On June 29 – July 1, The Cityfolk Festival, returns to RiverScape MetroPark. It takes thousands of hours of volunteer time to pull together the three-day celebration of music, dance, culture and the City of Dayton Fireworks. Volunteer leadership has already worked months to get the festival ready from a production standpoint. Organizers are now looking to sign up volunteers for three- or four-hour shifts during the festival as well as during set-up and tear-down. People interested in helping out can visit the Cityfolk website or call (937) 223-3655, ext. 4006. The performance schedule will be available in late May, if you want to schedule your volunteer shifts around your favorite performers.

Many volunteers have such a good time that they return year after year. Elvita Harris has been volunteering with her now-grown children for almost a decade. “Volunteering is part of community service,” she said. “It gives us a sense of belonging and giving back. Plus, they’re exposed to different cultures, different foods – they’re broadening their horizons.”

Volunteer opportunities for the festival range from helping the Green Team encourage festival patrons to recycle, to serving soda and beer, to selling t-shirts and CDs, to helping monitor stage areas for handicap accessibility. A full list of positions is listed at www.cityfolk.org.

Long-time volunteer Judy McCormick says, “The Cityfolk Festival is one event where our city truly comes together. And it simply doesn’t happen without volunteer participation. You can have fun, meet old friends, make new ones and play a part in what is a one-of-a-kind celebration for our community.”