Niles-Buchanan YMCA will offer free fitness classes and activities for children and adults. Classes include Yoga, BARRE, resistance training, Tabata, boot camp, Zumba and more

 

Pickleball Tournament

Sponsored by Paddletek, this outdoor men’s and women’s doubles tournament will take place Saturday on the courts in Plym Park, located at 401 Marmont St., Niles. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday.

Check-in is 7:45 a.m. and the tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per person.

For more information, please contact the tournament director Brandon Schmeling at (269) 362-5086 or by email at: bschmeling@swmichpickleball.org.

 

Dragonboat races

The races are scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Money raised will go toward the Alpha Omega Sorority’s efforts to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research.

Teams will paddle dragon boats against one another in a timed race on the St. Joseph River. There are 18 people per team. Cost is $300 per team.

For more information, contact an Alpha Omega Sorority Sister or Stephanie Holland, (269) 362-1796 or stephanie.lee.holland@gmail.com.

 

Car shows

Two car shows will take place during the festival.

The Bring It Car Show is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and the Concours d’LeMons show is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Red Hot Voodoo Daddy will perform live from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, visit The Kar Club on Facebook or send an email to thekarclub@aol.com.

 

Barbecue

A variety of barbeque food will be available both days, while a barbeque contest will take place Sunday. Contact Keith Scott at (269) 357-5669 for more information.

 

Volleyball tournament

Two volleyball tournaments will take place over the weekend at the sand courts in Riverfront Park.

A four-on-four single elimination tournament begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $20 a team for girls ages 13-18.

A co-ed adult tournament will be held starting Sunday morning.

For more information, call (269) 362-2426.

 

Fishing contest

MS Outdoors, of Niles, is sponsoring a fishing contest from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday on the St. Joseph River.

Contact Mason Stephenson at (269) 683-2248 for more information.

 

Cornhole Tournament

A two-person double elimination cornhole tournament is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday in Riverfront Park.

Cost is $20 per team and prizes are based on the number of teams entered.

Send an email to MichiganMomentumSoftball@gmail.com to register.

The deadline to register is 1 p.m. Saturday.

 

Other activities

Antique fishing equipment and lures will be on display all weekend. There will also be craft booths and a children’s play area with inflatable bounce houses.

 

Beer and Wine Fest Returns

On the heels of its successful first effort, the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce is offering its second annual Craft Brew and Wine Festival.

It is being held in conjunction with Trails & Ales from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday in Riverfront Park.

The cost is $25 in advance or $40 at the door. Click here for tickets and ticket information.

The ticket cost covers an event beer/wine glass, five taste tickets, entry to the beer garden and access to live music, including the bands Slim Gypsy Baggage and The Neverly Brothers.

Food and a selection of hundreds of craft brews and wines will be available for purchase.