History

In 1998 the City of Columbia received a report from an independent Cultural Arts Task Force, advising the city to create a ?signature event? to showcase Columbia. A group of local citizens (including Virginia Bedford and Fred Monk) proposed to Mayor Coble the idea that Columbia begin a music festival similar to City Stages in Birmingham, Alabama.

First held in 2000, the 3 Rivers Music Festival is supported through ticket sales, private corporate sponsors, in-kind donations and grant monies from the City of Columbia Hospitality, Accommodations and Liquor Sales Tax Funds.

The Three Rivers Music and Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, was formed to run the Festival. The Festival is made possible by its volunteer Foundation Board and hundreds of volunteers. Without their help, there would be no Festival.