Tuolumne Riverfest, a music festival to benefit the Tuolumne River Lodge in Ceres, is being planned for Saturday, Aug. 26.

The event will raise funds for the lodge itself.

“There’s a lot of improvements that need to be made to the property – in the hall and on the grounds and there’s just not enough funds to do so,” said Kelly Pfeiffer, a member of the Tuolumne River Lodge board of directors who is organizing the special event. “We’d like to spruce it up and therefore the community might be more apt to join and us it.”

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and feature three local bands: Greg Scudder & the Honkytonk Heroes, rock cover band Triple D Band and Lavonne & the Train Wreck.

The outdoor event will include vendors selling draft beer and wine, sodas, grilled tri-tip sandwiches, hot dogs and linguicia as well as shaved ice, cotton candy and popcorn. Local craft vendors will also be on hand. 

Tickets will be $15 per adult and $5 for kids under 10.

The Tuolumne River Lodge (2429 River Road) was built in 1947 by 35 local families along the shaded southern bank of the river just north of Ceres. Through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, families galore have enjoyed the lodge and its 5.5-acre river setting for social functions. The privately owned lodge has struggled financially and in time expensive repairs like the large pool have had to be shuttered.

“We would like to get it back in use or so something else with that area. It’s been empty for years and it’s all chained off. As far as maybe seeing what needs to be repaired, it could be way out of our budget and we might just end up filling it in and making better use of the area.”

The lodge is rented by different groups such as the Ceres Lions Club and a fly fishermen’s club; and is also used for weddings.

For more information on the lodge visit www.tuolumneriverlodge.com