Conservation is key at joint Knobby Knees, World Oceans Day event

ALBANY ‒ The Flint RiverQuarium will celebrate World Oceans Day on June 15, with special events scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m.

Jackie Entz, the education director for the Artesian Alliance, said the annual event is held to “celebrate and bring attention to our waterways in conjunction with Flint Riverkeeper’s Knobby Knees Festival.”

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Awaken New Depths.” The goal of the joint celebration is emphasizing the importance of partnerships and working together to find solutions to challenges facing the world’s oceans.

“Since 2019, the Knobby Knees Music festival has been held at the Flint RiverQuarium, highlighting the purpose of our organization, which is the protection and restoration of the Flint River,” Henry Jackson, director of development and outreach for the Flint Riverkeeper, said in accounting for how appropriate it is for the festival to be held beside the Flint. “Funds from the festival go to support these efforts.”

The Knobby Knees Festival was created to be an affordable and geographically accessible event with a wide range of performing artists.

“We want to schedule performances where everyone will find something they enjoy, and everyone feels comfortable and enjoys a good time,” Jackson said. “So we have tried to build a very family-friendly atmosphere with a list of bands that kind of covers the spectrum that people enjoy listening to. We’ve got some Blues, some Country, and Rock, some Folk music, and Americana. Just some family-friendly easy listening.”

Featured artists at this year’s Knobby Knees Festival include:

• The Bones of J.R. Jones

• Evergreen Family Band

• Jontavious Willis

• The Shelby Brothers

• Matt McMillan & the City Limits

• Unbreakable Bloodline

During 15-minute breaks between performances, officials with the Flint Riverkeeper will share information about the Flint River Basin, connecting the audience with its importance to the southwest Georgia region and the resources it provides to the local community.

Tickets to the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. For those interested in a little extra, VIP tickets are available for $150. These include a meal, elevated seating and access to a bar on the RiverQuarium upper deck patio. Added benefits also include air conditioning and indoor plumbing.

The RiverQuarium will have a variety of interactive opportunities outside for festival attendees, including crafts, games and sensory-based exhibits aimed at giving people a better understanding of the issues the world’s oceans and waterways are facing.

“We want to engage all ages in this experience,” Entz said. “We will be open late, and one of the neat things we will have is a collection of marine vertebrates and invertebrates in a Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, out of Panacea, Florida. They focus on ocean conservation and sustainability. They are bringing up a whole collection of marine vertebrates and invertebrates. For a lot of these, participants will be able to touch and have a hands-on experience.

“People will have a chance to see things they might not have ever seen, even if they visit the ocean,” Entz continued. “It’s a great opportunity to touch some of these creatures without needing a swimsuit or snorkel.”

The RiverQuarium also will sponsor a conservation-themed scavenger hunt inside the facility with the winner receiving a free week of Summer Camp. 

World Oceans Day activities are free with daily aquarium or Knobby Knees Festival admission, or with any Artesian Alliance membership.

Jessica Rutledge, the administrative manager for Flint Riverkeeper, said the organization is always looking for volunteers for their various programs and projects, including the festival. Anyone interested in helping can contact Rutledge at (706) 340-2012. 

For event details, click here.

Buy Knobby Knees tickets online by visiting Flint Riverkeeper’s events calendar at flintriverkeeper.org/events-calendar and scrolling down the page to locate the Knobby Knees Festival information. 

Special IllustrationFile Photo