Riverfest would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our 2800+ community volunteers. We hope you will consider volunteering for Riverfest 2012.

Volunteerism is the key to Riverfest’s success. A volunteer board consisting of 30 community leaders and a 230 member volunteer committee work year-round on the festival. As one of Riverfest’s 2,800 festival volunteers, your three-five hour shift is key to the success of the event – making it possible to produce a quality family festival for a low admission price. Riverfest has been able to offer the festival at a fraction of the cost of other events because of the contributions of time and effort by the volunteers – because of you! Click on the sign-up page and complete the form if you are interested in volunteering. If you have questions please email volunteers@riverfestarkansas.com

For your volunteer time you will receive:

- Free Weekend Admission.
- A Free Volunteer T-Shirt sponsored by Delta Dental
- Special Recognition to organizations who staff an area.
- That Great Feeling of Giving Back!

Things to consider before signing up to volunteer:

All Beverage & Wristband volunteers are required to attend a volunteer orientation session. Riverfest depends on your commitment to participate.
Your presence for your scheduled shifts is absolutely necessary in order for the festival to run smoothly. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR SCHEDULE MUST CHANGE. This needs to be done at least a week before the event.
During the week of the festival the volunteer coordinator is not available to take phone calls or reschedule shifts.

Arrivals & Breaks

You must check in at the Volunteer Tent sponsored by Delta Dental at the beginning of each shift you work. The Volunteer check-in tent is located in the Police Kiosk parking lot in the River Market District at President Clinton Avenue and River Market Avenue, across the street from the River Market Hall. You will need to check in 30 minutes prior to your shift start time to insure you arrive at your location in plenty of time. Volunteer check-in will have a list of volunteers scheduled to work, and you will be asked to sign in at your destination as well. This allows Riverfest to be sure that each volunteer has arrived at the proper location. Due to the length of our volunteer shifts, we ask that you not take breaks unless absolutely necessary. If you do need a break, please coordinate this with the Riverfest staff member in charge of your volunteer location.

Proper identification

All volunteers age 16 and up will be asked to show photo ID when they arrive at volunteer check-in. In some cases volunteers will be also be asked to show proper ID when they arrive at the actual volunteer location. This is required at locations selling alcoholic beverages, checking ID for alcohol purchases and any location that requires the volunteer to handle cash.

Beverages

All volunteers will also be given a complimentary bottle of water provided by Central Arkansas Water when they check in for their shift. Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed before or during a volunteer’s shift!

Volunteer Positions

KidZone - KidZone volunteers work in the KidZone area where they assist children with crafts, supervise kids games, and do face-painting. Volunteers report to the KidZone Chairmen at the Ozark Pavilion in the central area of the park and are assigned duties when they arrive for their shift. KidZone volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

International Village – International Village volunteers assist children with crafts and supervise kids games. Volunteers report to the International Village Chairmen in the craft tent at Heifer International Village and are assigned duties when they arrive for their shift. International Village volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Wristband/ID Volunteers – Wristband/ID volunteers work in the Midsouth Ford Dealer Drink Responsibly, Drive Responsibly ID stations where they check festival-goer IDs and provide wristbands to those who are 21 and older for the purchase of alcoholic beverages. These volunteers must be 21 years old. All wristband volunteers must attend one mandatory orientation session to be held at the Market Street Cinema, 1504 Merrill Drive in Little Rock. Please select on orientation time when you sign up to volunteer.  Applicants who do not select an orientation session will not be accepted as volunteers.

Beverage Tent Volunteers – Beverage volunteers are responsible for selling beverage products to festival-goers. The majority of the beverage volunteers must be at least 21 and wear the official Riverfest Adult Beverage ID wristband for that day. BRING YOUR ID!!! Volunteers cannot sell alcoholic beverages to any person without the proper wristband also. Volunteers may not give away beer or soft drinks to a festival-goer without collecting the correct number of River Money coupons. Tent Captains and security officers will be monitoring this activity closely. Volunteers MAY NOT consume alcohol while serving festival-goers. Police and ABC officers will be monitoring this activity as well. All beverage volunteers must attend one mandatory orientation session to be held at the Market Street Cinema, 1504 Merrill Drive in Little Rock. Applicants who do not select an orientation session will not be accepted as volunteers.

Recycling Volunteers – Hand out recycling bags to festival goers to collect recyclables and handle the exchange of recyclables for t-shirts, hats and other goodies; collect recyclable materials from the festival grounds each night after the festival has ended and return them to the recycling location.; or serve as a recycle “jockey” in the evening and help break down boxes in the beverage and food vendor areas.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE PROVIDED A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FESTIVAL

ACXIOM, Arvest Bank, AT&T Pioneers, Central High School Drill Team, L.O.V.E., Hall High School Students, JA Fair Beta Club, LINC Staffing, MEPS, North Pulaski Cheer Leaders, Pulaski Academy Students, Pulaski Technical College, Thomas & Thomas, US Bank, IBERIA Bank, Simmons Bank