What is the Cheat River Festival?
Cheat Fest is our annual celebration that serves as the primary fundraiser in support of our work. The festival grounds are perfectly nestled along the banks of the Cheat River, just above the protected Canyon section – a stretch of river where whitewater enthusiasts flock to experience the thrilling rapids amidst a true wilderness setting. During the festival, attendees enjoy live music, an art market, a 5K and down river race, a vendor market, and more. Now in its 30th year, Cheat Fest draws up to 4,000 attendees from throughout the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Festival-goers include: whitewater enthusiasts, environmental advocates, river lovers, fishermen, families, musicians, and artists alike.
If you are interested in becoming a Cheat Fest sponsor, we would love to discuss how to create a mutually beneficial partnership between Friends of the Cheat and your business.
Cheat Fest is a cornerstone of the stewardship efforts led by Friends of the Cheat. It celebrates the remarkable achievements of countless partnerships while providing critical support to fund our ongoing mission. This vibrant event thrives thanks to the generous contributions of sponsors, volunteers, musicians, and the entire community.
Sponsorship support ranges from monetary donations, which help cover essential services and materials for the festival, to partnerships that showcase the unique expertise of your business. We are honored to recognize and thank our sponsors throughout our festival communications and various festival experiences. This includes co-created on-stage announcements, sponsor banners, acknowledgments in newsletters, and messaging across our online platforms.
We invite you to join us in the excitement for this year’s festival and look forward to building sponsorship partnerships that benefit you, us, and our vibrant community.
We have Festival, Down River Race, and 5K Race Sponsorship opportunities available!