Fun and fellowship revolve around the Alcovy and Yellow rivers with the annual Rivers Alive Clean-up and the first Yellow River Jam scheduled for Saturday.

The Rivers Alive Clean-up is sponsored by Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful, a local affiliate of Keep Georgia Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful, as well as Project WET (Water Education for Teachers).

Laurie Riley of KCNB said groups will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday at B.C. Crowell Park in Porterdale and on the Square in Covington.

"The group in Porterdale is targeting the Yellow River - especially the part downtown by City Hall and the Lofts," Riley said, "and the other group will be focusing on the Dried Indian Creek area because it's usually pretty bad over there."

Riley said groups will pick up litter until noon.

"If people find big things and they can't get it out themselves, then if they just note where it is, we can have a crew come and get it later," Riley said.

After people finish the river clean up, they can grab some refreshments and enjoy live entertainment at the Yellow River Jam scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday on Hemlock Drive across from the Porterdale Mill at the walking path.

The event will feature arts and crafts for sale, food vendors, live music, a moonwalk and pony rides for children and a display of show cars said Porterdale Better Hometown Director Patti Battle.

Food will include Chick-fil-A, funnel cakes, barbecue and snow cones. Jimbo's Grill at the Mill will host a "street party" starting at 5 p.m. The party will feature live music performed by The Thomas Tillman Band as well as drink and food specials.

Baby Cakes Bakery will also have samples of their products available.

Brantley Gilbert out of Athens and Sean Costello from Atlanta will also play live music on Hemlock Drive.

"Since this is the first year, we wanted to have some bigger talent so they would bring their own crowds," Battle said.

Costello plays a fusion of blues, soul, funk and rock with the two other members of his band.

Guitar player and lead vocalist Gilbert plays along with three other band members and was influenced by country, classic rock and 90s rock.

"He's packing out every place out right now," Battle said. "He's out of Athens, but he's about to make it big in Nashville."

Both bands have Myspace pages and albums available for purchase online.

Battle said the event is free to the public and will go on rain or shine.

"I learned from my July 4th event, so there will be a tent out there," Battle said.

The Porterdale fireworks display this Independence Day was the first event Battle organized as Porterdale's Better Hometown director and the event went on despite a hearty dousing of rain.

Battle added she expects a large turnout for the event based on the pleasant October weather. She said the festivities celebrate the revitalization of downtown Porterdale sparked by the renovation of the Porterdale Mill.

"It's just an event to bring the community together," Battle said, "and we plan on this becoming an annual event."