RACELAND, Ky. -- South Point Winter Guard of South Point, Ohio, and Chesapeake Winter Guard of Chesapeake, Ohio, will be among several groups performing in the Rivertown Performing Arts League, Inc.'s, third-annual "Rivertown Review," this Friday, March 20.

Winter Guard, a kind of indoor color guard that includes competitions, has been around for more than 30 years, but has only recently gained popularity in the Tri-State Area, thanks mainly to the ceation of the Rivertown Performing Arts League.

Friday's Rivertown Review, held at Raceland High School, will feature a performance by Rivertown's Ability! Winter Guard, a community-based ensemble from Flatwoods, KY. Returning to the Review this year are the Raceland Winterguard, Ashland Winterguard and Russell Winterguard. The South Point and Chesapeake winter guards are new to this year's event. Other new teams include: Spring Valley Winter Guard of Huntington, W.Va.; Reflections Winter Guard of Hurricane, W.Va. and Hatcher Elementary Junior Guard of Ashland, Ky.

Also on the program is an ensemble of Marshall University students performing under the name, "The Necessary Guard."

The Growing with the Arts Children's Choir of Greenup, Ky., will also perform.

"This year's lineup shows the growing interest in winter guard in the Tri-State," Sarah Diamond Burroway, event coordinator, said in a press release. "Ability! Winter Guard started three years ago and just this year, four new ensembles have organized and are performing and competing," she said.

Winter guard, known as "The Sport of the Arts," combines dance with intricate routines involving flags and choreography with performance rifles and sabers, according to the press release. The programs are enhanced with colorful costumes, backdrops and performance floors.

"We hope to help winter guard grow here because it provides many valuable life skills for teens like teamwork, communication, discipline and respect," Bill Burroway, president of Rivertown Performing Arts League, Inc., said in the press release. He said Winter Guard International has headquarters in Dayton, Ohio.

As a show of community support, the performing ensembles are asking those in attendance to bring non-perishable food items for the "Food Feud," to benefit River Cities Harvest.

"We thought it was important to join forces to help our community and to instill in young people that communities pull together during tough times," Burroway said.

The Third Annual Rivertown Winter Guard Review is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Raceland High School. Admission is $5 per person. Children age 6 and younger will be admitted free.

For more information about winter guard or the Rivertown Review, call 606-922-2903. Or, log on to: http://rivertownpal.net or http://abilitywinterguard.org.

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