If you’re a fan of Riverfest, we have some big news for you. If you haven’t been in the past, that might be about to change.
With nearly 40 years under its belt, the downtown festival is shaking things up big time. For the first time ever, Memorial Day weekend will no longer play host to Riverfest events. And that’s not all: The festival will now separate into two events, Springfest and Riverfest.
Springfest, scheduled for Saturday, April 2, is a free event packed with all of the family and daytime activities. This is when you’ll find attractions like the dog jumping competitions, the International Village, the Rock ’n’ Stroll 5k, Ruff on the River and all the arts and crafts activities.
Riverfest, now slated for the weekend of June 3-5, will contain all of the concerts, vendors and deliciously greasy food you love. There will even be an inaugural, separately-ticketed event called Flowing on the River, a wine and craft beer bash, on Friday night.
So why the split? The struggle of keeping down traditional Riverfest ticket prices for families, while the prices to book popular bands goes up is something organizers have dealt with for years.
“We know Riverfest serves two distinct audiences,” executive director DeAnna Korte said in a press release. “After almost 40 years – an amazing run for any festival – it is time for a change to ensure all festival-goers’ needs and desires are met.”
As for the move away from Memorial Day weekend, that’s so you can enjoy that trip to the lake with your family and not worry about skipping any of the shows. Now you can have a day of free, family-friendly activities, a weekend of music and a big, backyard cookout without missing a beat.
2016 is going to be awesome.